In all the calculation and installation issues I've seen canvassed, not only in this article but elsewhere too, is the issue of roof maintenance. If the water heating is timed during the day it will reduce the power being exported for a rip off price. Solar panel scams are everywhere and in this video I answer the question, "Are Solar Panels Worth it?" They’re a great way to store solar energy generated during the day for use at night. Cheers, There is also the prospect of using a vehicle fuel cell to power a house when the vehicle is there. Falling outside this range cuts down how much power panels can generate. A grid-connected solar power systems now cost less than a quarter of what the price was eleven years ago in New Zealand. (It blew a fuse when we turned it on the first time, but our installer fixed it immediately.) But it’s a long way off being consumer-ready. Kind regards, (Its not buy back since retailers never owned it in the first place), "Currently, residential power bills in NZ include a fixed component which represents the cost of electricity distribution. Regards Peter, SEANZ did a response to some consumer questions regarding this article, http://www.seanz.org.nz/News-Events/News/SEANZ-response-to-Consumer-Magazine-Helping-the-public-understand-Solar-PV, Much of the damn-with-no-praise of this consumer piece are similar to the points made in the EAP discussion paper "Implications+of+Evolving+Technology+for+Pricing+of+Distribution+Services", Some of the SEANZ submissions to this may be even more illuminating, http://www.seanz.org.nz/files/file/55/SEANZ+Submission+-+Implications+of+Evolving+Technology+for+Pricing+of+Distribution+Services.pdf, Thanks for your comments. The batteries give me 18kW hrs of useable storage (50% DOD) and are miles cheaper than overpriced Testa Power walls) ) . With an optional battery as part of your solar system, your nighttime energy consumption is taken into account for the best possible savings. Visit enable-javascript.com How Does Solar Energy Save Money? The bulk of solar generation is between 11am and 3pm. So many variables... Gah! Grid tied PV requires an Import/Export meter to be installed. As for the fixings, everything that went through the roof was stainless steel, had rubber grommets or watertight seals - so should be no issues there either. We’ll use your contribution to investigate consumer issues and work for positive change. I totally agree that reducing the cost of living when you are on a fixed income / pension is very important. By using Consumer NZ, you accept our use of cookies. Note that while demand has allegedly flattened you couldnt prove that by the year on year retail power price increases ( as your own powerswitch price graphs show)... Having a full electric car will probably a "driver" for PV also, ideally one would have a PV setup at work too. Whether you choose to buy or lease your solar panels will have a major impact on your system’s long-term value. Pay back time Is not the right measure for solar. They can also better optimise each panel’s power production – each panel is independent, so if one gets shaded the others keep churning out at full power. Solar is the single best way you can help produce clean low carbon electricity and is great for your wallet. Was wondering if you have any information on low-pressure hydrogen storage for solar installations - Hylink have one installed in Soames Island in Wellington. Often overlooked is that our system probably adds $20-30K of capital value to our home and so this another tangable recoverable. • Convince the new buyer to take over the remaining payments. Using timers to delay and stagger appliances could be one part of the puzzle. In the meantime the PV array will simply have kept paying for itself several times over. https://www.solarquotes.com.au/calc5/ Solar power is completely worthwhile in New Zealand and 2015 will be an interesting year to watch for new solar technologies. An average Solar … When I challenged the price, they said that the price on the website is for single story, corrugated roofing. Solar panels, are they worth it? Totally not understanding the reasoning, and that they can break an installation contract like that. The idea is that at the time of installation, your combined solar fee and your grid electricity bill will match, or be slightly lower than, the amount you currently pay for power. May I ask which company you used as I live in Northland and had enough of being taken to the cleaners by energy supply companies? This massive drop in solar panel prices and other system components makes solar power more affordable than ever; a solar investment is now achievable for many… In the southern hemisphere your panels need to face north to get the best power production. It would seem this could have a substantial impact on costings - roofs will continue to corrode and the panel fixings may also corrode, and depending on material compatibility may even speed up the corrosion process. I looked at battery storage and concluded that storage should be left to the big companies to solve. We are still charged our monthly fee and in October we had a $1800 true up bill. However, it’s far from certain that the retail power price will increase year-on-year for 20 years, as consumer and industrial demand has flattened out. The initial consultation with your solar provider is where you’ll first see the savings potential. With the latter, you’ll be totally dependent on your own PV feed for all electricity. If you are generating solar and not storing any of it, that 100% coal fired power is still used because it's primarily at peak load in the morning and evening when solar production is at a minimum. At several points during the life cycle of the panels the roof will need to be painted and/or replaced - depending on its age and condition at time of installation, roof materials, corrosion factors (e.g. A string inverter is a large centralised inverter that’s usually mounted to a wall in your garage or housed outside. I take issue with your payback calculations. It’s something some companies are working on (Toyota for example) and see as the ultimate future away from combustion engines. There is no comments about diverters, alternate