I have been in the solar industry for 15 years. Throughout that time, I've designed and installed for residential and commercial customers alike. I love saving people money, adding real value to peoples homes and helping create a greener future.
Electricity retailers are switching onto the fact that, increasingly, homes and businesses want their electricity to come from renewable energy sources. The demand for so-called green electricity is skyrocketing.
Never slow to miss an opportunity, electricity retailers are responding with a host of green electricity offers.
An Australian Government initiative – called GreenPower – has become the leading green quality badge promoted by electricity retailers keen to show off their environmental credentials.
So what is GreenPower? How green is it? And who’s offering the best green electricity deals?
What is GreenPower?
GreenPower is a Federal Government accreditation scheme that lets you do a bit extra to help Australia’s transition to renewable energy, above and beyond legislated targets.
By paying a premium on your energy consumption, you support the purchase of new renewable generation in Australia.
You can choose to offset 10% up to 100% of your electricity consumption from the electricity grid against renewable energy sources like wind, solar and hydro.
How Green is GreenPower – really?
The reality is that no electricity retailer in Australia can sell you only renewable energy. To be fair, it’s not their fault.
The underlying problem is they can only sell us electricity that comes from the grid – and the Australian electricity grid is still largely powered by fossil fuels. Currently, only around 25% of the national grid is made up of clean energy, the rest is dirty power mostly from coal.
All the retailers can do is put more money into renewable energy generation. This offsets the power from dirty energy generators and increases the percentage of renewable energy in the grid.
The bad news when you buy GreenPower is that you won’t be getting 100% green electricity flowing through the circuits in your home or business. That’s because technically, there’s no way of siphoning off the clean energy from the dirty stuff.
The good news is that when you purchase GreenPower, you are helping speed up the transformation of the electricity grid – and cutting your carbon footprint.
Where to look for the best green electricity deals
There are lots of energy comparison websites out there. How do you find one that’s reliable, independent and gives you the all the latest offers?
In most Australian states, the best place to look for electricity deals are Government-sponsored energy comparison websites.
The pros are:
* Independent
* Reliable
* Unbiaised
The cons are:
* May not have all the latest offers
It’s important to be aware that, pretty much without exception, there’s no electricity comparison website that will have absolutely all the latest offers.
That’s because electricity retailers are putting out new offers all the time so it’s virtually impossible for any energy comparison website to be completely up to date.
As one Government energy website spokesperson said, “our website is only as up to date as the information provided to us by electricity retailers.”
Having said that, due to their independence, most electricity retailers worth their salt want to be listed on the Government energy websites.
They’re a great starting point when you’re shopping around for the best green electricity deal.
Finding the best green electricity deals: a state-by-state guide
This easy-to-use site provides the cheapest offers based on the electricity usage profiles you provide. It’s a good idea to have your latest electricity bill to hand before you get started as you’ll need to input information from it in order to get accurate price comparisons.
To find the GreenPower deals, use the ‘Features’ option from the filters and select green offers. You’ll see the overall cost of electricity for a year and the percentage of GreenPower that’s included in the offer.
NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT
Energy Made Easy is an Australian Government energy price comparison service operated by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
Like the Victorian energy website, it’s easy to use and a great way to check out energy deals from all the major electricity retailers operating in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tassie and the ACT.
To find the best GreenPower deals in your state, make sure you select ‘only show plans with Greenpower’ in the filters.
Western Australia and the Northern Territory
The electricity grids in these states both operate independently from the main national grid.
There’s very little choice when it comes to electricity retailers. For example, if you live in Perth and you are looking for an electricity deal for your home, there’s only one option – Synergy.
In Darwin, it’s a little better with two main electricity retailers – Jacana and Rimfire Energy.
Possibly due to this lack of competition, none of the electricity retailers in these states make much effort to push GreenPower. And most probably because there’s virtually no choice of retailers, you won’t find Government energy comparison websites either.
How much extra does GreenPower cost?
This depends on what percentage of GreenPower you want to buy – this could be as low as 10%, up to 100%. There’s even a retailer in the ACT who offers 200% GreenPower!
Some electricity retailers do a great job making it transparent what they charge for GreenPower. With others, it’s not so clear and just built into the overall offer price.
GreenPower doesn’t have to be a whole lot more expensive. It mean an increase of as little as two or three cents per kilowatt hour to go 100% GreenPower.
One electricity retailer says they have a GreenPower deal that’s only going to cost you 65 cents a week extra (although we’re guessing that’s not 100% GreenPower, more likely 10 or 20%).
Whatever the case, the market for green electricity is hotting up with some great deals out there – if you live in Victoria, NSW, South Australia, ACT, Queensland or Tasmania, that is.
Use the Government energy comparison websites to shop around. It won’t take you long and it’s well worth doing.
GreenPower needn’t cost the earth. In fact, by purchasing GreenPower you’re helping save it.
Australian homeowners’ enthusiasm for solar battery storage is resulting in double-digit growth in battery installations.
Last year saw a 20 per cent increase in residential solar battery uptake. The installation of 33,000 home batteries in Australia in 2020 was particularly impressive given that it was also the year when the Australian economy dipped into recession for the first time in three decades.
What’s causing the strong demand for battery storage with Aussie households?
This article provides an insight into the top reasons why Australians are investing in solar battery storage for their homes.
Protection from electricity price rises
Electricity bill shock is something that most Australians will do anything to avoid. With electricity prices skyrocketing – up 117 per cent in the 10 years to 2018 – Australian homeowners have become highly sensitive to rising power bills and want to do something about it.
