October 8, 2021

Roof Maintenance

Australian researchers unlock key to lower cost and longer lasting solar cells

Cleo Bolton October 8, 2021

A research team based at the University of Queensland has found a way to improve the stability and durability of next generation perovskite solar cells that will help bring...

Roof Maintenance

Solar Analytics Plan Optimiser Demo and Review

Cleo Bolton October 8, 2021

Looking for our review of Solar Analytics Solar Monitoring? – click here. There are many comparison sites out there but electricity retailers are experts in making their plans difficult...

Which electricity retailer offers the best solar feed-in tariff?

Feed-in tariffs in Australia: How they’ve changed Solar feed-in tariffs are arrangements where a solar system owner is paid for the solar energy that they send into the grid. At one point in time, feed-in tariffs were mandatory in every state in Australia, and the rates they offered were quite generous. Much has changed, however, since we first published this article in 2009. State-manded feed-in tariff incentives are no longer available to new solar customers in almost all of Australia’s states and territories. Instead, rates are largely voluntary for electricity retailers in most states; they usually fall in the range of 6-15¢/kWh – generally lower than price of retail electricity purchased from the grid. (Those who signed up for these before the deadlines for the various feed-in tariffs may continue to receive the set rates for the duration of the term of their incentives.) Because feed-in tariffs are voluntary in many states, solar system owners must shop around to find a retailer that offers them a favourable rate. Why feed-in tariffs aren’t the only factor you should consider Everyone wants to get the greatest possible value out of their solar installation; feed-in tariff rates are only one piece of the puzzle. Until a couple of years ago, feed-in tariff incentives were virtually the main determinant in the economic viability of going solar in Australia. Since then, however, solar PV system prices have fallen considerably, meaning that an investment in a solar PV system is still worthwhile, but how to best use a system has changed. When feed-in tariffs were higher than the cost of grid electricity, it made sense for homes & businesses to try to export as much power as possible, as this would maximise savings. The shift to solar self-consumption These days, the opposite is true: in order to maximise investment in a solar system, the system’s owner would see the most benefit from endeavouring to consume as much of the electricity that they generate as possible (‘solar self-consumption‘). This is because direct consumption of any solar power generated means less electricity that needs to be purchased from the grid (at rates between 20-30¢/kWh, depending on the retailer and region), whereas exporting the power will earn system owners credits on their power bill to the tune of only 6-10¢/kWh. What is clear is that the bias for ‘self-consumption’ virtually defines the business case for going solar in Australia today. The aim of this article is to help solar shoppers to keep themselves informed about what their excess solar power is worth, so that they can ensure that they are getting the most out of their system. Beware of high solar feed-in tariff ‘bait’ A higher solar feed-in tariff rate from your electricity retailer does not necessarily mean a better overall deal – make sure that you consider each retail electricity plan as a whole. You can try our Solar-friendly Retail Plan Comparison Tool to get a more complete picture. Compare electricity plans in your area now Solar feed-in tariff rates by state (Select) NSW – VIC – QLD – SA – WA – ACT – NT – TAS New South Wales At the moment, there is no mandatory minimum feed-in tariff rate in NSW. Instead, individual electricity retailers assign a value to exported solar power as they see fit. Some retailers offer more than others, and some retailers offer nothing.RetailerStateMin Solar FITMax Solar FITNotable ConditionsMojo PowerNSW7.5c22.0cCapped at first 5kWh per dayRed EnergyNSW6.0c18.0cCapped at first 5kWh per dayDiscover EnergyNSW6.0c16.0cCapped at 300kWh per quarterActewAGLNSW8.0c15.0cSystem size 10kW maxAGLNSW7.0c12.0cSystem size 10kW max1st EnergyNSW6.0c11.0cGEE EnergyNSW5.0c11.0cCapped at 10kWh per dayMomentum EnergyNSW0.0c10.0cSystem size 10kW maxSmart EnergyNSW7.0c10.0cOrigin EnergyNSW5.0c10.0cOnly if buy solar through OriginReAmped EnergyNSW0.0c9.0cSystem size 10kW