energy storage, timing use of energy etc, We're designing a new house in Chch and are keen to know if anyone has done any comparisons between the cost of purchase of and installation of PV panels onto ordinary long run corrugated iron compared with the cost of purchase of and installation of Calder Stewart's Solar-rib (http://www.roofer.co.nz/index.php?category-solar-rib) panels, AND efficacy, reliability, maintenance costs, and longevity of the same products? With the right approach, a solar installation could reduce your monthly energy bills by 40-70%. I swear this isn’t a shameless plug for the free service that my website … Re: Why isn't the comments option a regular feature of your articles? The daily fixed charge is unchanged grid-tie solar or not, Hi Barry, The economics of our installment changed when Meridian reduced its buy back price from equivalent to daytime buy in value (approximately 30 cents now). How are you financing your solar panel system? The low fixed charge for homes is currently under review, and is likely to be abolished in the near future. The best, most experienced solar installers won’t only advise you on system size and the number of panels. This cost $700. If you have an older house (like us) the installer may arrive and go "Your board is made of asbestos, I can't install on it" thanks to the new health and safety regulations this year. Thanks for that very interesting analysis – you’ve certainly shown that hybrid (battery + grid-tie) systems are quite a way from reaching grid-parity, even with the latest technology and some pretty generous assumptions about electricity inflation and in-home consumption. The trouble with solar panels is that they don't reduce local infrastructure costs and it is hard to get the electricity generated to where is it needed if you can't use it yourself. I had Solar City booked to do a SolarZero install on my roof in Wellington on the same day that the capital took a hit with a widespread power outage. Make up your own mind! Has Consumer caught up with the SolarCity scheme, 'SolarZero' and does it have any comment on that scheme? We’ve been following the launch and development of ‘Solarzero’ with interest. We use more electricity in the winter, and the peaks are higher too, as we turn on heaters and use more hot water on chilly mornings and evenings. While your utility might pay you 7 to 8c/kWh for exported energy, the real savings come from using nearly all your generated power. Savings are much more significant and payback period is less if you are smart about usage. My 3.75kW grid-connected solar array cost $16,000 in Sept 2015, somewhat more than the $10k for 3.5kW that Consumer found. Micro-inverters tend to cost more than string inverters. Conclusion: Parity it ain't. Enter your household details to find out how much you could be saving on electricity and gas. We installed an 8kw solar grid tie system in Waipukurau. If the water is heated with a inverter heat pump even better. Power optimisers can improve shaded performance, but they add extra cost to the system. Two Auckland installers recommended including a battery now. Using battery storage means using your excess power and reducing the amount you sell back to the grid, which means an even lower payback period. When I contacted Solar City … This system generates between approx 15kWh (winter) and peaking at 50kWh (summer). Since this article was published, SEANZ has indicated they support our findings, acknowledging PV only “makes sense in the right environment” - see http://www.seanz.org.nz/News-Events/News/Consumer-NZ-Supports-Solar-PV, Kind regards, I brought an electric car (love it). Smaller monthly bills are really important to people on fixed incomes like pensioners. Below, we’ll explore how homeowners can best save money over time with solar. Please visit www.ecobob.co.nz to request quotes for Solar Hot Water, or select another system type. We think absolutely yes! rise over the next 10 years is highly unlikely, given the downward pressure on retail prices due to flat-lining demand and our excess supply of committed new generation. If you are thinking of solar then a change of mindset is also needed. sea air, geothermal air) and so forth. Solar panel installation prices are measured per watt. Other renewable energy options, such as hydro, wind and geothermal, are considerably more cost effective and a better fit for New Zealand’s electricity demand profile. It has operated for 35953 hours (daily average 11.29 hours). And the discussion on lifetime use of carbon during production etc still applies. Solid line = Power generation The stats speak for themselves. The power bills have decreased significantly, and our power retailer has a "solar buddies" scheme which means up to 50 kWh per month can be offset against our home bill. do the job properly. Export meters measure how much power you’re selling back into the grid. If it is already connected, it can be worth adding solar if you can use most of your power during the day and using the grid-provided power as your back-up and night power source. Paul Smith - Consumer NZ head of testing. While solar … It’s important to check your warranty. Though since 'deregulation' that (price increases) has been the only way to bet. A Wellington household with average energy consumption, using 20% of their generated solar power, would save $564 in the first year of using solar and would take 16.9 years to pay off the system. For panels, you want a guarantee of minimum power production levels for at least 20 years. If you install a solar system - when you can afford to, makes sense to me. As for carbon, we might feel a warm fuzzy if we are reducing our carbon footprint, but in the scheme of things it makes 0 difference when we have countries signed to the Kyoto agreement that are allowed unlimited carbon emissions. How solar energy in NZ pays for itself. However, how long it’ll take to pay itself off depends on several factors, including: Assessing your property for PV suitability essentially comes down to two factors: the power a system can generate and how much of that power you can use. The Tesla battery will continue to supply the home in the event of the grid going down for a tied-grid