In the last year alone, the average annual electricity bill has risen $100 to $1,776. The average cost of electricity in Australia per kilowatt hour is now an eye-watering 34.4 cents, up 4 cents on the previous year.
The attraction of a battery is easy to see. You store the free power your solar system generates in the day and use it – at zero cost – at night and when the sun’s not shining.
For homes where the busy times are after work and during the evening, you no longer need to buy expensive grid electricity – you use the free power in your battery to charge your home right through the night.
To give an example of the savings, a Powerwall battery could save you around $1,600 a year assuming you are paying 34 cents per kilowatt hour.
Of course, if electricity prices continue to increase – and past performance indicates that this is more than likely – by investing in battery storage you’ve limited your exposure to the impact of further price inflation.
Falling feed-in tariffs
Solar feed-in tariffs – the amount you get for surplus solar power exported to the grid – have steadily fallen in recent years.
Back in 2010, the feed-in tariff was around 60 cents per kilowatt hour. But since then, the feed-in rate has plummeted. Now, the Australian average is around 7 cents per kilowatt hour.
That’s bad enough. But what gets a lot of people, is that they have to pay 4 or 5 times more for the electricity they buy from the grid than what they sell it for.
Whilst there are valid supply and demand reasons for the value of the solar feed-in credit (based on how the Australian national electricity grid operates) most people don’t care and feel ripped off.
So, the answer – quite logically – is not to sell your hard earned solar power back to the grid for a measly return but use it in your home where it has more value.
Blackout protection
As climate events unfortunately become more commonplace, so too are blackouts. Whilst some power outages are fixed quickly, others last days or even weeks as we saw in the Dandenong Ranges this winter.
As more of us work from home (one of the legacies of the pandemic), our tolerance to power outages has diminished. Who wants to be working from home and find that you can’t because the power has cut out? Loss of income – not to mention losing your cool – can be avoided with the installation of one of the better quality batteries on the market that provides complete blackout protection.
Sometimes, guaranteed continuous power is vital for other reasons – keeping medical equipment ready-charged in case of an emergency; security systems; fridges and freezers with valuable perishables etc.
Calculating the economic loss – and other potential impacts of a power outage – is specific for each household. For some, the risk of a power outage is simply too great to contemplate. If that’s the case, the value of battery storage will be counted in many other ways – not just in savings per kilowatt hour.
Lower carbon footprint
Using your own clean solar power during the daytime is great for reducing your CO2 emissions. But what about the evening when you use power from the grid?
Grid electricity is still 75 per cent dirty electricity. In other words, it’s generated from fossil fuels with coal being the main source. If you’re serious about reducing your carbon footprint, you’ll want to reduce the amount of dirty grid power in your home.
That’s a huge reason why lots of people buy a battery.
With battery storage, you can power your home through the night with clean renewable energy that you’ve created.
It’s a great way to make your home carbon-neutral and help us move to a zero-carbon future.
Future proofing
Major changes are happening in the way we use power – and that’s going to mean greater use of electricity (as opposed to fossil fuels) for everything we do.
Over time, our homes will become completely electric and our cars will be powered by solar energy.
To get ready for these exciting developments, those with an eye to the future are installing a home battery system.
Battery storage gives you the capability to run your home completely on your own clean solar electricity 24/7. Plus it allows you to charge an electric vehicle using the solar power generated by your panels.
Juicy battery rebates
Whilst battery storage is still quite expensive, in many states there are attractive government rebates to help reduce the upfront investment. For example:
Victoria has a solar battery rebate scheme providing rebates worth up to $4,174 until all rebates in 2020–21 have been allocated. The battery rebate will then reduce to $3,500.
South Australia offers a battery rebate of up to $3,000 and the option to participate in a virtual power plant (VPP). When battery owners join a VPP, they let the power company use their battery capacity in exchange for power bill credits.
New South Wales offers an interest-free loan of up to $14,000 for homeowners who use a solar power system with batteries.
These rebates, together with falling prices as competition hots up amongst battery manufacturers, mean that batteries may not be as pricey as you think.
Interested in battery storage for your home?
If this article has got you thinking battery storage, get in touch for a free consultation and quote.
We can assess your energy usage profile – both day and night and throughout the year – and give you the facts and figures to help you decide whether battery storage is right for you.
Your solar system is meant to last 25-30 years – so getting the best warranties is vital.
There are a lot of ‘smoke and mirrors’ in the solar world when it comes to warranties. This post demystifies the topic and gives you the know-how to ask the right questions when you’re shopping for solar.
The starting point
Do you want to be trying to get through to a Chinese call centre if your inverter breaks down? What about if there’s a malfunction with your solar panels? Want to call Taiwan?
Of course not!
The ‘absolute must’ is that the manufacturer of your panels and inverter has got to have an Australian support office with a decent call centre.
Don’t be fooled by a manufacturer who seems to have an Australian support office but, when you look closely, it’s just an admin office or their tax accountant’s address.
Next, you need to make sure that the panel and inverter manufacturers are financially solid. You don’t want to be left in the lurch with a product that’s no longer supported because the manufacturer has gone out of business (and this does happen).
Check out how big they are, how long they’ve been established and – if you can get hold of the information – their financial strength and backing.
The industry standard periods are at the lower end of what you should expect. In recent years, a number of solar manufacturers have lifted their game, and now offer warranties that exceed industry standards.
Solar panel performance warranty
This warranty is a measure of the degradation of your solar panels over a 25-year period. Like all electrical appliances, solar panels won’t work as effectively in 5, 10 – or 25 years – compared to their day 1 performance.
