Energy Matters Forums

[greg c]

I was rung by a guy, not your average phone seller from the Indian subcontinent, but what sounded like an elderly aussie bloke, trying to sell me a solar power system. I was not interested at the time but took details of the company to check later. I have checked now and I am pretty amazed. I think things are moving very positively.

1. Solar power prices are coming down. Energy Matters have been running some hot specials (not in NSW though) lately, but this company (http://www.cbdsolar.com.au/index.html) has a 5kW system installed on a single story metro house for $21,500. The school I work for had a 5.4kW system installed about 10 months ago that cost $50,000. That is a pretty massive reduction, I wonder if Energy Matters can compete with this price.

2. With the Greens signing the agreement yesterday maybe we are closer to a universal nation wide feed in tariff of long duration.

3. The Suncube (http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/) has just passed all tests to be put on the Australian Approved PV Module list. This looks like a very cost effective solution as well. Are Energy Matters going to resell this when it is on the list?

For example with the NSW feed in tariff of $0.60, that 5kW system should do about 7MW/Hrs earning the owner $4200 per year. So 5 years to repay and a 19.5% return on the investment. If that price is indicative of what is available now, stand by for a stampede

cheers

Greg

[PeterM]

Energy Matters have been running some hot specials (not in NSW though) lately, but this company (http://www.cbdsolar.com.au/index.html) has a 5kW system installed on a single story metro house for $21,500.

That company advertises a 3.0 kWp system for $13,000.

I had Energy Matters install a 3.24 kWp system for me at end of June in Melbourne for $13510.00. I work out that to be cheaper!

And it uses Suntech STP180S/24Ad panels, Fronius IG40 inverter and mounting frames on a metal roof. Excellent installation, peak of 4034 W sometime today!

[greg c]

I don't doubt Energy matters will compete with prices like that. I had them quote me on a 3kW system about a year ago and it was about twice the price you payed. That is further evidence solar power prices have halved in the last 12 months

I have noticed 3 new installations around my area so I am not the only one noticing this

regards

Greg

[cws]

peak of 4034 W sometime today!

No real experience with Fronius inverters but i doubt that your 3.24 kw array will ever produce 4034 watts. I know the Aurora inverters have a parameter referred to as peak ,and it refers to the peak performance of the inverter including when it was tested at the factory

[solardave]

but this company (http://www.cbdsolar.com.au/index.html) has a 5kW system installed on a single story metro house for $21,500.

That is one very expensive price for a 5kw system on a single story metro house. My 5kw system cost somewhat less than that at $18,500 including Aurora's new PVI desktop wireless and bluetooth monitoring system. About to be installed in the next couple of weeks.

[PeterM]

... but i doubt that your 3.24 kw array will ever produce 4034 watts.

Eh That was the peak reading for TODAY. Generated 18 kWh over the whole day. In Melbourne

[rg767]

1. Solar power prices are coming down. Energy Matters have been running some hot specials (not in NSW though) lately, but this company (http://www.cbdsolar.com.au/index.html) has a 5kW system installed on a single story metro house for $21,500. The school I work for had a 5.4kW system installed about 10 months ago that cost $50,000. That is a pretty massive reduction, I wonder if Energy Matters can compete with this price.

$50k for a 5.4 was expensive even a year ago,

3. The Suncube (http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/) has just passed all tests to be put on the Australian Approved PV Module list. This looks like a very cost effective solution as well. Are Energy Matters going to resell this when it is on the list?

This is an interesting twist in a very interesting story... It sounds too good to be true!

[Inspector]

$50k for a 5.4 was expensive even a year ago,

That's because there were two lots of government rebates - RECs AND Solar Schools Project - the installer took a handful out of both pockets instead of just one! I try not to cry when I inspect school systems, knowing how much they've paid for a system that could've been installed anywhere else for well under 1/2 the price... Those Sunny Web Box gadgets must cost a small fortune too, as they've all got one of them (a requirement of the Solar School Project I've been told, so they can all be monitored).

[rg767]

yes the logging i have priced costs up to 12k!

But thats what they ask for...

[zzsstt]

It will be interesting to see what happens at the review. The large uptake the so far has been mostly driven by greed, either to make money or offset bills. A reduction in the tariff is likely to dampen enthusiam.

Predictions for the review:
PV resellers and green groups will campaign for the gross FIT to be maintained or increased.
Power companies and others carrying the costs will campaign for gross to be replaced by net FIT, quoting changes to German system as "evidence".
Government will see increasing payouts required to support low paid workers increasing energy bills, balanced by opportunity of vote grab from "green" voters (NSW Labor is desperate, after all!).

Result:
NSW will "come in line" with other states and pay a NET FIT, but at a higher rate in recognition of increased power costs.

Other possibilities include reduction in maximum system size (only likely to impact on rural customers who don't vote for Labor anyway) or just possibly a reduction in gross FIT - perhaps to a fixed multiple of the purchase price?