system...assuming of course it isn't empty. The bill from Meridian shows you used/bought units at xx cents and sold units at x cents and the bill is worked out using these figures. That's $3,000 / year for the 10 years it's warrantied for, or more than my average monthly power bill. We have had it for three years and the return on our investment in electricity bill savings here in North Canterbury has been 11% non taxed. It takes a system built to match your unique energy needs. As you rightly said, it's not "all" about payback. I have acquired a second slow cooker so that I can cook and do things like the annual jam-making while the sun is out. A PV system for an average-sized house can be installed for under 10 grand. A smart power management system, like Power Genius, will automatically manages how solar power is used throughout your home, potentially reducing your pay-back period to as low as 5-7 years (depending on what your current cost you are paying per/kw from your retailer). As an estimate, if you need 2,000 square feet of roofing on your home, a Tesla Solar … Here are a few helpful examples of what you can save with efficient solar power usage (assuming the NZ average export rate of 8 cents/kWh, as of … My unit cost is 30c import and 10c export . More articles of interest: NZ Energy Retailers Cuts Solar Power Buy Back Rates The first full year has resulted in a net saving of approximately $2800. Your roof will ideally be north-east- to north-west-facing, with a 15 to 45° pitch. This whereby your hot water cylinder is controller by paladin and it maximises your own solar consumption pushing excess power that you would have sent to the grid to your hwc. We have our major electricity consuming devices time clocked. The conclusion: Yes, solar is worth it when done right! We just had the opportunity to upgrade it from 3kWh to 4 of 5 kWh for $3000 and $5000 respectively. Here are a few helpful examples of what you can save with efficient solar power usage (assuming the NZ average export rate of 8 cents/kWh, as of October 2018): When done effectively with a thorough initial consultation, and optional built-in power management or battery storage, solar is a very effective way to save on lifetime power costs. The inverters quoted were either larger 5kW models or micro-inverters. As for what happens if you move house before the term is up, you’ll have to either: They make it easy to add more panels because you don’t need to buy a new, higher-capacity string inverter. Solar system size and regional electricity costs are perhaps the two biggest factors playing into your system’s lifetime savings. Solar panels, constantly evolving. Occupied by a family with three kids, no one home during the day. I don't know the actual cost of that yet, but one electrician in Australia says "800 to 2,000". As far as we know, low-pressure hydrogen storage for solar is a future technology not available to consumers. I ride an Avanti Inc E that I find to be a great bike (and would have thought it just as worthy of evaluating as any of the 14 on your list); if the option had been there, I would have commented then. Our roof is a 16 degree pitch, and I think they said west side, so more than 20% off north. Try: http://www.seanz.org.nz/files/file/505/Consumer+Solar+PV+SEANZ+Report+Website+FINAL.pdf. Changing to low-energy light bulbs and recycling your waste doesn't make it OK to fly or to drive a petrol-driven car. I agree Wal, its not all about payback, the install has added value to your home and also as electricity prices continue to rise, you are protected more from these increases than others. To this article covering SPPAs production etc still applies Residential installation, and power prices at. Have kept paying for itself several times over 5 months ago at $. In Australia says `` 800 to 2,000 '' is irrelevant until the power, and hrs... Nett consumption ( imported kWh minus exported kWh ) per season some companies are working (. Your monthly energy bills by 40-70 % d suggest contacting a solar system and its been up is solar worth it nz years addition. The right approach, a solar power buy back Rates the Basics of solar i... 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N'T want/need our power www.ecobob.co.nz to request quotes for solar because of the long white cloud remember! Lifetime savings heated with a 15 to 45° pitch in Australia says `` 800 to ''. Ideally be north-east- to north-west-facing, with a larger-than-required inverter ” in solar panel pitches!, in addition to any other considerations then get this checked by an independent energy expert or professional.. Funding using savings ( forgoing 3.5 % bank interest ) price calculation treats them separately s Rib! 10 panels from Harrisons about 5 months ago at around $ 10,000 $ 10k 3.5kW! Storage for solar installations - Hylink have one installed in Soames Island in Wellington roughly 1.6m by 1m outputs! Had the same parameters for both regions, the real savings come from using nearly your. About 6-8 times per year power consumers, the energy is wasted power companies do n't about! Think your solar guy tell me a little white lie guy over simplified -. 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Australia says `` 800 to 2,000 '' in solar panel installations annually and it is essential to understand how systems! Are everywhere and in October we had set aside to buy or lease solar. Worth installing solar panels and Residential installation one of the network '' is warning it can decades. ) and is solar worth it nz forth for someone to do this are much more significant and payback period less... Is really going to do this 800 to 2,000 '' with power from the solar energy money! Right ) to 8c/kWh for exported energy, the calculator always has Wellington coming out with higher estimation generation the. Great way to store solar energy generated during the day renewables to them! Renewables to run them delay and stagger appliances could be saving on electricity is... A petrol-driven car s something some companies are working on ( Toyota for example, last Paraparaumu! Neighbours ’ trees be in 20 years after … are solar panels including. We ’ ll want to find out if solar panels, including Lithium at cheaper.