Who's got a Solar Power System installed?

[Dog_ger]

Getting 3 quotes at the moment.

Any suggestions?

Who's the best?

Only answer if you have a solar power system installed.

[Iron Fist]

Try Chromagen

[Psyber]

I looked at a few at the show and got a few quotes and lots of contradictory information.
In the end I decided that it would take 5 years just to get my money back and I'm not sure I'll stay in this house that long.

[Iron Fist]

I looked at a few at the show and got a few quotes and lots of contradictory information.
In the end I decided that it would take 5 years just to get my money back and I'm not sure I'll stay in this house that long.

probably would take that long to get your money back
but if you were to sell the house, you would probs make money on them as they would increase the cost of your property. Similar to a pool or the like!

[Trader]

Let me start by saying I don't have them...

I wouldn't be getting them any time soon either.
I looked into them in about 2008 and stayed out cause the payback period was cr@p (in fact you didn't actually reach payback).

Technology is improving, the prices are coming down as they become more common, electricity prices are going up...all these factors are making it a better decision, but for mine, the value still isn't there.

And recently I heard that they have cut back the price you get for selling back to the grid.

The pannels take a while to pay off, and then once you do, you don't have them long before they've hit their 25 year life. Don't forget you're up for a new inverter every 10 years as well.

Improvements might have it value by now, but I doubt it. If you are going to do it, you need to be someone who's all about the warm and fuzzy feeling from doing the right thing by the environment more than the economic benifit.

[Psyber]

I looked at a few at the show and got a few quotes and lots of contradictory information.
In the end I decided that it would take 5 years just to get my money back and I'm not sure I'll stay in this house that long.

probably would take that long to get your money back
but if you were to sell the house, you would probs make money on them as they would increase the cost of your property. Similar to a pool or the like!

My sister was in real estate most of her working life.
Her firm saw pools as liabilities for selling a house as most people don't want the work and running costs involved.
Most people don't want to pay more for the house with "improvements" despite what the people trying to sell them to you say.
They don't see why your improved house should be worth more than the average for your area.

[I bought this house in January 2009 for $30K under the council valuation ad $80K under what it first went on the market at.]

[Dog_ger]

Very, very interesting guys.

Keep your replies coming.

Maybe the first question I should ask,

1. How long is it going to take me to pay off my investment.

[mighty_tiger_79]

a long long time

[Iron Fist]

Very, very interesting guys.

Keep your replies coming.

Maybe the first question I should ask,

1. How long is it going to take me to pay off my investment.

thats something you would have to ask the person selling to you.

At the moment I would say is a great time to buy, there are plenty of government rebates to get at the minute. So you will save alot there

[Psyber]

thats something you would have to ask the person selling to you.
At the moment I would say is a great time to buy, there are plenty of government rebates to get at the minute. So you will save a lot there

Unfortunately, as soon as subsidies are involved all the suppliers from manufacturer up through distributor, wholesaler, and retailer, jack up their margins to soak them up.
So, I don't think you save anything!

Apropos Dog_ger's "1. How long is it going to take me to pay off my investment."
All my calculations based on data from several quoting companies suggest about 5 years.
And that is only if the electricity retailers keep buying back at the present high rate.
If the state government, which is now making cuts elsewhere, starts not paying over the odds for nominally "green" energy for the desalination plant the suppliers may pay less for that energy you are producing...

[Dog_ger]

My mate bought a system back when you could buy a 1kw system.

2 years ago and he says it is almost paid for itself.

He doesn't make $$$ but says he gets about $50 off per 1/4

I think thats all you need. An electricity discount, say....?

I am worried, Power bills are going to blow out the water.

[heater31]

My next door neighbour is on a sales team for one of these mobs. I have discussed at length the ins and outs of the industry with him seeing as I knew a little bit about from my university studies.

The average household uses on average 3kw

Payback period for what ever system you go with is around 7 to 10 years after the government incentives are taken into account


also these things are set up in circuits and each circuit must receive full sun light for it to produce electricity

[Psyber]

... also these things are set up in circuits and each circuit must receive full sun light for it to produce electricity

One lot I spoke to claimed to have a work around for that with a new kind of array from Germany.
I don't know whether there is any truth to it though.
The smallest set up on offer to me was 1.6Kw but they were all pushing bigger ones more like 3 to 5 Kw.

I think I'll research putting in my own Thorium fission plant..

[Booney]

Also consider when you are likely to use the power generated and when you will be pumping it into the grid.

For example, in peak hours ( 8am - 5pm ) if you use little or no power because you are at work you will get a better return from the power company as rates per kw/h are high during that time.

[Dog_ger]

Done the Deal Today.

I think it was page11 of todays (5/11/2010) advertiser.

Best offer I have ever seen.

Yes I up-sized to 1.9kw system for $2999

http://www.unleashsolar.com.au/

Original offer was 1.44kw system for $999

Only time will tell if it's the deal of the century.

I will keep you posted.

[Interceptor]

For me it isn't worth the outlay for a decent system (3 kV or more), with costs rising exponentially for larger setups.
Solar cell technology is improving all the time, but the lifetime of these systems is probably questionable.
Prices paid for power fed back into the gid can also be prone to fairly drastic change (as has happened in NSW recently).

This was in the news today about joint Aus-US research to cut solar prices:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/07/3059408.htm

Competition will also drive the costs down, but do your research before diving in.

[Dog_ger]

Today i received approval from etsa for permission to connect to the grid.

Day 16.

Etsa previously informed me it could take 5 weeks for this to happen.

[dedja]

I think I'll research putting in my own Thorium fission plant..

[dedja]

My sister has just got a 1.5Kw system installed and I'm going to look into it.

A payback of around 5 years would be reasonable but the real unknown is the price paid for feed-in credits. It's current 44c per kWh in SA but in NSW they just dramatically reduced it from 60c to 20c.

Dog_ger, let us know how you get on.

[dedja]

After more research, payback for me is 7-10 years depending on the system size and final installation cost.

Looking at a 3kW system with a payback of nearly 10 years.

Now to find a reputable company to do a deal ...