This warranty states the percentage degradation of the solar panels at the end of the 25-year period, compared to their day 1 power output.
The industry standard is that panels will perform at 84% of their power output at the end of the 25th year, compared to their day 1 performance.
The world’s best panel – Sunpower Maxeon – guarantee 92% performance at the end of the 25-year period. This is an exceptional statistic; most other premium panels are around the 83-84% mark.
Whilst this warranty gives you a good indicator of panel quality, it’s hard to claim on. That’s why it’s the least useful of the warranties you’ll be checking out.
Solar panels product warranty
This is the most important warranty for solar panels. That’s because it covers defective materials or workmanship in the manufacture of the panel.
You need to check that your panels warranty is for at least 10 years. What you need to ask is:
Will they repair or replace the panels at their cost during the warranty period?
Will they cover the cost of service technicians to come to your property? (You don’t want to pay call-out fees)
Will they reimburse you for any loss of solar power for the time that the panels aren’t working?
What types of damage aren’t covered by the product warranty?
The good news is that a number of affordable, good quality panels now come with a product warranty of at least 12 years – sometimes even longer.
Inverter warranty
This is the most important of all the warranties for your solar system. That’s because the inverter is the part of your system that’s most likely to fail.
Many inverters come with a 5-year product warranty. We recommend that you get an inverter that has a 10-year warranty, at the very least. Some of the 5-year inverter warranties can be extended to 10 years or longer; this is definitely worth doing.
It’s important that your solar inverter is installed in a way that doesn’t void the warranty. If it’s meant to be installed in an enclosure, make sure this happens. Inverters are likely to malfunction if they are exposed to prolonged periods of direct sunlight. The last thing you want is your inverter to be installed on a west facing outdoor wall with no protection from the summer sun.
Watch out for the 5+5 warranties on inverters. This means you get 5 years covered for parts and labour, with the next 5 years covered just for parts. This is pretty useless as most of the cost is in the labour.
There are good inverters on the market with a 12 or 15 year warranty for parts and labour – and they’re reasonably priced. At the top end of the market, you can get inverters with a 25-year warranty. This may be worthwhile if you’re looking for total peace of mind and are willing to pay a bit extra for it.
Workmanship warranty
Provided by your Solar Retailer, this warranty covers you if there’s a problem resulting from the workmanship of the installers.
Even the best installer can unwittingly cause damage during the installation process. This could be a small thing at the time – like a broken roof tile – which results in water damage in your home months, or even years, down the track.
The workmanship warranty should cover the cost of rectifying the damage. If there’s a leak in your kitchen caused by the broken tile, for example, the cost of replastering and repainting would be covered.
Of course, this warranty is only as solid as the Solar Retailer behind it. Check the track record of the Solar Retailer you are thinking of buying your system from. How big are they? How long have they been in business? Will they be around to service a claim on the workmanship warranty?
Please add some like the following .The best option to go for is a retailer offer a full 5 year system warranty as this covers your whole system that is will work as it should for 5 years. This includes some small items of yours system that may only have a 1 or 2 year warranty.
Get the best
A solar panels system should be a clean source of power for your home for at least 25 years. Make sure yours comes with solid warranties. Get the best warranties you can afford. It’s an investment in your home that you won’t regret!
Driving down the street, you’ll notice that solar systems being installed are much larger than five years ago. Back then, a 3kW system (with around 12 panels) was all -the-go. Virtually no-one had 10 kilowatts.
But the appetite for ever-bigger solar systems amongst homeowners is virtually unstoppable. Aussies love solar! The average system size shot up to 8.8kW in December 2020 according to the Australian Energy Council.
Now, the average size system we’re selling – like most of the industry – is firmly at the 10kW mark.
Why the big increase?
There are six reasons:
1.Falling solar costs
Prices for solar panel systems have dropped by more than 70% in the last 10 years. Depending on where you live, the typical price of one of our 10kW solar systems ranges from $5,500 to $9,000 after rebates.
2.Bigger system = more STCs = higher rebate value
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), are a form of Federal Government rebate for solar. The more solar panels you get installed, the more STCs your system will be eligible for. STCs work as a point-of-sale discount. On average, STCs reduce the cost of your system by around 30 percent.
3.Less panels needed
Power output from each solar panel is increasing. A couple of years ago, the average was around 270 watts per panel. Now, it’s 370 watts. This means it’s now physically possible to fit the panels for a 10kW system on most good-size homes.
2-3 years ago
Today
Today
Wattage per panel (avg)
270 watts
370 watts
400 watts
# panels needed for 10kW (approx.)
36 panels
27 panels
25 panels
Roof space required (approx.)
64.8m2
48.2m2
45m2
When 270 watt was the standard panel wattage, you would have needed 36 panels for a 10kW solar system taking up 64.8m2 of roof space. Now, with the standard being 370 watts, you’d only need 27 panels. And if you went for a 400 watt panel, you’d only need 25 and less roof space yet again.
4. 10kW is the ideal size if you want battery storage
Demand for home battery storage is increasing exponentially as battery prices drop, more batteries come on the market and electricity bills rise. Storing your solar energy maximises the amount of free solar you use in your home and reduces what you need to buy from the grid.
The average price of mains power in Australia is around 30 cents per kilowatt hour. If you export your excess solar (rather than store it), you’re getting between 6c and – if you’re very lucky – 20c per kilowatt hour. The average is around 7c.
This means that by using your stored solar energy to power your home at night, you don’t have to buy it at around 30 cents. Whilst you are forgoing the small amount you could have sold it to your electricity retailer for (say 7c), this is more than made up by the savings. You’re better off by around 21 cents per kilowatt hour.