maxElysian EnergyNSW0.0c9.0cSystem size 10kW maxCovaUNSW0.0c8.5cPeople EnergyNSW8.0c8.0cQEnergyNSW8.0c8.0cSumoNSW5.5c8.0cEnergy AustraliaNSW7.6c7.6cSystem size 10kW maxEnova EnergyNSW0.0c7.0cEnergy LocalsNSW7.0c7.0cDodoNSW7.0c7.0cBright Spark PowerNSW7.0c7.0cCircular EnergyNSW7.0c7.0cElectricity in a BoxNSW7.0c7.0cIndigo PowerNSW7.0c7.0cGlow PowerNSW7.0c7.0cDiamond EnergyNSW0.0c7.0cOVO EnergyNSW0.0c7.0cAlinta EnergyNSW6.7c6.7cInverter size 5kW maxRadian EnergyNSW6.0c6.0cPooled EnergyNSW4.5c6.0cSimply EnergyNSW5.5c5.5cTango EnergyNSW5.5c5.5cMust install through Tango and capped at 3.5kWh per dayNectrNSW5.5c5.5cPowerdirectNSW5.0c5.0cPowershopNSW0.0c5.0cSystem size 10kW maxKogan EnergyNSW4.4c4.4cFuture X PowerNSW4.0c4.0cGloBird EnergyNSW1.0c3.0cLocality Planning EnergyNSW0.0c8.5cOn by EnergyAustraliaNSW0.0c0.0cArc Energy GroupNSW0.0c0.0cAmber ElectricNSWMarket linked FIT (Variable)PowerclubNSWMarket linked FIT (Variable)Social EnergyNSWMust install solar and battery through Social EnergyRead more about feed-in tariffs in NSW Switch to the best Solar Electricity Plan in your area now Victoria The Victorian government introduced a new minimum feed-in tariff from 1 July 2017. The rate is subject to regular reviews and will fluctuate annually. The rates in the table below reflect the current feed-in tariffs on offer in the state. N.b. The Victorian government has recently introduced a ‘time varying feed-in tariff‘ whose rates are not reflected below.)RetailerStateMin Solar FITMax Solar FITNotable ConditionsDodoVIC12.0c12.0c1st EnergyVIC6.7c11.7cSumoVIC6.7c10.2cTango EnergyVIC6.7c10.1cMust install through Tango and capped at 3.5kWh per dayMomentum EnergyVIC6.7c10.0cSystem size 10kW maxOrigin EnergyVIC6.7c10.0cOnly if buy solar through Origin – 10kW maxElysian EnergyVIC0.0c10.0cSystem size 5kW maxReAmped EnergyVIC7.1c9.1cSystem size 10kW maxRed EnergyVIC6.7c8.0cLumo EnergyVIC6.7c8.0cOVO EnergyVIC6.7c8.0cEnergy AustraliaVIC7.1c7.1cEnergy LocalsVIC6.7c7.0cCircular EnergyVIC7.0c7.0cIndigo PowerVIC7.0c7.0cDiamond EnergyVIC0.0c7.0cPowerdirectVIC6.7c6.7cDiscover EnergyVIC6.7c6.7ccapped at 300kWh per quarterElectricity In A BoxVIC6.7c6.7cPowershopVIC6.7c6.7cGloBird EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cQEnergyVIC6.7c6.7cAGLVIC6.7c6.7cSystem size 10kW maxAlinta EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cSystem size 5kW maxPeople EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cSimply EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cKogan EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cCovaUVIC0.0c0.0cPowerclubVICAmber ElectricNSWMarket linked FIT (Variable)PowerclubNSWMarket linked FIT (Variable)Social EnergyNSWMust install solar and battery through Social EnergyRead more about feed-in tariffs in VIC Find the best Solar Electricity Plan in your area now Queensland At the moment, there is no mandatory minimum feed-in tariff rate for southeastern Queensland (Energex network). Instead, individual electricity retailers assign a value to exported solar power as they see fit. Some retailers offer more than others, and some retailers offer nothing. If you are a resident of regional Queensland (Ergon network), however, there is a mandatory minimum that you will receive for exported solar power (check the QCA’s website for current rates).RetailerStateMin Solar FITMax Solar FITNotable ConditionsMojo PowerQLD5.5c18.0cCapped at 5kWh per dayDiscover EnergyQLD6.0c16.0cCapped at 300kWH per quarterAGLQLD5.0c12.0cSystem size 10kW maxRed EnergyQLD5.0c11.5cCapped at 5kWh per day1st EnergyQLD6.0c11.0cCovaUQLD0.0c11.0cGEE EnergyQLD5.0c11.0cCapped at 10kWh per dayMomentum EnergyQLD0.0c10.0cSystem size 10kW maxOrigin EnergyQLD3.0c10.0cOnly if buy solar through Origin – 10kW maxElysian EnergyQLD0.0c9.0cSystem size 5kW maxDodoQLD8.5c8.5cPeople EnergyQLD8.0c8.0cReAmped EnergyQLD0.0c8.0cSystem size 10kW maxQEnergyQLD0.0c8.0cAlinta EnergyQLD0.0c8.0cSystem size 5kW maxLocality Planning EnergyQLD0.0c7.9cGloBird EnergyQLD1.0c7.2cBright Spark PowerQLD7.0c7.0cGlow PowerQLD7.0c7.0cDiamond EnergyQLD0.0c7.0cSmart EnergyQLD5.0c7.0cErgon EnergyQLD6.6c6.6cEnergy AustraliaQLD6.6c6.6cSystem size 30kW maxEnergy LocalsQLD6.0c6.0cSumoQLD6.0c6.0cRadian EnergyQLD6.0c6.0cCircular EnergyQLD6.0c6.0cOVO EnergyQLD0.0c6.0cEnova EnergyQLD0.0c6.0cPowerdirectQLD5.0c5.0cTango EnergyQLD5.0c5.0cCapped at 3.5kWh per daySimply EnergyQLD4.5c4.5cFuture X PowerQLD4.0c4.0cElectricity in a BoxQLD4.0c4.0cNectrQLD0.0c4.0cPowershopQLD0.0c3.5cFeed-in tariff is only for systems up to 10kW in […]
Best SA Solar Feed-In Tariffs

