Frequently Asked Questions
If you are intending to install a solar photovoltaic embedded generator on your domestic home, community building or school you are likely to have a range of questions. These questions are likely to include:
How much energy will my generator produce?The amount of energy your system will produce will depend upon the size of the photovoltaic array, measured in peak Watts (Wp), its installed orientation, the amount of shadowing from obstacles such as trees or buildings and the number of hours of full sunlight at your location per year. Your system installer will be able to estimate the amount of energy generated annually for various system designs. As a guide a 1kWp array might typically generate 1,000kWh per annum.
How much will it cost to install?You should obtain more than one quotation to install a solar photovoltaic generator from accredited installers. The cost will vary depending upon the materials used, how it is to be installed, if the meter panel and switchboard needs to be upgraded or even if Nett or Gross metering is required. A 1kWp system could typically vary from $12,000 to $16,000 however special designs (e.g. sun tracker supported array) could cost more. Check with your system installer that their quote includes all costs including network connection fees.
Ongoing maintenance costs are low however check to ensure the installation is covered by a comprehensive warranty. Photovoltaic modules must have a minimum 10 year performance warranty to be eligible for the federal government rebate (many manufactures provide a warranty of 20 years or more) however other components such as the inverter typically have a much shorter warranty (such as 12 months) and are more likely to fail and require repair. Even if the materials are under warranty from the manufacturer check that the system installer will provide warranty on the labour to replace materials under warranty.
What rebates are available?There are currently no rebates available for installation of solar (photovoltaic) generators.
What electricity tariffs are available for the energy generated?Distribution businesses such as UED do not charge an ongoing fee (or tariff) for energy produced by embedded generators. In other words the generator is free to inject energy into the network without a fee for utilising the network. In addition most retailers will purchase surplus energy produced by a customer with solar photovoltaic generation that is injected into the distribution network to sell to other customers and this buy back rate is known as a ‘Feed-in’ tariff.
You will need to contact an Electrical Retailer of your choice to determine what feed-in tariff they currently offer. From 1st November 2009, the Victorian State Government introduced a mandated premium feed-in tariff for residential customers with solar photovoltaic generator systems up to 5kWp which has energy consumption less than 100MGh per annum. This scheme will allow solar embedded generator owners to receive 60c/kWh for the surplus electricity produced in each 30 minute interval using nett metering. The customer’s tariff will need to have nett metering installed.