With a big enough solar system (i.e. 10kW) and a battery with decent storage capacity, you could be getting near-zero electricity bills.
Plus, with the right battery brand you’ll also get protection from blackouts – an advantage that only you can put a value on.
5.10kW is a must for ‘would-be’ electric vehicle owners
With petrol prices going through the roof, it’s no wonder that that over 50% of Australians say they will consider buying an electric vehicle as their next car.
The question is: how much solar power will you need to charge your EV?
The statistic is that you’d need to add around 2kW of solar panels to your roof to offset the charging of an electric car that is driven ~50km per day. If you want to drive it further, you’d need even more solar.
To this stat, factor in that the average Australian home uses around 20 kilowatt hours of electricity a day (which generally equals a 6kW solar system).
Put the two together and it’s easy to see why people are getting 10kW of solar installed in order to make their homes EV-ready.
6.Trend towards the all-electric home
As State and Federal Government’s announce new plans to achieve climate goals, one of the likely casualties will be gas.
As an example, the Victorian Government recently announced a proposed moratorium on gas connections to new homes from 2025 to help the state achieve its 2030 target to cut carbon emissions by up to 50 per cent.
Expect to see more government policies of this type over the coming months, as the need to tackle climate change stays firmly centre stage.
For homeowners, it makes sense to replace gas appliances as they wear out with electric ones.
If you follow this advice, you’ll be in a strong position to move to an all-electric home and de-risk your property from exposure to escalating fossil fuel prices.
If you talk to people who got solar installed several years ago, and you’ll find most say they wished they’d got a bigger system. Hardly anyone will tell you that they should have gone for a smaller one.
Now, with the dawning of more rapid changes in the way we use electricity, it makes sense to get the biggest solar system you can afford.
Talk to us today. We’ll crunch the numbers and give you the information to decide whether 10kW is going to be right for your home.
For the first time in 10 years, the price of solar panels is rising. What’s causing this trend and what can you do about it?
To get to the nub of this question, it’s important to understand that around 80% of the world’s solar panels are made in China. Even more critically, around 45% of the most important ingredient used to make panels comes from China – that’s polysilicon.
This means that end user prices for solar panels are vulnerable to changes in the Chinese economic and political situation – as well as international supply and demand.
In the last year, there’s been a heady mix of factors that have created a “perfect storm” around Chinese solar panel manufacturing.
This article explains what’s going on – and what it means if you are thinking about purchasing solar.
Surging silicon prices
The initial price trigger was a shortage in the supply of polysilicon caused by a series of factory explosions in July 2020. These explosions happened in polysilicon factories in the province of Xinjiang where most of China’s polysilicon comes from. This resulted in around 10 percent reduction in global supply of polysilicon in one fell swoop.
Not a good start!
The spot price of polysilicon jumped by a massive 160% in the first half of 2021. Polysilicon is now as expensive as it was back in 2012.
According to three solar panel makers in China polled by Reuters, prices for panels have increased 20-40 percent in the past year due to the rising cost of polysilicon.
Rising cost of raw materials
Copper, iron, and silver are also key ingredients in solar panel manufacturing. As mined resources, these materials require huge amounts of oil for extraction and processing.
With oil prices rising, production costs for these materials are being pushed up too.
Shipping costs soaring
To make matters more complex, there’s been a surge in shipping costs. Pre-Covid, the cost of getting a container of solar products from Shanghai to Australia was around $1,800. This has skyrocketed to around $9,000-plus according to industry sources.
Shipping now accounts for around 10 percent of the total unit cost of a panel, up from 3 percent in 2019.
What’s caused this massive increase?
As the economies of Europe and the US come out of their Covid hiatus, demand for goods from “the world’s factory” – i.e. China – has gone through the roof.
Supply goes to the highest bidder. So, most of the Chinese shipping containers are heading towards Europe and the US, rather than Australia. The problem is exacerbated by the trade fight between China and Australia which has resulted in Chinese tariffs and trade actions against Australian exports like coal, beef, wine and barley. This means less to put on the shipping containers travelling from Australia to China which makes this shipping route less attractive to the shipping companies.
China’s energy crunch
In the last couple of weeks, China’s central government has ordered coal supplies to be prioritised for utilities. They have instructed the country’s top state-owned energy companies to secure supply – at all costs.
Factories across the country – including solar PV manufacturing plants – have been ordered to slow down production in an attempt to ration power.
It’s too soon to know what the impact of reduced PV manufacturing will be on panel supply to Australia. Hopefully it will be a hiccup as the Chinese government will no doubt move quickly to secure supply.
China’s renewables push
For China, energy security is of utmost strategic importance. Ordering factories to stop isn’t something that Chinese politicians want to do. Neither is relying on other countries for the power to drive their economy.
The Chinese central government wants to take energy security into its own hands. As part of its goal of becoming 100% carbon neutral by 2060, it wants to generate 45% of its energy from renewable sources.
Solar is a big part of this strategy. China’s appetite for solar panels is growing exponentially. But as this article has made clear, supply is limited. Expect to see China withholding an increasing percentage of their solar PV panel production for domestic use as part of their massive push towards clean energy.
What does this mean for you?
Upstream supply chain issues can take time to filter down into changes in end-user pricing. It is only in recent weeks that the trend towards higher prices have started to be seen in quotes for Aussie customers.
If the projected price increase of around 10 cents per watt starts to happen, this will add around $660 to the price of a 6.6kW solar system.
Will solar still be worth it?
