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Solar
Solar Design
HOME BATTERY SUBSIDY
Interested in learning more about the home battery subsidy? We’re ready to support homes in our area of operations. Learn more about the subsidy here.
Interested in a solar solution on the Sunshine Coast? Solar solutions are a significant implementation – there are quite a few considerations involved. Our solar design process will help. It all begins with a free consultation and quote – simply contact our team to get started. We work together with you to appraise and understand the considerations in your solar project to create a customised solution for your rooftop.
Solar Design Process
Our solar design process will help you to understand:
- Your current and future energy needs
- Understanding different approaches to solar
- Determine your objectives RE grid power
- Understanding Return on Investment
- Evaluate your rooftop capacity
- The key considerations of implementation
Our Approach to Solar
We approach every solar installation as a unique project. We customise our solutions to suit your home or business. Read more about our solar solutions here.
How to Get Started
Simply contact us below to organise a free solar design consultation and quote. It’s a simple and rapid process which we think is a great way to start to the solar journey – by being informed and aware of the important considerations involved in solar for your home or business.
Book a Free Solar Consultation
If you’re interested in learning more about solar solutions or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.
Battery Benefits
HOME BATTERY SUBSIDY
Interested in learning more about the home battery subsidy? We’re ready to support homes in our area of operations. Learn more about the subsidy here.
Information SRC: qld.gov.au
Use more of the energy you generate
Batteries allow you to use more of the power your solar panels are producing. By installing a battery, you can store your solar-generated electricity from the middle of the day and use it later when you need it.
Reduce your power bills
Storing your excess solar-generated electricity can increase your energy savings. By connecting your solar panels to a home battery system, you may reduce the amount of electricity that you need to buy from the grid.
A battery’s high initial cost means that savings in energy bills may not be enough to recover installation and running costs within the system’s lifespan. See more details below on calculating the payback period.
Greater energy security
Grid-connected solar systems are typically designed to switch off during a power outage whether they have a battery or not. This is to protect those who are working on nearby electricity lines.
You can still have a working solar PV system during a power outage if you have batteries designed to provide a backup power supply. Some batteries come with built-in backup power capability, while others have the option to add that on for an additional cost.
Installations designed to provide backup supply can safely disconnect your house from the grid and continue to supply you with stored battery power. There are two types of blackout protection:
- Whole-of-home backup batteries, which power everything in the house during a blackout but will drain quicker.
- Essential load backup, which prioritises powering the essentials such as lighting and fridges and helps the supply last longer.
If you wish to design a solar battery system with backup, communicate this to your installer so they can design a system that suits your needs.
If your home is impacted or damaged by storms, it is no longer safe to use your solar PV system or your solar battery system. Follow the shut-down procedures for each system, if it is safe to do so.
Environmental considerations
You may be considering a battery to help with climate change mitigation. A battery does not directly reduce the use of fossil fuels in the grid, but it does allow you to maximise the use of renewable energy that your solar system generates.
Solar and wind don’t always produce electricity when we need it, so it can be helpful to store any surplus renewable energy for use at other times.
Using stored solar energy from your solar system can help reduce your carbon footprint.
Calculating the payback period
The payback period is the amount of time it takes for the energy bill savings to equal the amount of money spent on the battery system. If the payback period occurs within the system’s anticipated lifespan, the system can be considered a positive investment.
Calculating the payback period involves a lot of factors including:
- electricity consumption
- location
- energy and solar feed-in tariffs
- warranty and life expectancy of your battery
- the cost and performance of your system.
A very simplistic calculation is:
Upfront system cost ÷ projected annual savings in energy bills = estimated payback period in years
For a more accurate payback period calculation, you will need to include a range of additional factors such as the:
- level of battery discharge over the course of the year, considering energy use patterns and solar generation
- reduction of battery capacity over your battery’s lifespan
- potential future changes in retail electricity prices
- efficiency losses between solar, the battery and your appliances.
Several online calculators exist that can help you work out the payback period. Reputable suppliers can also assist in calculating the payback period for you.
More information
Learn More About Battery Solutions
If you’re interested in learning more about battery solutions or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.
Approaching Solar Energy
HOME BATTERY SUBSIDY
Interested in learning more about the home battery subsidy? We’re ready to support homes in our area of operations. Learn more about the subsidy here.
