Why Are You Considering Solar Energy?
Several factors have combined to make solar power (photovoltaic) increasingly attractive in Perth, Western Australia:
- Growing awareness of climate change and the need for renewable energy to replace fossil fuels. The average family in Perth, Western Australia will save 0.9kg of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity used by switching from grid power to solar power.
- Solar power is an attractive option for homeowners - solar power is clean, green, emission free, safe, no noise pollution, long panel life, relatively attractive, easy to
have installed and free once you have paid the initial capital cost - minimal maintenance and very few moving parts - Increasing power bills - in Perth, Synergy's standard domestic tariff has increased substantially since June 2008 and 1 July 2011 the price increased another 5% to 21.9 cents per unit.
- Federal government assistance - solar credits cover around $1,700 - $3,400 of the purchase price of a 1.5kW photovoltaic (PV) system so the customer only has to pay the balance (around $5,000 to $9,000). This based on a solar credit multiplier of 3 which applies from 1 July 2011. The solar credits reduced to a multiplier of 2 from 1 July 2012 and from 1 July 2013 there will be federal govermnment assistance apart from the RECs.
- State government subsidies on power sold back to the grid have ceased. The feed-in tariff commenced 1 August 2010 and ceased 2 August 2011.
- Research and development, mass production and new entrants to the market continually reduce the cost of and increase the efficiency of PV systems
- Installing a PV system may increase the value of your home
An average family consumes 10 - 20 units of electricity a day. A 2 - 3kW system will supply most of an average family's needs. The government rebate is limited to a 1.5kW system, beyond that renewable energy credits are received for the excess capacity. This results in the price of a PV system increasing steeply as you grow beyond 1.5kW.Consequently most people have to weigh up whether they want a bigger system to cover all their power bills or are happier with a much cheaper 1.5kW system. There is a big difference in the quality of PV systems and it is crucial to get a system designed and installed to maximise power generation. Air and Water Residential's sales staff can help you choose the right system to meet your needs and budget.
So if you are new to PV I hope this site will help you in the quest to find the right system for you as there is quite a lot of confusing and even conflicting information around. We are in the market to sell solar power but we believe in providing accurate quality information as a well informed customer is more likely to get a system that meets his or her needs.
These pages have been geared to grid connected systems for domestic use in Western Australia. If you are looking for an off grid system or commercial system, please refer to those specific pages. If you live outside of Western Australia, please be aware that the information in this website may not apply to your region.
Please note, for safety reasons, grid connected photovoltaic systems do not work during times when your mains power is out.