Residents in South Australia have the highest electricity rates in Australia. This explains why going solar is a big motivation for household owners there, with one in three having a solar panels system installed. In this article, we’ll provide you with information on the best solar feed in tariff rates in SA. We’ll also give you what you need to know to make an educated decision in choosing an electricity retailer. If you’re looking for the best solar feed-in tariff in SA , scroll below to view a table which displays this information on a regular basis. We also recommend you consider other information beyond just the amount you’ll receive from the tariff, so you’ll be able to make a more Is there a minimum solar feed-in tariff in South Australia? There is currently no minimum solar feed-in tariff rate in South Australia at the moment. It’s up to electricity retailers to voluntarily set their own rates, so consumers need to shop around for the best deal. Find the best Solar Electricity Plan in your area now Best Solar Feed-In Rates in South Australia The below table shows the lowest and highest FiT rates for each electricity retailer in South Australia. RetailerStateMin Solar FITMax Solar FITDetailed ConditionsDiscover EnergySA6.0c16.0cCapped at 300kWh per Quarter1st EnergySA8.0c13.0cCovaUSA0.0c12.0cAGLSA5.0c12.0cSystem size 10kW maxDodoSA11.6c11.6cOrigin EnergySA6.0c10.0cOnly if buy solar through Origin – 10kW maxMomentum EnergySA0.0c10.0cSystem size 10kW maxReAmped EnergySA0.0c9.0cSystem size 10kW maxElysian EnergySA0.0c9.0cSystem size 5kW maxEnergy AustraliaSA8.5c8.5cSystem size 30kW maxAlinta EnergySA8.0c8.0cSystem size 5kW maxTango EnergySA0.0c7.5cGlow PowerSA7.0c7.0cCircular EnergySA7.0c7.0cDiamond EnergySA0.0c7.0cOVO EnergySA0.0c7.0cMojo PowerSA6.8c6.8cCapped at 5kWh per dayQEnergySA6.8c6.8cPeople EnergySA6.8c6.8cPowershopSA6.7c6.7cSystem size 10kW maxEnergy LocalsSA6.5c6.5cPowerdirectSA5.0c5.0cIO EnergySA3.0c5.0cPowershopSA0.0c5.0cSystem size 10kW maxSimply EnergySA4.5c4.5cFuture X PowerSA4.0c4.0cPowershopSA0.0c3.5cSystem size 10kW maxLumo EnergySA3.0c3.0cRed EnergySA3.0c3.0cGloBird EnergySA1.0c3.0cPowershopSA0.0c3.0cSystem size 10kW maxKogan EnergySA2.1c2.1cNectrSA0.0c2.0cAmber ElectricSAMarket linked FIT (Variable)PowerclubSAMarket linked FIT (Variable)Social EnergySAMust install solar and battery through Social Energy *Please note that we periodically update these tables. Please email us at [email protected] if anything is out of date. What retailer has the best solar feed-in tariff in South Australia? At the time of writing (November 2021), Discover Energy has the best solar feed-in tariff in SA, whereby the maximum a customer can get is 16 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh), although this is limited to a maximum of 300kWh per quarter. The next best solar feed in tariff is 1st Energy who offer 13c per kWh and we could not find any publicly stated limitations to the quantity of solar power. Should I only think about solar feed-in tariffs when choosing a provider? It’s understandable that residential owners put a lot of weight in the provider who provides the highest solar feed-in tariff amount. However, we recommend that you adopt a holistic approach here. There can be cases where the provider draws you in with a high FiT but you still end up with a higher spend as they couple it with higher electricity rates and daily supply charges. Which is why we recommend you consider other reasons beyond just the feed-in tariff when it comes to making a more informed, balanced decision. This may include non-financial reasons such as going for a more ethical or environmentally friendly retailer. Or a provider that is committed to maintaining high customer service standards by keeping an Australian based staff, as opposed to outsourcing overseas which has become common. Every household will have to weigh their respective factors on a case by case basis. For those that have large solar systems, they can export plenty of excess clean electricity back into the grid, so a high solar FiT may be an important factor. Conversely, for someone that has a small solar system, they may want to put more weighting towards lower rates or supply charges due to the fact they’ll receive less potential charges on their bill. Find the best Solar Electricity Plan in your area now History of feed-in tariffs in SA There used to be a minimum guaranteed feed-in tariff at a generous 44c/kWh, which was in place up until 30 September 2011. This was at the time a big motivational driver for consumers to switch to solar. Then in 2012, ESCOSA released a draft determination for a transitional solar feed-in tariff of 23c/kWh for SA residents who applied between 27 January 2012 and 30 June 2012. Previous applications who were lucky enough to receive the premium feed-in tariff before 30 September 2011 were initially on 44c/kWh before this change was put into effect. Those lucky solar system owners had this premium rate locked in until 2028. However, those who didn’t have access to SAs premium feed-in tariff rate would at least receive 6.8c/kWh which was mandated by ESCOSA. Solar Choice recommended that they shop around for the best rate, plan and retailer as now there was competition based incentives for doing so. In actuality the transitional rate was rather complicated looking back at it. It was set at a significantly reduced rate of 16c/kWh plus an additional set contribution required from electricity retailers who accepted solar customers (i.e. approximately 16c/kWh government rebate plus 6-8c/kWh estimated electricity retailer contribution). This transitionary period was for those who signed up during the two years from 1 October, 2011. Then towards the end of 2016, ESCOSA decided to eliminate the minimum feed-in tariff for SA. SA effectively followed NSW and South-East Queenslands decision in removing minimum rates and hence left it up to market competition in determining what rates consumers would receive. The effect of this on consumers was now it was their responsibility to shop around and find the best rate, plan and company they preferred. The implication of this change was deemed to be relatively small however. Despite the low feed-in rate, households still continued to switch to solar in droves because of the fact that solar affordability has increased a lot over the last 10 years. Further compounding this is that grid electricity prices are high in South Australia (due to high cost of wholesale electricity) What are the network limits in SA?How electricity is transported. (Image via AEMO. […]
Best VIC Solar Feed-In Tariffs