Foundational to the Electrification and Energy Independence journey is the ability to generate energy within your home. In Queensland and particularly on the Sunshine Coast we have some of the best solar production conditions in the world. In this article, we take a look at some of the important considerations when investing in solar: rebates, array size, array adaptability, and solar safety.
Solar Rebates
The government offers incentives for solar in the way of rebates which are cost reductions. These rebates reduce each year, towards the goal of concluding in 2031. Therefore, the sooner you opt into solar, the greater the amount of the rebate you will receive. Rebates depend on variables which we calculate for you at the time of purchase, and are automatically factored into your solar pricing.
Solar Solutions: Brands
Solar components are made by different companies around the world. Like all electrical products, some are made better than others – and when you’re collecting and converting electricity on your rooftop, you don’t want to use the cheapest option! We only work with high-quality products and reputable brands, ensuring that your solar installation will be safe, efficient and long-lasting.
Array Size
One of the main considerations with a new solar system is the calculation of the array size. How much energy do you need to collect in order to meet your energy requirements? We make this easier for you by reviewing your historical energy needs, and assessing your future energy objectives. This enables us to tailor your solar array to suit your home and lifestyle.
Post-Installation Adaptability
One way in which different solar systems can be compared is their post-installation adaptability. While many systems can not be easily modified after installation, some can. One such system is the Enphase system which is available as an option with Noosa Electric Co. This system enables post-installation adaptation, so additional panels can be added if your electrical needs change (for example, to support the addition of a new EV).
Customisation Assessment
Solar is customised to your home, and we believe a thorough process is the key to getting a great result. It goes beyond matching up the solar system to your energy needs – there are other considerations that should be taken into account at the time of installation. In addition to solar, our team is here to help you with battery storage (now, or in the future), energy management solutions, timers, and EV charging. While not everything may apply in every case, by assessing your needs thoroughly we can help ensure your solar solution is equipped to take you all the way into the future.
Single Inverter or Microinverters
Solar collection with Noosa Electric Co means choices. One of the main choices is whether you will opt for a single inverter or a Microinverter solution. Both avenues have different advantages. We can help you determine the best solar solution to suit your home. This is something we cover with you during our free consultation and quote.
Solar Safety
Safety should always be a primary consideration with electrical installations. With solar, safety can be optimised through the use of high-quality components, professional installers, adherence to best practices and uptake of new and safer technology. Noosa Electric Co has a reputation for safety, and we provide long-term support for all of our installations including solar. Talk to our team for a solar solution to suit your home or business today.
Battery Storage
In the case of an on-grid solar solution, the system draws energy from the power grid to meet your energy needs. With a battery in place, you have another option – using your own stored electricity. Batteries are an emerging solution. Whether your solution should include one will depend on your budget, home and energy objectives. Importantly, the capability of future battery compatibility should be determined at the time of installation – not all solar systems are battery-compatible.
How to Get Started
Solar installations require professional expertise. We are here to help. With 50+ years of service in the area, Noosa Electric Co are your local electrical specialists. We’re here to help with the assessment and consultation for your solar system, installation, and long-term support. If you’re like to learn more about solar, please contact our team.
Learn More About Solar
If you’re interested in learning more about a solar solution or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.
Avoid this Obvious Solar Mistake
Solar power provides homeowners with a fabulous source of electrical energy. Nowhere is this truer than on the Sunshine Coast, where we enjoy beautiful sunny conditions for most of the year along with a fantastic natural environment.
This article discusses optimising your solar solution – in particular, ensuring your high-use appliances are using solar energy and not power from the grid. If you’re making this mistake, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Let’s check it out.
Not Maximising Your Usage of Solar Production
One of the primary goals of solar installations is to ensure that you are making the most of your solar power. For solar systems (with no battery), that means using power as much as possible during the day – when the sun is shining.
To maximise the benefit of your solar system, it is important to adjust your energy consumption where possible to ensure that you are using the energy you produce, rather than purchasing from your energy retailer.