Fortunately, with the generous government rebates and still-relatively-low costs of solar (even with this possible price rise), solar still generates an excellent return.
As we know, predictions are difficult to make. This article – rather than putting you off solar – is intended as a summary of some of the trends that may (or may not) impact on solar PV pricing.
Solar panel prices have been at an all-time low. If you are thinking of going solar, it makes sense to take action whilst prices are still low. Now really is a good time to lock in a fixed price for a solar system.
From 1st of January 2022, the value of the Federal Government’s solar rebate will drop by 10 percent. On a typical 10kW system, this means a price rise of between $460 and $630 depending on where you live in Australia.
This government solar rebate – known as Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) – works as a point-of-sale discount. Without it, the cost of a solar power system would be around 30 percent higher.
STCs are a terrific incentive to ‘go solar’ and they are well worth getting. They are part of Australian’s Renewable Energy Target and have been instrumental in the dramatic increase in solar uptake in recent years.
But – as with all rebates – it’s best to get them when their value is highest.
So how you do make sure you get the highest rate of the STCs when you are buying solar? How do you avoid the looming price rise caused by the Jan 1 change in the value of STCs?
The key thing to know is that you MUST have your solar power system installed before the 31st of December 2021 to qualify for the current higher levels of STCs.
That means you need to place your order for a solar power system by around mid-November to ensure there’s time for the system to be installed before the end of December.
Place your order with SolarRun by 15 November 2021 and we guarantee to lock in the price at the current higher value of STCs.
It’s really worth doing, as the cost of a typical 10kW solar system will rise by an average $550 from January 1 due to the cut in the value of STCs.
Looming pricing pressures in the solar industry caused by a trending solar panel shortage (link to my article) mean that the keen prices for solar systems are unlikely to last much longer. That’s yet another reason to take action to ensure you don’t miss out on the excellent solar deals available at the moment.
What’s the STC Rebate Worth on a 10kW solar system?
This depends on which Zone you live in. If you live in Zone 1, you’ll get more STCs for your system than if you live in other Zones.
Regions include:
Zone rating
Zone 1
Darwin, Northern NT, Townsville and top of QLD
1.622
Zone 2
Aussie outback inc Alice Springs
1.536
Zone 3
Sydney and most of NSW, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and SA, Northern Vic
1.382
Zone 4
Melbourne, Southern Vic, Tassie
1.185
The more STCs your system qualifies for, the bigger the rebate you get.
So how does the Government work out how many STCs your solar system qualifies for?
There’s a straightforward calculation that’s used to work this out:
System size x deeming period x zone rating
The deeming period is the number of years left to run with the STC program. In 2021, there are 10 years remaining, this reduces to 9 years in 2022. It’s this reduction in the number of years that’s the reason for the fall in the value of STCs from 1st of January 2022.
As an example, if you live in Sydney you are in Zone 3. The STC calculation if you were buying a 10kW solar power system in 2021 would be:
10 (system size) x 10 (deeming period) x 1.382 (Zone 3 Rating) = 138 STCs
This drops to 124 STCs if your system is installed after 1 January 2022 due to the fall in the deeming period to 9 years.
STCs are a tradeable commodity and their value fluctuates. At the moment, STCs are worth around $39 each. This is great price for STCs – as they have been as low as $25 per STC in the not-too-distant past.
Going back to our Sydney example, this means that – as of right now – the value of the STC rebate on a 10kW solar system is $5,390. But from 1 January, this falls to $4,851. The difference is a price rise of $539.
To check out what this STC change means for you, take a look at the table below:
10kW System – Change in STC Value from 1st January 2022
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Darwin, Northern NT, Townsville and top of QLD
Aussie outback inc Alice Springs
Sydney and most of NSW, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and rest of SA, Northern Victoria
Melbourne, central and southern Victoria, Tasmania
No. of STCs for a 10kW system: 2021
162
154
138
119
No. of STCs for a 10kW system: from 1/1/2022
146
138
124
107
Current spot price for 1 STC
$39
$39
$39
$39
STC Value for a 10kW system: 2021
$6,326
$5,990
$5,390
$4,622
STC Value for a 10kW system: from 1/1/2022
$5,693
$5,391
$4,851
$4,159
Change in STC value: from 1/1/2022
$633
$599
$539
$463
Don’t miss out. Order your solar system from SolarRun by 15th of November 2021 to secure your system at today’s lower prices.
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on many of our lives. From the way we’ve socialized, worked, and took care of people, COVID-19 became a daily obstacle for us in protecting ourselves. More importantly, it changed the way many industries worked – and had an immediate effect on energy consumption.
The household became a place where kids went to school, where parents and adults went to work, and with more people at home, household energy consumption obviously spiked to levels higher than ever before.
In this article, we will be explaining how much households who had already transitioned to solar energy have saved during last year’s lockdown and the nuances that came with it.
Australian Electricity Demand
Australia has become a hotbed for solar energy, and due to that – Australians experienced a price fall between 45%-48% during the lockdown for energy. On top of that, the Australian Energy Market Operator said that wholesale electricity and gas prices were at their lowest since 2014 and 2015.
The AEMO’s chief executive, Audrey Zibelman said that because of the high volume of residential and commercial properties transitioning to solar, Australia was experiencing new minimum records for operational demand. There were also key measures being shown because of solar energy, such as:
Rooftop solar met 71% of South Australia’s total energy needs
Rooftop solar met 31% of Victoria’s total energy needs
In essence, as lockdown continued – solar energy and the lack of utilisation of utility grid energy led to a dramatic drop in electricity demand. However, even with a drop in energy prices, one thing remained certain – that household energy consumption would grow by a staggering amount.
