If you are considering putting some solar panels on your roof, then I strongly recommend that you have a physical site inspection before getting firm quotes.
Since I started SolarQuotes many years ago, we’ve handled hundreds of thousands of quote requests and over those years the most frequent complaint I’ve had from people looking for quotes is:
“This solar installer won’t even give me a ballpark price for a solar system! He’s insisting on coming round to my house first!”
Australian waste management group Veolia Environment Services are very proud of themselves this week as they prepare to celebrate the installing of their brand-new, state-of-the-art solar powered energy source at its Arndell Park facility in NSW.
On Feb.23, the company will be hosting a knees-up to mark the recent installation of the 50 kW solar panel system, which has been added as part of the company’s drive towards boosting its renewable energy source. The project — in collaboration with BP Solar and installed by Solar Technology — is a key part of the Blacktown Solar City project, described, a little breathlessly in a company press release of Feb. 14, as being derived from “…a $94 million Australian Government initiative to help lay the foundations of a sustainable energy future.”
Short Answer: Probably Not.
Longer Answer:
Ah, the joys of STC prices! Every so often I get an email from someone who is desperately worried that their solar installer is using the STC price to rip them off.
The suspicion is usually kicked off by one of two things: [Read more…]
Here is a photo I took of a house around the corner from me.
As you can see, it has solar panels on 2 separate roof areas. In solar jargon, you would say there are 2 “strings” of solar panels.
The main string is facing North, which is the best roof orientation for solar panels. These panels should get the optimum amount of sun throughout the day.
The smaller string is facing East. These panels will get 15-20% less sunlight than the panels facing North.
Obviously the installer could not fit all the panels on the North facing roof. Fair enough.
If your home will require solar panels on multiple roof areas, which face different directions, then you should use a special type of inverter to ensure that you still get good system performance. [Read more…]
I got this email today:
“Hi Finn,
I’ve got a quote for a 1.5kW solar system for $2500 and a 3kW system for $6000. I want 3kW. Why don’t I just buy 2 x 1.5kW systems???
Cheers, Bob”
Bloody good question Sir!
In fact I can’t believe more people don’t ask this question. But, as always, if something seems too good to be true…
Thinking of buying a solar power system to kill your electricity bill?
Then this one simple action could shave a whole kW off the size of solar system that you need to buy to get that magical zero dollar electricity bill.
The announcement last month from R&D company Silex Systems that construction on Australia’s largest solar power station at Mildura, VIC, has begun gladdens the heart. And the hip pocket nerve. After all Victorian and federal taxpayers are helping to fund this venture to the tune of around $120 million.
I get asked this question a lot.
Unfortunately the short answer is: No – A standard grid connect solar system will not protect you from blackouts.
Kind of counter intuitive isn’t it? You go to the trouble and expense of your own little solar power station, and then you have no power if the electricity grid goes down. [Read more…]
One of the questions that lands in my inbox almost every day is this:
“Hey Finn – I’ve been made a fantastic offer on a shiny new solar power system for my home. It is heaps cheaper than every one else on the market. Is it too good to be true or a genuine bargain???”
Here are 13 Solar Questions to quickly ask either yourself or the solar sales dude that will help you decide. [Read more…]
1. Buying the cheapest – because it is the cheapest.
If a solar system seems too cheap to be true, then it is probably is!
Here are 4 ways they get the price so low:
a) The solar company is buying absolute junk panels and inverters on the spot market in China
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