There is a wide variety of different reasons for residential homeowners to switch to solar energy in Victoria. This includes the cost savings of relying less on the grid or a social conscience of using environmentally friendly clean energy by using solar panels. Feed-in tariffs are still one of the main drivers for going solar. Although the amount received by the consumer for exporting their excess clean energy back to the grid has decreased a lot since the early days, it still enables solar power system owners to generate a credit towards their bill for surplus energy. For those who are shopping around for the best solar feed-in tariff rates in VIC, we’ve provided for you a table below which gets updated regularly. We’ve also given other information we recommend you consider so you can make a well thought out decision. Time of use or Flat Rates? You may be thinking at this point what the better option to take in Victoria is – a single rate or time varying rate? We go into an analysis about the time varying rate along with a modified solar payback calculator tool to help you make an informed decision. Just be aware that currently electricity retailers in Victoria aren’t legally required to offer the time varying rates at this stage. Some may only decide to provide the single rate only instead. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how retailers go about providing the solar feed-in Tariffs and time varying rates in the future. With the ongoing changes to rates, we’ll keep an eye on this development at Solar Choice. Find the best Solar Electricity Plan in your area now Best Solar Feed-In Rates in Victoria The below table shows the minimum and maximum FiT rates per electricity retailer. Note that it doesn’t show the time varying feed-in tariff.RetailerStateMin Solar FITMax Solar FITNotable ConditionsDodoVIC12.0c12.0c1st EnergyVIC6.7c11.7cSumoVIC6.7c10.2cTango EnergyVIC6.7c10.1cMust install through Tango and capped at 3.5kWh per dayMomentum EnergyVIC6.7c10.0cSystem size 10kW maxOrigin EnergyVIC6.7c10.0cOnly if buy solar through Origin – 10kW maxElysian EnergyVIC0.0c10.0cSystem size 5kW maxReAmped EnergyVIC7.1c9.1cSystem size 10kW maxRed EnergyVIC6.7c8.0cLumo EnergyVIC6.7c8.0cOVO EnergyVIC6.7c8.0cEnergy AustraliaVIC7.1c7.1cEnergy LocalsVIC6.7c7.0cCircular EnergyVIC7.0c7.0cIndigo PowerVIC7.0c7.0cDiamond EnergyVIC0.0c7.0cPowerdirectVIC6.7c6.7cDiscover EnergyVIC6.7c6.7ccapped at 300kWh per quarterElectricity In A BoxVIC6.7c6.7cPowershopVIC6.7c6.7cGloBird EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cQEnergyVIC6.7c6.7cAGLVIC6.7c6.7cSystem size 10kW maxAlinta EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cSystem size 5kW maxPeople EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cSimply EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cKogan EnergyVIC6.7c6.7cCovaUVIC0.0c0.0cPowerclubVICAmber ElectricNSWMarket linked FIT (Variable)PowerclubNSWMarket linked FIT (Variable)Social EnergyNSWMust install solar and battery through Social Energy *Please note that we periodically update these tables. Please email us at [email protected] if anything is out of date. What solar system size limits exist in Victoria?How electricity is transported. (Image via AEMO. Click to enlarge.) Originally the Australian electricity grid was designed with unidirectional power flow in mind, i.e. one way flow of electricity along a series of networks starting from the generator to the household owner. Currently with over 2 million home solar systems across Australian rooftops, network operators are reporting issues with congestion and voltage rise across the grid. The main way they limit this issue is through the implementation of size limits for solar inverter capacities and export limits for exported solar energy. In Victoria there are 4 Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) and each have different restrictions on what can be installed. See our guide below. NetworkDescriptionReferencesUnited EnergySingle phase: 10kW system size limit 3-phase: 30kW system size limit.Solar EnergyCitipower/PowercorSingle phase: Up to 5kW system size limit (by inverter) 3-phase: Up to 30kW system size limit (by inverter at 10kW per phase)Solar and other generationJemenaSingle phase: Up to 10kVA (by inverter) 3-phase: Up to 30kVA (by 10kW per phase inverter)Embedded generation enquiryAusnetSingle phase: Up to 10kW system size limit 3-phase: Up to 30kW system size limitSolar capacity pre-approval Caveat to these rules per network: The information in the table above serves as a general guideline to get you started. Just be aware that the actual implementation will differ depending on your area and specific network. We recommend that you discuss your options with your solar installer who should be an expert in getting solar systems approved by your local network.Is the limit strict or is there a way to get around it? In some cases your network may allow you to install a larger system then their standard rules, but you may have to meet certain requirements. This could involve having export limitations or paying an additional cost for upgrades to the physical network in your area.Does the limit apply to solar inverter capacity exclusively? Or does it also include battery inverter capacity?It’s important to note the distinction here. Some networks don’t count battery inverter capacity towards their stated maximum size limits because of the fact that battery systems with their own dedicated inverters generally don’t automatically export surplus solar electricity to the grid. This is in contrast to modern, grid-connected solar systems which do.Will you need to install additional technology on your solar system which has an ‘export limit’? What about ‘solar smoothing’?Export limiters prevent your system exporting solar into the grid over a specific threshold, such as the 3kW limit for a 5kW system. Using this type of technology it might be possible to exceed the above limits and install a larger solar power system.Some networks will also require what is known as a ‘solar smoothing’ device. This is a small battery bank that stops any sudden drops in your solar system energy output due to clouds passing overhead. In particular, these devices help make the solar output on ‘thin’, spindly grids in regional areas more manageable. Find the best Solar Electricity Plan in your area now What retailer has the best solar feed-in tariff in VIC? At the time of writing (November 2021), Dodo has the best solar feed-in tariff in VIC, whereby the maximum a customer can get is 12 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh). . They are followed by 1st Energy in second place with an offer of 11.7 c/kWh. Is there a minimum feed-in tariff in VIC? Luckily there is a minimum feed-in tariff for solar customers that is mandated by the Victorian government. In Victoria, electricity retailers with more […]
Best NSW Solar Feed-In Tariffs