Changes In Home Power Consumption
Although there hasn’t been a study conducted on Australian household power consumption during the Covid lockdown, there was one done in the United States.
What it showed was something that we all knew was going to happen, the large impact households would have on energy usage.
“Americans spent $6 billion more on at-home power consumption from April to July 2020 than during normal times, nearly offsetting a decline in business and industrial demand.”
As we have mentioned earlier, the home became a place where work was now conducted, and where kids would learn. Furthermore, with more people home during the winter and summer, heating and cooling systems would be put on maximum overdrive to keep household occupants cool and warm.
That was also not the only factor in higher energy consumption – because of all the lost jobs and unemployment benefits, more Americans were staying at home than ever before. With all those factors in place, even though there was an early offset of energy use – the surge of energy expenditure came like a tidal wave. This surge basically offset the amount of energy decline within the American commercial and industrial sectors.
How Much Are Homeowners in Australia Saving During Lockdown?
As we have shown earlier, about 71% of South Australia was powered by rooftop solar. So how much does solar energy save Australian homeowners during the lockdown?
Approximately 50% of their average energy costs and those energy costs were already reduced by 45%-48% due to the low usage rate via commercial and industrial property.
With the lowered pricing for energy, having rooftop solar power your home during the day comes with a huge boon in savings. All the energy that you use for working from home, alongside your children’s schooling, will effectively halve in cost by using solar power.
With that helping your energy bill, the cherry on top is any energy you don’t use, especially during the weekends. All that power will be sent back to your utility grid, which will give you a credit for the generated power.
If you have a 10 kWh energy storage system, you would have been able to effectively power your house throughout the day and night, without the need for any power from the utility grid. You would also protect yourself from blackouts, and rising energy prices when everything returns back to normal.
Are typical systems able to handle the additional usage from the lockdown?
Typically, any system that generates more than 10kWh of power should be able to handle the additional usage from lockdown.
An Australian home that has occupants numbering anywhere from 4 to 5 people will generally consume about 19kWh per day. That number reduces to 15kWh per day in the Autumn and Spring.
Due to the work from home movement and schooling for kids at home, you should allocate about 50% of that 19kWh to the times that you are working and when the children are at virtual school.
In essence, 9.5kWh of energy is needed from your solar panels, and if you have a 10kWh system – it will handle the additional energy usage easily.
If you want to absolutely make sure your home can handle the additional usages from the lockdown, by installing a corresponding energy storage system – you will be able to use renewable energy freely, without having to pay your utility providers a cent. In doing so, you’ll be essentially going off the grid.
Because of rooftop solar and commercial/industrial properties having fewer workers – prices have dropped to a new record low for energy in Australia. If you have a solar-powered home – you’re benefiting greatly, because you’re saving an additional 50% on your energy bills, even with additional energy usage from your home
If you’re looking for the best solar company in Australia to help you with your solar energy needs – Solar Run is here for you. We provide the golden standard in customer service and pricing for solar energy systems in all of Australia.
If you want a free consultation or have a couple of questions regarding a solar energy system and the amount of power it can create for your home or business, feel free to contact us below or give us a call.
When residential or commercial properties initially go solar, they believe that have officially gone “off the grid.” The owners of these properties do not understand that at nighttime, the energy they need to power their properties is channeled through their utility provider. Even when you purchase solar panels and have a solar system – you are still attached to the grid.
In this article, we’re going to be detailing the benefits of off-the-grid solar energy, what to consider when you do go off-the-grid, and if a home can run off solar power alone.
Can A Home Run on Solar Power Alone?
It certainly can – as we have explained earlier, by utilizing an energy storage system, all the saved energy you don’t use during the day can be used at night. It does take some time for your energy storage system to be filled with enough energy – but once it is, you’ll be running on pure solar power.
On top of that, by having an off-grid solar system, you are protected from sudden blackouts, natural events, and anything that can potentially stop your energy flow. Your carbon footprint for your home or business is now zero, which can be used as a selling point when you need to sell your home or to create additional value for your business’s products and services.
Benefits of Off-The-Grid Solar Energy
1. Reduction of Energy Costs
Most homeowners or businesses go solar because they want to save money on their energy bills. But what if you had the opportunity to never pay another energy bill ever again? How much money would you save in the long run?
To create your off-grid solar system, you will first need to invest in an energy storage system. They come in all shapes and sizes, and they provide enormous value to your home. As your solar panels continually absorb energy from the sun, any energy that you don’t use within your home will then be sent into your energy storage system.
This off-grid solar system allows you and your family to use solar energy even at night, without calling upon your utility providers at all. Your energy storage system will be constantly replenished every day, and you will reap the rewards of being completely off the grid.
2. Reliability
Sudden blackouts and violent natural events are some of the situations that can cause you to lose power. The stress of having no power is a gigantic loss to any business and is an annoying event to experience when you are at home with your family. With an off-grid solar system, you will never need to rely on your utility provider for energy. Your home or business will be fully self-sufficient, which reduces your carbon footprint and adds additional value to your home’s price and your business’s net worth.
3. Reduction of Your Carbon Footprint
You save a lot of green by going green, and with off-grid solar energy, your carbon footprint for your home or business will be reduced to virtually zero. This plays a major impact on your local environment and will also be a big help to the global community. All homes and businesses use a colossal amount of energy to maintain their standards of work/living, and the amount of fossil fuels used to sustain this energy is tremendous. By going solar and by having an off-grid solar system, your home and business will never need to utilize fossil fuels ever again.
