Most
Australians are connected to the National Electricity Grid, a
network of
electric cables and transformers that links power generating stations
to
your house or facility. A Grid Connect Solar System links a series of
solar
panels through a power inverter to the grid.
No
electrical
storage batteries are required as excess electricity generated by the
solar
panels which is not required by devices in the house is redirected into
the
grid. You can balance your power bill so that you have little or
nothing
to pay. Additionally, you can significantly reduce your dwelling
place’s
greenhouse gas emissions by several tonnes per year.
A Commonwealth
Government
initiative, known as the Photovoltaic
Rebate Program, applies to domestic systems sized between 450 and 1,000
Watt
and provides for a rebate based on the amount of solar panel power
generated. The Solar Shop can help with your rebate.
24 x Kaneka Thin Film GEB 60W Solar Panels (1440W)
where
should the panels and inverter be installed?
Wherever
you believe it convenient - bearing in mind that you want maximum sun,
minimum shading. The panels can be installed on your roof or be free
standing. The Solar Shop will provide the information and make
recommendations, then you decide. It is recommended that the solar
panels face north at 30 degrees to the horizontal. The inverter will be
located near your electrical switchboard.
Owner
Gordon Matthew with his angle adjustable, 12 module solar array (12 x
Sharp 175W = 2100W)
how
much maintenance is required?
Very
little. You should keep the solar panels clean. Other than that, you
have clean, free solar electricity, with inverter and panels lasting
over 20 years.
Tilt Adjustable Array Frame
who installs the
system?
We
do.
Installation by our licensed electricians and certified installers will
take
about half a day, and we will show you how to ensure optimal operation
at
all times.
what
happens if the grid goes down?
Your
system is designed to automatically shut down too. This is because the
electricity supply authority requires that your system be isolated from
the grid for safety
reasons when the grid is dead. However batteries can be installed so
that
power is available even when the grid fails. In the event of a
blackout, the
batteries seamlessly continue to supply power to the house without
interruption. The Solar Shop provides maintenance free sealed batteries
supplied an a steel enclosure
as can be seen below. The cost of a battery backed system is typically
around
$4,500 above a grid connect only system.
Battery
Backed Grid Connect Solar System
can I grid connect solar and wind
together?
Yes
you can. Solar Shop can help you with design and installation should
you
desire a hybrid system, taking advantage of energy from both the wind
and sun. Contact The Solar Shop
for
prices
and specifications.
what's an inverter
The grid connect inverter converts the dc electricity
from your solar panels into 240Vac electricity. Inverters can be a
single centralised unit or you can have one inverter per solar panel.
Both centralised and decentralised inverters can give expandability to
your grid connect solar system.
9
x Angle Adjustable Sharp 175W Solar Panels (1575W)
what
will a system power?*
| 450 Watt System |
all your lights, TV, video, microwave
and toaster |
| 900 Watt System |
your lights, TV, video, microwave,
toaster, fridge and
dishwasher (3 uses per week) as well as your computer for two hours a
day. |
| 1,500 Watt System |
This system will provide you with a
Green Kitchen. A
Green
Kitchen
includes running your fridge, microwave,
dishwasher
(3 uses
per week), oven/grill, stove, toaster and
kitchen
lights.
It will also run the rest of your lights, your
TV,
video, stereo and radio.
Alternatively,
this system can run all your lights,
your TV,
video, microwave, toaster, fridge, dishwasher (3 uses per week),
oven/grill, stereo, radio, washing machine (3 uses per week), vacuum
cleaner, iron and your computer for two hours a day. |
| 2,250 Watt System |
Now we're getting into the "Solar
House" category.
With this
system you will
have a Green Kitchen (fridge, microwave, dishwasher (4 uses per week),
oven/grill, stove, toaster and
kitchen
lights. You will also have a Green Laundry
(washing
machine (4 washes per week), clothes dryer (1 use per week), iron and
laundry lights. The system will also power all of your lights, your TV,
video, vacuum cleaner, stereo, radio, power tools, clock radios,
answering machine, sewing
machine
and your computer for four hours a day. |
| 3,000 Watt System |
With this size system you virtually
have a Solar House
with
everything the 2,250W system powers as described above plus the
addition of a large appliance. One example is an air conditioner for 6
hours a day in the three summer months. |
|