Examples:
- Run swimming pools between the house of 10am-3pm
- Use household appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers if you must) during the day where possible
One of the largest users of power in the home is the hot water system – electric hot water systems account for approximately a quarter of your electricity bill. [SRC: energyrating.gov.au ]
To make the most of your solar, it’s essential to make sure your hot water system is heating during the day, and using solar power. If it’s heating at night, it will not be using your solar energy (unless you have a battery) and will be drawing power from the grid, causing unnecessary costs.
Part of our service is to optimise electrical configurations.. while this might sound obvious to you, but we have seen quite a few homes where this problem is happening. If you’re going to the effort of collecting solar energy, it only makes sense to maximise it!
The Solution – Install a Timer
The solution is to install a timer on your hot water system that will ensure it only operates during peak solar collection times (during the middle of the day). Having a solar system in place is a significant step, but it’s only one part of the solution. The other part is optimising your home to make the most of solar power.
Get Assistance
If you don’t know when your hot water system is heating or need help organising a timer for your hot water system, or would like further information about optimising your home or business, please contact our team.
Learn More About Solar Solutions
If you’re interested in learning more about solar solutions or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.
Electricity Saving Tips for Winter
Energy is getting expensive. If you haven’t done so already, now is a great time to become familiar with how energy is used in your home, and look at the options you have to optimise your usage – and reduce your power bills.
1. Become Familiar with Your Power Usage
We all use power, but how well do you understand your own power usage? By becoming familiar with key terms and measures, you will be able to build a better picture of how your home is performing power-wise. Here are some key points:
a. Do you know what a Kilowatt-Hour (kWh) is?. This is the measurement used to calculate your electricity usage. A kilowatt hour is 1,000 watts used for one hour.
b. Understand your average annual kWh. Compare it to the Average in QLD for a home with the same number of people living in it. The annual average for QLD is 5535 KwH (SRC: https://www.finder.com.au/how-much-energy-does-the-average-home-use), but the amount varies depending on the area and the number of people. A great option to understand how you stack up is to do the quick test at energymadeeasy.gov.au where you can learn how you perform compared to other similar-sized homes in your local area.
d. Understand how this breaks down monthly.
e. Understand how the different seasons affect your energy use.
f. Review your electricity bill and make sure you are familiar with what it means.
2. Optimise Your Energy Company
Energy companies have different deals. Depending on your needs, using the right company and the right deal can make a big difference.
a. Checkout competitors for best deals
b. Review https://www.canstarblue.com.au/electricity/cheapest-electricity-prices-qld/ for ideas and comparisons
c. Make sure you’re aware of energy discounts which may be available from time to time for items such as: paying your bill on time; paying by direct debit; receiving invoices by email; signing up online; award point programs
d. Be aware of fixed vs variable rates on energy deals
3. On-Peak & Off-Peak
Understanding the difference between on-peak and off-peak is critical to optimise your electrical bill. On-Peak means times during the day when more people use electricity. Off-Peak are times of less electrical usage. Depending on your plan, during on-peak times electricity can be more expensive, and during off-peak times, electricity can be cheaper.
4. Understand Energy Tariffs
Energy tariffs are different ways that electricity usage can be billed. Depending on your needs, using the right tariff can make a big difference to your power bill. The following are examples of tariffs in use in Australia:
a. Single Rate: You pay the same rate at all times of the day.
b. Time of Use: Time of Use tariffs charge electricity at different prices through different times of the day. This can make it cheaper for you to use power at certain times.
c. Controlled Load: When certain devices or appliances (usually, high-energy ones) are metered separately.
d. Demand: With a Demand Tariff, billing is based on how much load you put on the network during peak electrical times.
5. Solar Energy Solutions
By generating your own solar energy, you can eliminate, or minimise, the need for your power to be linked to an electricity provider giving greater control over your electricity usage and saving money in the long-term.
a. Solar plus an electric vehicle saves money on power and fuel
b. Optimise your solar use for different times of the day.
“Using their cheap solar electricity in the middle of the day when it’s being generated is one of the ways that you get the best bang for buck out of having solar panels on your roof.”
Chris Barnes, Choice (SRC: https://bit.ly/3Pl1WUe)
c. Monitor your feed-in tariff (FiT) – what you can earn back on your power bill when your solar system generates more energy than your household uses
d. Manage your solar power using smart software
e. Store power with a battery, to increase your energy independence
Learn More About Energy Management
If you’re interested in learning more about energy management solutions or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.