Solar feed-in tariffs are a payment that you receive from your chosen electricity supplier in exchange for any surplus clean energy that your solar panels feed back into the grid. There have been many changes to this legislation in New South Wales over the last few years. When solar panels were new 10 years ago, the feed-in tariff that residential households received for exporting to the grid was a lot higher than it is today, which gave the industry a good kickstart. Since then, the amount received for solar exports has dropped considerably. This has led some people to question whether solar is worth it in Australia. (Spoiler alert: We come to the conclusion that going solar still makes sense with enough value to be created simply be reducing the amount of energy you buy off retailers) Many solar consumers are also motivated to take action on climate change and reduce their own personal carbon footprint. In most of the scenarios we have looked at recently, we have observed the payback period to be anywhere between 3 – 5 years for an appropriately sized residential solar system (without a battery). Of course this depends on the brand and model of solar panels and whether there are any extra costs for your installation. If you’re looking for the best solar feed-in tariff rates in NSW, we’ve provided you with a table that lists the rates of the major electricity retailers in the state. We’ve also provided you with other considerations we recommend you take into account in your decision making process Be careful of retailers offering a high solar feed-in tariff as a drawcard Don’t fall for the trap of jumping for a retailer solely on having the highest feed-in tariff rate In most cases the plans with the highest feed-in rates also have high electricity purchase rates. It is important to get an overall picture of the net spend on each electricity plan to make an informed decision. Find the best Solar Electricity Plan in your area now Solar feed-in tariff rates in NSW:RetailerStateMin Solar FITMax Solar FITNotable ConditionsMojo PowerNSW7.5c22.0cCapped at first 5kWh per dayRed EnergyNSW6.0c18.0cCapped at first 5kWh per dayDiscover EnergyNSW6.0c16.0cCapped at 300kWh per quarterActewAGLNSW8.0c15.0cSystem size 10kW maxAGLNSW7.0c12.0cSystem size 10kW max1st EnergyNSW6.0c11.0cGEE EnergyNSW5.0c11.0cCapped at 10kWh per dayMomentum EnergyNSW0.0c10.0cSystem size 10kW maxSmart EnergyNSW7.0c10.0cOrigin EnergyNSW5.0c10.0cOnly if buy solar through OriginReAmped EnergyNSW0.0c9.0cSystem size 10kW maxElysian EnergyNSW0.0c9.0cSystem size 10kW maxCovaUNSW0.0c8.5cPeople EnergyNSW8.0c8.0cQEnergyNSW8.0c8.0cSumoNSW5.5c8.0cEnergy AustraliaNSW7.6c7.6cSystem size 10kW maxEnova EnergyNSW0.0c7.0cEnergy LocalsNSW7.0c7.0cDodoNSW7.0c7.0cBright Spark PowerNSW7.0c7.0cCircular EnergyNSW7.0c7.0cElectricity in a BoxNSW7.0c7.0cIndigo PowerNSW7.0c7.0cGlow PowerNSW7.0c7.0cDiamond EnergyNSW0.0c7.0cOVO EnergyNSW0.0c7.0cAlinta EnergyNSW6.7c6.7cInverter size 5kW maxRadian EnergyNSW6.0c6.0cPooled EnergyNSW4.5c6.0cSimply EnergyNSW5.5c5.5cTango EnergyNSW5.5c5.5cMust install through Tango and capped at 3.5kWh per dayNectrNSW5.5c5.5cPowerdirectNSW5.0c5.0cPowershopNSW0.0c5.0cSystem size 10kW maxKogan EnergyNSW4.4c4.4cFuture X PowerNSW4.0c4.0cGloBird EnergyNSW1.0c3.0cLocality Planning EnergyNSW0.0c8.5cOn by EnergyAustraliaNSW0.0c0.0cArc Energy GroupNSW0.0c0.0cAmber ElectricNSWMarket linked FIT (Variable)PowerclubNSWMarket linked FIT (Variable)Social EnergyNSWMust install solar and battery through Social Energy *Please note that we periodically update these tables. Please email us at [email protected] if anything is out of date. Why you should consider other factors apart from just feed-in tariffs As mentioned above, because the amount received from solar feed-in tariffs has decreased considerably in the last 10 years, consumers should consider other factors in their decision making process Beyond financial factors, there may be other factors you may consider such as providing good customer service. There’s nothing more frustrating to Australian consumers than talking to someone in an outsourced customer support team. For others, choosing a retailer that is more environmentally friendly even if they come with a higher price tag. Although the premium tariffs are no longer in place, low solar PV system prices mean that they are no longer as important as they once were for solar to make financial sense. Increasing electricity costs also provide an incentive to invest in a solar PV system, as it offers homeowners a means of taking control of their energy bills (read more aboutsolar self-consumption The trend towards solar self-consumptionAn example how home energy consumption and solar production from a 5kW solar system intersect during the day. The red area above the blue line represents exported solar energy. There is now a trend of one’s motivation towards solar self-consumption, which focuses on designing an appropriately sized system for your energy bill and shifting as much of your power usage as possible to ‘solar power hours’. A typical household buys energy at 20-30 c/kWh and is offered a feed-in tariff of 5-10 c/kWh. Its a logical conclusion that offsetting the amount of energy you buy from your electricity retailer is more valuable than selling it back to them. This also supports the concept of a solar battery to store excess energy to reuse at night times. So it’s clear that the justification for going solar in NSW today is for ‘self-consumption’. Hopefully you’ll be informed about how much you can get for your excess solar power from the major electricity retailers so you can make an educated decision about what one to choose. Is there a minimum feed-in tariff in NSW? At the moment, there is no mandatory minimum feed-in tariff rate in NSW. Instead, individual electricity retailers assign a value to exported solar power as they see fit. It is a competitive market so electricity retailers do have an incentive to offer a reasonable feed in tariff to win customers with solar panels installed. According to Energy NSW the benchmark rate is 6.0 to 7.3 cents per kWh for 2021 in NSW. Find the best Solar Electricity Plan in your area now What retailer has the best solar feed-in tariff in NSW? At the time of writing (June 2021), Mojo Power currently has the highest solar feed-in tariff offer in NSW, whereby the maximum a customer can get is 22 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh). ReAmped Energy comes in second with 21 c/kWH with Red Energy at third with 18 c/kWh. Each of those plans is subject to eligibility criteria and specific terms and conditions which you can read on their websites. What are the solar system network limits in NSW?How […]
How to choose best solar inverter in Australia?

