Looking for recommendation for solar panels for new home.
Is it better to go with hybrid or regular ? Pros and cons pls
Please suggest on below
Looking at a previous bill, below are inputs :
Usage is - 300KWH / Month
Avg daily - 10KWH
Day/night - More during day than night
Electricty + Gas ( water heating is gas)
Ducted reverse a/c
No swimming pool
Budget - 5k including install
Avg daily - 10KWH
Rather low daily usage. Do an ROI calc on a 5k solar system assuming you don't move to elec hot water, don't have significant loads like swimming pool you can load shift, so likely going to be using maybe 30% of generation and exporting the rest at less than 10c/kwh.
Average daily solar generation of a 5kw inverter system (no way youre getting anything not garbage looking at a 10kw system for 5k) varies depending on location in the country.
Google to work out average solar generation for your area (also assumes decent roof orientation). Take 70% of that and multiply by say 5c/kWh for a low expected feed in rate (worst case scenario)
For example, Sydney daily average would be low 20kwh per day over the year. Doing rough maths, but you'd need to replace this with your location in the country, your current elec bill rates which differ based on location also:
70% export of that would be about $300 fit for the year (at 5c/kWh fit).
The remaining would save you (at about 25c/kWh for assumed rough average day time power costs, mix of peak/shoulder) would save you about ~$550 (probably best case scenario)
So random numbers make ~$800 a year 'benefit', so 6 year to 'break even'.
Look at battery systems and that ROI would be worse again (by a fair bit due to battery cost and your low usage, you wouldn't even use 'all' your generation so still relying on fit, and unless you get very tech nerdy and try to take advantage of battery export during peak grid demand times with providers that do spot pricing etc)
Many don't do the maths and assume (for a low usage household) a solar system can have immediate and decent financial benefits.
(Have solar, actively monitor it, export usage to pvoutput, load shift where possible, removed gas and moved to elec hot water etc…not against solar, but also not for people blindly dropping 5k without doing basic sums)
I really appreciate your detailed response. Some interesting facts for me to consider.
Thanks
For you, dig deeper on your usage during summer and during winter.
Make sure you understand if you get a 10kW system, thats the peak power say around 1pm standard time (2pm daylight saving time). You get less and hour either side, and almost none around sunrise and sunset.
Now back onto your question. If you able to get a quote within your budget:
Aim for a 13kW solar panels with 10kW inverter. Get the installer to advise you on the pros of oversizing. The cons will be cost.
If 10kW is too costly for you, ill get 6.6kW solar panels with 5kW inverter.
I honestly dont think hybrid gives you the bang from ROI, but if you live in power interruption prone area, hybrid will keep your fridge, gas stove and internet running. That means happier kids and can feed the family.
At 5k budget, seriously Jinko brand to get your ROI faster
Thanks a bunch
Budget - 5k including install
No batteries for that money.
You'll get an acceptable 6.6kW system or a cheap 10kW system for that (in NSW at least, VIC might be a bit cheaper).
Have a look at SolarQuotes.com.au. It has all the info you need.
Have you checked out https://www.solarquotes.com.au/? There's a lot of good information there that answers the questions you have and many you probably want to ask. I'd start at https://www.solarquotes.com.au/solar101.html.
In addition to avoidfullprice's questions, will the house be elec/gas or just elec?
Sure. Will check this
10kw hybrid. Fronius. No battery just yet. Jinko panels or similar.
Thanks a bunch
or feed in tariff ?
What feed-in tariff? Pretty much get bugger all these days. I get 5c per kwh.
If you can, get a battery to store the excess.
Ok, good to know that there is not much benefit with feed in tariff.
Yeah, like you get some benefit. However, it really isn't much. Like last month I fed in 93.76kWh which was all of $5. It does all add up, but it doesn't even buy a large coffee at Maccas (which is $5.25). Month to date, I have fed in 96.12kWh which is $5.19 still with a week left. That is in winter.
If I look at January, I fed in 285.14kWh but that was only $15.40.
So it is nice to get something back, but it isn't a lot.
You need to work out what will fit on your roof and go from there. Full up the most north facing roof first followed by west and east. Consider any shading and if you think you'll use more power in the afternoon or morning.
Easiest way is to get some quotes to give you a few options.
Sure. Thanks
Please provide your usage (how many kWh you use a day), usage pattern (how much kW you use hour by hour; do you use most during the day or at night) and home appliances (reverse A/C, swimming pool, hot water systems etc)
Without above no one can give you any meaningful suggestions or advices.
In terms of inverter brand and whether to go hybrid, please provide your upfront budget and your ideal payback period.
Importantly, search a reputable installer around your area. I don’t know where you live so no suggestion can be given.