Photovoltaic Solar Panels

[Cozza]

When I was originally going to build a house with my partner, we opted to have the Photovoltaic cells installed which would harness the suns power to power the house and only draw from the main grid the supplement whatever excess we used.

I was excited to hear that the Federal Government was giving an $8000 rebate to people who had this optioned installed, either during the building phase or as an addition to their established house. Link (http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/pv/index.html)

I know in WA there were two options you could go with, either use the cells to offset the power you use, or to pump it back into the grid for others to use and get a rebate of the cost per KW - GST. I have recently read that they are replacing this with "Solar Credits" Link (http://www.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/pvrp.asp)

One of our local Primary Schools, Noranda Primary School has started using the cells (Case Study (http://www.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/noranda.asp))

In July 2000, the school installed a 3kW photovoltaic (PV) system to generate electricity from the sun. The system generates about 10% of the school's electricity requirements and the grid-connected inverter allows any excess energy that is generated at weekends or during school holidays to be sold to Western Power. The PV system is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around six tonnes annually.

I am glad to see more and more people starting to use renewable energy not only as a cost factor, but to reduce the amount of Co2 they are producing.

[NigelWaring]

We stayed at the YHA Halls Gap Eco-Lodge for a few days. Its a really good example of how to recycle and to use sustainable energy even with as many as sixty people staying there. The facilities were as good as say at least a four star self catering holiday apartment.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/NigelWaring/Assorted/YHACloseupofSolarCollectors.jpg

One the left are some of the solar hot water heaters and on the right the photo-voltaic panels, these will generate a maximum of 12.5 kilowatts, electricity is only used for lighting and cooking so most of the time there is a surplus that goes into the national grid. Every year since it opened they have received a cheque from the electricity company. This is quite a large hostel so I would say that a private home would only need about 2 or 3 kilowatts to make a difference. I hope and believe that in time every home will have them.

[Herby]

Our house has recently had solar water heating installed and solar panels that will pump electric back into the grid. It will be interesting to see how much electricity is saved.

[GreenBean]

My dad's just started his own business in Perth installing solar panels in homes, and he is so busy that he's being run off his feet. We'll see if the demand slows down once the rebate ends, I believe in May. Or it may stay steady because more and more people are trying to save money in the long term.

[NigelWaring]

Anyone any idea what the local authorities charge to give approval for the installation of these panels?

[PenelopeB]

When I was originally going to build a house with my partner, we opted to have the Photovoltaic cells installed which would harness the suns power to power the house and only draw from the main grid the supplement whatever excess we used.

I was excited to hear that the Federal Government was giving an $8000 rebate to people who had this optioned installed, either during the building phase or as an addition to their established house. Link (http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/pv/index.html)

I know in WA there were two options you could go with, either use the cells to offset the power you use, or to pump it back into the grid for others to use and get a rebate of the cost per KW - GST. I have recently read that they are replacing this with "Solar Credits" Link (http://www.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/pvrp.asp)

One of our local Primary Schools, Noranda Primary School has started using the cells (Case Study (http://www.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/noranda.asp))



I am glad to see more and more people starting to use renewable energy not only as a cost factor, but to reduce the amount of Co2 they are producing.

Did you get the $8000 rebate? I did, but when the next power bill came there was a $595 fee for the 'new' bidirectional generator that they had to install in order to get the power from us too..

6 panels installed which could supposedly generate 1kw but when I got the bill at the end of the month It only saved me $1.60... does that sound right?

[PenelopeB]

I forgot to mention just the GST alone cost $95 already!!!