Choosing the right inverter technology for a system is one of the most critical decisions to make when going solar. Professional solar installers help one in choosing the right sized inverters for their solar system. By checking out the Clean Energy Council’s approved products list one can make sure whether solar inverter complies with the relevant Australian Standard (AS4777). A 5kW solar inverter costs start at $1,000 for budget, single-phase models like Sungrow and up to $2,000 for the premium single-phase models like Fronius or SMA. Solar inverters are located near electricity meter and should always be located in the shade for best performance. Budget Inverter Vs Premium Inverter As solar inverters work hard all the day, they wear out easily and is most likely to fail in 10 to 15 years. The really cheap products have no chance of lasting 15 years plus in Australia. Australia’s harsh weather conditions make it difficult and expensive to design and manufacture a good solar inverter. The price difference between opting for a premium inverter such as Fronius or SMA versus a budget inverter like Sungrow is $700 to $1,000 per system. Enphase is the most expensive of the lot as it needs one micro-inverter per panel. If one is on a limited budget, they can go for a budget inverter over premium inverters. A budget solar inverter is about half the price of a premium one. The premium inverter is less likely to fail in the first 15 years. Even if it fails, the support and replacement will be covered by the warranty. Types of inverters String Inverters It is the most common type of inverter used for residential purposes. A string inverter is connected with a string of solar panels. Besides being robust they are durable and easy to maintain. It is a trusted technology and much cheaper compared to other inverters. Its drawback is that as all the solar panels are connected, a shaded panel would affect the efficiency of the whole system. Once a string inverter of certain rating is installed, it cannot be altered. Hence expandability in future becomes an issue. String inverters are ideal in areas where there is no shading issues around the year. Central Inverters They are inverters of higher power rating. It is used for large commercial installations or utility scale solar farms. They look like big metal cabinets and can handle up to megawatts of capacity per enclosure. It centralizes the power produced by the plant. Microinverters Microinverters deliver more energy as they optimise each panel individually. They are tiny solar inverters which are shade tolerant and can be remote monitored. The main disadvantage of a Micro Inverter is it’s higher initial cost and the higher cost of replacing. It is very suitable for residential buildings where each panel can be differently oriented or have different shading pattern during the day. It is useful when limited space for panels constrains array size Optimised string inverters Optimiser string inverters perform like microinverter but use slightly different technology. An optimiser system requires a string inverter, but you then attach optimisers on the back of the solar panels, optimising each panel output under a variety of conditions. Hybrid Inverters A hybrid inverter works as on-grid and off-grid solar inverter. They are multi-mode inverters. It can work without a grid. It can store electricity and provide power backup. Excess electricity can be exported to the grid. It converts DC power from modules to usable AC power and then convert stored AC from the batteries to power loads when needed Hybrid inverters are useful when there is no access to a reliable power grid. Battery inverters Though expensive, battery inverters are a good option when one wants to retrofit batteries to your solar power system, or keep your battery system separate from your solar panels This simply converts your battery power into 230V AC and feeds it into your switchboard instead of grid power where possible. Top Solar Inverter Brands Some of the high-end solar inverter brands in Australia are:Fronius – Over the past 10 years, Fronius inverters have become the favourite of Australian solar market. Fronius inverters are efficient and reliable and forms an indispensable part of every solar system.SolarEdge – SolarEdge introduced the concept of string inverter matched with individual DC optimisers on each solar panel. SolarEdge also has some clever hybrid inverter designs. Their inverters speak of reliability and efficiencyEnphase – Enphase is the only microinverter manufacturer in Australia. Their systems have many advantages over string systems, such as safer voltages and fault tolerance. Flexibility and reliability are its forte. Some of the best budget solar inverters in Australia are:Sungrow – It has some great features such as integration with Solar Analytics. Sungrow inverters are mid-range solar inverter in terms of performance, price and warranty serving 99%+ efficiency.Goodwe- It is a budget inverter brand with a good reputation for reliability and features. This is definitely a good budget option for those who are looking for a quick payback period and a fast return on investment.Growatt – It is recognized as being the No.1 Chinese Residential PV inverter brand. Their price point and high performing technology has made them popular in Australia. Warranty of solar inverters An average standard warranty period of solar inverters in Australia is 10 years. Some companies offer the possibility to extend this period to up to 20 years. Manufacturer’s warranty covers the cost of the materials required to get your inverter functioning. They can even opt to replace the entire inverter. Only a few manufacturer warranties (such as Fronius) cover the labour cost to effect a repair, travel charges for service calls outside immediate service and, the shipping and or customs/duties charges associated with getting the required materials shipped from international destinations To claim a warranty, we need to contact service provider as a first step. If you have given them access to your monitoring system, they can determine the nature of the issue and begin the appropriate warranty claim […]
Best Solar Pool Cover of 2021