With off-grid solar, you can not only save a large amount of money, but you will also have a reliable and 100% green energy system. Utilizing the sun and its power is one step forward for you and your family, but by storing the sun’s energy – you can be free from the grip of utility providers and the usage of fossil fuels. Off-grid solar systems are the way of the future and are the next stage for residential and commercial renewable energy systems.
Considerations Before Going Off-the-Grid
Energy storage systems can be quite costly, and if your energy storage system malfunctions or if it is inefficient, you could be without power until someone fixes your energy storage system.
We recommend having an energy storage system installed at the same time as your solar panels, to get the most benefit from both systems with the shortest amount of lag time.
A lot of solar installers can install your energy storage system after your solar energy system’s installation – but it will take more time before you can officially be off-the-grid.
In conclusion…
By going off the grid, you have officially reduced your carbon footprint to nearly zero. You are helping the planet and your local environment because you are no longer using fossil fuels to power your Australian home or business. You have the ultimate reduction in energy costs, while also protecting your family or business from sudden blackouts.
You’re not just saving money on your energy bills, but you’re also helping with something far greater. Future generations will thank you for taking this step forward for having solar energy in Australia – as they can fully explore and be grateful for nature and all its beauty, without the harmful effects of air pollution and climate change.
If you’re looking for the best solar company in Australia to help you with your solar energy needs – Solar Run is here for you. We provide the golden standard in customer service and pricing for solar energy systems in all of Australia.
If you want a free consultation or have a couple of questions regarding an energy storage system for your home or business, feel free to contact us below or give us a call.
Technically, there’s no one right answer to when someone should buy solar panels. The sooner you can get your consultation for solar panels to be installed onto your home, the sooner the installation will be finished, and then you’ll be able to save more money on your energy bills now versus later.
Installing solar panels can take some time, so the choice you make on when to install them doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. However, there are seasons when installing solar panels can be better, for various reasons.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a deep dive into when you should install solar panels and some misconceptions about solar panel installations.
Reasons for Switching To Solar Now, Instead of Waiting
1. Opportunity Costs
Let’s say you have been thinking about switching to solar energy, then you forget, and then as time passes you recognize that your energy bills are increasing even though you are using as much (or even less) energy than before.
The biggest reason is because of the recent changes to the regulation of energy transmissions, as well as the upgrades to the distribution networks that transfer the energy to your home. The rates for electricity In Australia have been skyrocketing since 2003 – leading to many homeowners in Australia switching to alternative energy resources to reduce their costs.
That is the key issue here – even though there are better seasons for someone to switch to solar energy, overall, switching to solar energy sooner rather than later would be better for you in the long run – because of the increasing prices of energy.
Historically, it has been shown that in Australia – that the best time to switch to solar energy would have been in 2006This year has the lowest cost of electricity in the past 20 years and if you switched to solar then, you would have saved a large sum of money by utilising the technology 15 years into the future. In short, by switching to solar energy now versus later, you will be giving yourself the ability to protect yourself (and your family) from rising energy costs that are inevitably coming.
2. Taking advantage of Renewable Energy Incentives and Rebates
Fortunately for Australians, as of 2021 – there doesn’t seem to be an end to the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), that helps with the purchase cost of your solar panels. The SRES allows you to create a certificate that you can give to your solar energy agent or salesperson, which will allow you to purchase a solar energy system for a lower price. There is no dated end for this program – but that doesn’t mean it is guaranteed to last forever and as more people switch to solar, the rebate offered may be lowered.
Winter: The Best Season to Switch to Solar Energy
Even though Summer is the most popular time to install solar panels, the most optimal time to install solar panels would be during the Winter. Here are a couple of reasons why:
1. Lower Demand Costs
Since there are fewer people switching to solar energy in the wintertime, pricing for installations will drop. Most solar installation companies will run deals or specials, in order to keep their businesses alive throughout the harder winter months. Unlike spring or summer, there is less sunlight during the wintertime – which is the reason why most Australian homeowners don’t switch.
2. Faster Solar Installation
Summertime will inevitably bring a tone of heat, which affects the solar installers on your roofs. The summertime heat will assuredly make them tire quicker, with them needing more breaks. Due to the popularity of solar panel installations during this time, you may be behind a long line of homeowners, who are also looking to switch to solar energy.
By installing in the winter when there is no huge rush of installations, you’ll be saving more time, and the installers will surely thank you too.
3. Your Solar Panel’s Temperature Coefficient
Your solar panel’s temperature coefficient is the temperature at which your solar panel’s performance starts to decline. Like with all technologies, the higher the temperature, the more inefficient it becomes. Even though you do get more sunlight during the Spring and Summer, the higher temperatures can make your solar panels lose efficiency and performance, which means that you’ll be getting less energy than you originally intended.
By switching to solar energy during the winter – your solar panels can stay cool and efficient, which will allow them to perform at a better rate when sunlight hits them.
This needs to be explained better, is this something to do with the panels being more sensitive to temp exposure when first installed?
In conclusion…
It’s more optimal to install your solar energy system and panels during the wintertime, but the sooner you switch to solar energy – the better.
If you liked this article and would like to learn more about solar panels and all things related to Australian solar energy – check out our blog to read more!
This needs to be explained better, is this something to do with the panels being more sensitive to temp exposure when first installed?
Solar energy panel technology has reached a new height in the last couple of years, and with new technology, comes new ingenuity. There isn’t necessarily a “one-size-fits-all” type of solar panel, but there are many types that are utilized in various ways.