Best Solar Pool Covers: Top-rated Reviews As any pool owner knows, it can cost a small fortune to heat the water. Using the right solar pool cover can save you up to 70% on heating costs by absorbing solar energy and blocking evaporation (1). Here, we’re going to go over the best solar pool cover … Read moreDid you miss our previous article… https://www.narecsolar.com/?p=514
Energy Efficient Homes

THE ECONOMY IS RECOVERING, more people are remodeling or building new homes, technology is rapidly evolving and laws are changing. You need to stay ahead and this is the place to do it. Better yet, the Energy Center of the World features nationally-recognized expertise and education to drive building and retrofitting energy efficient homes that help … Read more
Renewable Energy – The Only Clean Alternatives That Matter

What Is Renewable Energy? What Is Dirty Energy Types of Renewable Energy Sources Solar Energy Wind Energy Nuclear Energy Hydroelectric Power Biomass Energy Geothermal Energy Ocean FAQs Is renewable energy more expensive? What is the best alternative energy source? What is most likely a main goal of using clean energy? What is clean electricity?Did you miss our previous article… https://www.narecsolar.com/?p=508
Are solar panels worth the investment?

Are solar panels worth the investment? This is an oft repeated question faced by solar power business of Western Australia. With the cry for energy independence, solar energy and battery storage systems are quickly becoming the norm. Irrespective of electricity consumption, solar panels are worth buying in every Australian state, solar panels Perth is no exception. Going solar is quite beneficial if one has budget for a good quality solar system from reputable installers. A good brand solar system has a life span of 25+ years and is expected to give savings for 25 years while generating clean energy for all those years. With proper sizing, one can get return of their investment in 4 to 6 years. Solar panels Perth is a good investment. Most of them get paid back in 4 -6 years, though there are few where repayment period is as little as 4 years. It all depends on the cost of solar panels Perth, government rebates and the savings it makes. Electricity generation and pay back Electricity generation and pay back are depends on variables like the location, roof orientation, tilt and electricity usage habits. A 5kW solar system will generate around 20kWh a day and can save up to around $50,000 on the electricity bills over the entire life of the system. Battery storage enables households to run their home entirely off solar power. In 2021, the most commonly installed solar panel Perth is a 6.6kW solar system. A good 6.6kW solar system Perth would cost anywhere between $6,000 – $8,500. Installation of an 8kW solar system with good quality panels will cost around $8000-$9000. It would generate an average of 30kWh per day. A 6.6kW solar system Perth can deliver around $1,200 – $2,000 savings per year whereas 8kW solar system would make a savings of over $3,000 every year on the electricity bills. That justifies the cost of solar panels Perth. The benefit of solar PV in NSW is that it reduces your power bill by around $400 per year per kW of solar energy, so by installing an 8kW solar system one can save up to around $3,400 a year, or $850 on quarterly electricity bill. There are 2 main ways in which one can make savings by enjoying the benefits of home solar system: 1.Self-consumption Consuming the electricity generated by solar PV is the primary way in which one can tackle energy costs. Self- consumption reduces the amount one need to buy from their electricity retailer, thereby reducing the electricity bill. One can save 30c per kWh when they use the solar energy that is directly generated from the panels. Maintaining a high ‘solar self-consumption’ rate will help to optimise the return on investment. 2.Feed in tariff for excess energy If the generated solar energy is fed back into the grid, one will receive a feed-in-tariff. It is the credit for excess power sent to the grid. It is usually around 10c per kWh, but can vary according to the state and the retailer. In WA and NT these rates are fixed, but in other states it is up to your energy retailer. In Victoria there is a mandatory minimum of 10.2c per kWh. The feed in tariff is usually low compared to how much you buy energy for. Installing a good quality solar power system will increase the property value of and also increase the potential rental yield as new owners or tenants can benefit from the solar PV on the roof. When it comes to selling a house, the one with solar PV are more in demand. Solar power business of Western Australia provides a great opportunity for a positive financial and environmental outcome by converting to 100% renewable energy sources by reducing each household’s carbon footprint. Government Rebate Australian government solar rebate is applicable to all solar systems installed with CEC approved panels. Solar system installation in Victoria, are eligible for federal rebate as well as Victorian solar rebate which helps them save up to $1,850 off the cost of a 6.6kWsolar system. The Victorian rebate can significantly reduce the payback of a system. To make lifetime solar savings, we need a good system that last for 25 years. Only good quality systems will last that long. Cheap solar systems will need replacement in a shorter time frame. Therefore, it is not worth the investment. Even for a low energy user, solar panels are still worth it. It is always better to buy a larger solar system as the additional kWs will pay off much faster. Though system installation doesn’t eliminate the electricity bill entirely, it will reduce the bill substantially. With the soaring electricity bills and record low cost of solar panels Perth, people have realised that it is the perfect time to opt for solar system and have ushered in for solar installation to reduce their electricity bills This account for the tremendous increase in solar power business of Australia, in the recent years. The federal solar rebate has come down 9% in 2021. With the federal solar rebate reducing every year, the clients will have to pay a little more for every year that they wait. Victorian rebate is also subject to change. It can be anything from a reduction in the amount to a change to the scheme. Solar panels are getting more efficient each year and, their cost is decreasing; though the curve is flattening. The earlier one goes for solar PV, the better it is as one can save money off their next electricity bill and contribute to the betterment of environment with the renewable energy Solar Battery System Most of the solar installers are of the view that battery systems will not pay for themselves in 2021. Currently a Tesla Powerwall battery system costs around $14,000. With a life span of 10 years and payback period of 15 years one would hesitate investing in a battery system. Waiting for few more years for battery systems to become affordable means […]
Which renewable energy is better, wind or solar?

Among the various renewable energy sources, wind power and solar power are the most popular green energy alternatives for fossil fuels. They play a significant role in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. The equipment for extracting solar and wind power are solar panels and wind turbines. The photovoltaic cells inside solar panels, transform the sun’s radiation into electricity. Wind is also a form of solar energy. The difference in atmospheric pressure caused by the sun’s radiation creates wind. It is a motion-based form of energy. When wind turns the turbine blades, it’s generator converts the energy of the rotating blade into mechanical power. It is then converted into electric power which can be used to power residential and commercial sectors. Wind and sunlight are domestic source of energy. It is sustainable, abundant and inexhaustible. Making our planet greener and cleaner Being a clean source of energy, wind and solar power cut down toxic pollution, thereby making our planet greener and cleaner. It can boost local infrastructure and economies by providing jobs to the local people. With its low operational cost, it can help to power even the most rural regions of the world. But the production, installation, and maintenance of solar panels and wind turbines are expensive. Most of the people fail to afford it without government subsidies. The price has to come down to convince consumers about the adoption of green energy sources. Economic sustainability is the main thing that stands in the way of green energy adoption. To overpower fossil fuels, it is very essential to find a practical, cost-efficient way to store their power when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Both solar power and wind power have some advantages over the other. dvantages of solar energy over wind power: • Solar energy provides a more predictable energy output than wind energy. Energy production can be done in a massive scale with solar farms. • Unlike wind turbines, Solar panels don’t require particular space for installation as they can be installed on the roofs of houses or offices. • Solar panels hardly produce any noise while wind turbines are noisy. Advantages of wind power over solar power: • Solar energy cannot be harnessed at night or during cloudy conditions while wind energy can be harnessed even at night. • Wind is a more efficient power source than solar. Wind turbines release less CO2 to the atmosphere. A wind turbine produces 4.64 grams of CO2/1kWh while the solar panel produces 70 grams of CO2/1kWh. • Windpower consumes less energy and produces more energy compared to solar panels. Which renewable energy is better, wind or solar? Based on geographical location and energy requirements, one can go for solar or wind option. Going for a wrong choice will cause a great financial loss. Renewable energy experts can help in evaluating the situation and provide an advice on the type of renewable energy to be chosen. Both solar energy and wind energy are intermittent. There are locations where one will work better than the other. Which is more effective depend on where in the world you are. In sunnier states, solar panels will produce far more energy than a single wind turbine. If one is in a windy spot, wind turbines will produce more energy. Wind systems require environments that are almost barren of large windbreaks and buildings. That accounts for the turbines positioned in lakes and oceans for power generation. Solar is comfortable in the suburban area As solar panels can be installed on the rooftops of houses, buildings, schools, and businesses, they are more practical for suburban or urban regions. Transparent solar panels are coming to retrofit roofs and windows. For suburban settings and applications, solar power is usually the best choice. A solar power system has no moving parts and is less space-consuming. It has better reliability and a 25year warranty. Solar requires less monitoring and less maintenance. It provides more predictable energy output based on BOM and NASA data. It is totally silent in operation and allows for quicker installation with minimal cables. Solar Power is less susceptible to lightning and high wind damage. The wind turbine is comfortable in the rural area Most of the local government authorities are against erecting wind turbines in townships as it creates noise and might raise complaints from the neighbours. Wind turbines are not suitable for urban areas. It is ideal for rural regions far from cities that are most in need of power. A wind turbine can generate the same amount of electricity per kWh as about 48,704 solar panels. It can be built on existing farms or ranches. It doesn’t affect the farmers working in that land as it uses only a fraction of a land. They will also get the rent paid by wind power plant owners for using their land. The main concerns of wind turbines are the noise from moving parts and visual impacts to the landscape. Wind turbines affect local wildlife as birds and bats get killed by the spinning of turbine blades. The downside of wind energy is that it need not always be fast enough to turn a turbine. Sometimes it is too fast to damage it as well. Wind turbines need regular maintenance because of the moving parts. Which is more efficient? The efficiency of solar panels and wind turbines are dependent on how well they can convert sunlight into usable electricity. Even the most efficient solar panels convert only about 22% of energy harnessed from sunlight into actual electrical energy. Wind turbines can convert up to 60% of the energy they harness from the wind into usable electrical energy. Wind power is more efficient, but it is not easy to capitalise on wind power, whereas utilising solar power is much easier. Which is cost-effective? Based on the daily usage of electricity, the average amount of sunshine received, and the individual output of panels, one would need around 24 solar panels to meet the energy demands […]

Narec Solar

Australian researchers unlock key to lower cost and longer lasting solar cells

Solar Analytics Plan Optimiser Demo and Review

Links

Latest Posts

Categories