The most commonly used/created solar panels will always be residential solar panels, but there are variants of that as well. Accordingly, there are commercial-grade solar panels that are used to power buildings, cities, and are used in solar farms.
In this article, we will go into detail about the various types of solar panels and the abilities of each one. The major types of solar panels are monocrystalline, half-cell solar panels, bifacial solar panels, and shingled cell solar energy panels.
Types of Solar Panels
Monocrystalline Solar Panels
Monocrystalline solar panels have cells that are made of silicon wafers. These wafers are assembled into rows and form a rectangle, which is then covered with a glass sheet.
Generally, solar panels that are lined with black cells are monocrystalline solar panels. Since it’s a singular cell sheet, the cells appear black because of how light interacts with the pure silicon crystal.
Certain companies, such as SunPower, have lined the backs of their monocrystalline solar panels with a copper support board, which helps with the durability of cells, as well as the retention rate of the solar energy that enters the cell.
Monocrystalline solar panels generate a considerable amount of energy while having the highest efficiencies and power capacity out of all three types of solar panels. Monocrystalline solar panels usually have efficiencies of 20% or higher. Monocrystalline solar panels are generally larger in size as well, with many monocrystalline solar panels within the 300 watts to now exceeding 400-watt panels.
Half-Cut Cell Solar Panels
As their name suggests, half-cut cell solar panels have solar cells that are cut in half. The reasoning behind this type of solar panel technology is the fact that cells improve the module’s overall performance and durability.
Because these solar cells are halved, their outputs are also halved, meaning that they have less resistive losses which allow for the cells to generate more power. Imagine your roof tiles for example. Rather than have one giant roof shingle for each section of your roof, you use many smaller titles in order to reduce the overall mechanical stress of the roof. This leads to a longer-lasting roof while decreasing the breakage level for each tile.
The half-cut solar cells operate with the same fundamental mechanics, which allows them to last longer than traditional solar panels. Half-cell modules also allow for more energy to be produced in low-light or partially shaded environments. Over time, this leads to a higher level in power production and more efficiency than their full-cell counterparts.
Bifacial Solar Panels
Bifacial solar panels are able to absorb solar power from both sides of the panel. Bifacial solar panels are generally installed on a highly reflective surface, and some bifacial module manufacturers suggest that there is a 30% increase in power production from the backside reflection of light alone.
Many bifacial solar panels use monocrystalline cells, but there are polycrystalline designs as well.
Some are considering bifacial solar panels to be the future of the solar industry. You can double the amount of energy production without removing the absorbing power of the mono/polycrystalline solar cells. There is a higher energy yield, with better low-light performance as well.
If you’re looking for the future of solar power panels, bifacial panels might be the next big thing.
Shinged Cell Solar Panels
Shingled cell solar panels are the latest and greatest in terms of new efficient solar module technology. Shingled solar panels have cells that are cut into 5 or 6 strips. They are then overlaid, much like how roof shingles are. These overlays form electrical connections and are joined together using an electrically conductive adhesive to allow for better conductivity and flexibility.
These types of solar panels don’t need to have busbars, and they have no gaps in between cells. Additionally, they generate more power per square meter. Due to the fact that the cells are exposed to more sunlight, they can produce more energy than conventional solar panels.
The downside is that these shingled cell solar panels are the most expensive out of all the types of solar panels, so make sure to take that into consideration.
N-Type Solar Cell Technology
Due to the very nature and material composition, N-type cells offer higher performance through having a greater tolerance to impurities and lower defects which increases overall efficiency. In addition, n-type cells have greater temperature tolerance compared to both mono and multi P-type cells. More importantly, n-type cells do not suffer from the issues of LID (light-induced degradation) due to the boron-oxygen defects which are a common issue with p-type cells doped with Boron.
Lower impurities in N-type substrate
Improved high-temperature performance
Lower light-induced degradation – LID
Which Type of Solar Panel Is The Best One?
You see, the best type of solar panel for you might not be the best type for another person – all of them are on a spectrum, and have different benefits.
Monocrystalline solar panels are the most powerful and will give you the most energy and return on investment. They are strong, efficient, and easy on the eyes. However, they are the most expensive and heavy. If you can afford them, they will be a great addition to your home and your energy-saving needs.
Half-cut cells allow for more flexibility in the way installers install your solar panels, and can efficiently absorb sunlight in any situation.
Bifacial solar panels are made to absorb energy on both sides of the panel, which means greater energy absorption in the longer run, which means more power for your Australian home. However, it can be a bit troublesome to install and can be a little more expensive than conventional solar panels.
Shingled solar panels produce the most power, and because of the fact they have no gaps between their solar cells, they are the most efficient in terms of energy absorption from a single-sided cell. However, they are the most expensive type of solar panel out there, so if you want the deluxe in power contribution while spending a higher premium, they are your best bet.
In conclusion…
If you’re looking for the standard level of power and durability, go for monocrystalline solar panels. If you need additional flexibility in your energy production from your solar panels, half-cut cells will help you in low-light and shaded regions on your roof.
Bifacial cells absorb a lot of energy, and can efficiently produce usable energy for your home while maxing out the amount of space you have on your roof. Bifacial is mainly used in solar farms as it needs to be able to collect light from the rear of the panel, this is not really a domestic panel. Shingled cell solar panels may be the most expensive, but they absorb an absurd amount of sunlight and can give you the most power in comparison to all of the other solar panels.
We hope that this article helps you decide on which solar panels are better for you and your family.
Changes In Home Power Consumption
Considerations Before Going Off-the-Grid
Shinged Cell Solar Panels
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