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The Benefits of solar energy
There are many advantages worth considering when it comes to solar energy and everything that it offers. There are many advantages that solar energy has over oil energy. Not only does solar energy benefit your long financial situation, but it also benefits the environment as well.
Advantage: Solar energy is a completely renewable resource. This means that even when we cannot make use of the sun’s energy because of night time or cloudy and stormy days, we can always rely on the sun showing up the very next day as a constant and consistent energy source.
Advantage: fossil fuel, which is what most people currently use to energy their homes, is not a renewable resource. This means that as soon as the oil is gone, it is gone forever and we will no longer have power or energy.
Advantage: Solar cells make absolutely no noise at all. They do not make a single peep while extracting useful energy from the sun. On the other hand, the giant machines utilized for pumping oil are extremely noisy and therefore very impractical.
Advantage: Solar energy creates absolutely no pollution. This is perhaps the most important advantage that makes solar energy so much more practical than oil. Fossil fuels release harmful greenhouses gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide into our precious air.
Advantage: Very little maintenance is required to keep solar cells running. There are no moving parts in a solar cell, which makes it impossible to really hurt them. Solar cells tend to have great longevity and require little maintenance.
Advantage: Solar panels and solar lighting may seem quite expensive when you first purchase it, but in the long run you will find yourself saving quite a great deal of money. After all, it does not cost anything to harness the energy of the sun. Unfortunately, paying for oil is an expensive prospect and the cost is still rising consistently. Why pay for expensive energy when you can harness it freely?
Advantage: Solar powered panels and products are typically extremely easy to install. Wires, cords and energy sources are not needed at all, making this an easy prospect to employ a specialist Team360 member.
Advantage: Solar energy technology is improving consistently over time, as people begin to understand all of the benefits offered by this incredible technology. As our oil reserves decline, it is important for us to turn to alternative sources for energy.
Solar energy reduces your electricity bill
The benefits of producing some or all of your home’s energy requirements from solar energy are obvious. Solar energy will reduce your electricity bill, and with electricity prices forecast to rise exponentially over the next 5 years – by as much as 60% depending on where you live – solar energy makes a lot of sense. The savings and payback period can be even better depending on the feed-in tariff for solar energy in your state.
Solar energy reduces your carbon emissions
Every day tonnes of carbon is spewed into the atmosphere from coal-fired electricity stations. These dinosaurs of energy production are some of Australia’s worst polluters, and most of your electricity comes from here. Installing a 1kW solar electricity system can remove around 1.5 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere each year – that’s enough to take a car off the road for 5 months, or the equivalent of 6 native trees.
Solar energy adds value to your property
Installing the right solar energy system can add value to your property. It is ever more important for Home buyers today who are increasingly looking for homes that are energy efficient. By installing solar energy, you are increasing the efficiency and appeal of your home, and also delivering a degree of certainty to yourself and any future owner in terms of energy costs. With government subsidies still in place this provides the right solar system to become more affordable
The facts of solar energy
Feed-in Tariffs
Feed-in tariffs in Australia have been enacted by several State Governments for electricity generated by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Feed-in tariff (FIT) are a premium rate paid to producers of renewable energy. They are a way of subsidising renewable energy and in Australia have been enacted at the State level, in conjunction with a federal law creating a mandatory renewable energy target. Both net and gross feed in tariffs have been introduced by various governments. Net FIT’s generally pay comparatively little to the producer (generally a household) because electricity produced by solar photovoltaic or other renewable energy just offsets the producer’s usage. Gross tariffs provide a more certain financial return and pay the household for all electricity produced, even if it is consumed by the producer, reducing or helping meet peak demand.
The ACT and New South Wales have gross feed-in tariffs. Other State Governments have enacted net feed-in tariff schemes which have been criticised for not providing enough incentive for households to install solar panels and thus for not effectively encouraging the uptake of solar PV.
Australian FIT laws tend to focus on providing support to solar PV particularly in the residential context, and project limits on installed capacity (such as 10kW in NSW) mean effectively that FITs do not support large scale projects such as wind farms or solar thermal power stations.
For More Information on Feed-in Tariffs and solar bonus schemes please click the links below:
What is net metering?
Under net metering arrangements, the electricity you generate is used to supply your own energy requirements and any excess generation that is not used in the premises is exported to the grid. By reducing the need for grid electricity, customers can reduce their electricity bills as they avoid purchasing electricity from the network. Bill savings will increase as electricity prices increase.
Net meters work by continuously sampling how much electricity is being generated and how much electricity is consumed at your home. At each point in time the meter instantaneously reads the generation and consumption of the premises and the meter records both these amounts. The data is then accumulated in the appropriate register over the billing cycle. The meter is read and the bill is calculated.
What is gross metering?
Under gross metering arrangements, all electricity you generate is exported to the grid. A ‘gross’ meter measures the total amount of electricity generated by a renewable energy generator.
Gross meters measure by continuously sampling how much electricity is being generated and how much electricity is consumed by the premises. At each point in time the meter registers a cumulative generation and consumption figure. The meter is read and the tariff is paid on the electricity registered in the generation register.
Should I choose a ‘gross’ meter or a ‘net meter?
It is up to individual customers to decide what metering arrangement will best suit their property, system and budget. You may wish to refer to the Fact Sheet: Small Scale Solar PV Generators.
Customers are encouraged to contact their Network Service Business or accredited service provider to discuss their metering options before making a final decision.
- Endeavour Energy (formerly known as Integral Energy) customer contact number 131 003.
- Ausgrid (formerly known as EnergyAustralia) call centre number 131 535.
State government feed-in Tariff schemes
Electricity retailers
Some electricity retailers are offering feed in tariff rates above the minimum stipulated by government. Many of the larger corporate retailers offer these incentives to capture larger proportions of the green electricity customer base, who are known to have lower churn rates.
| Retailer | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | ACT | NT | TAS |
| Government Minimum | 60c | 60c | 44c | 44c | 40c | 50.05c/40.04c* | 45.76c/23.11c** | None |
| AGL | 68c | 68c | 52c | 52c | - | - | - | - |
| ActewAGL | - | - | - | - | - | 50.05c/40.04c* | - | - |
| Australian Power and Gas | - | 60c | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aurora Energy | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | At purchase rate |
| Country Energy | 62c | 60c | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| EnergyAustralia | 60c | 60c | 44c | - | - | 50.05c/40.04c* | - | - |
| Energex | - | - | 44c | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ergon | - | - | 44c | - | - | - | - | - |
| Horizon Power | - | - | - | - | 58.93c | - | - | - |
| Integral Energy | 60c | - | 44c | - | - | - | - | - |
| Jackgreen | - | - | 44c | - | - | - | - | - |
| Origin Energy | 66c | 66c | 50c | 50c | - | - | - | - |
| Red Energy | 66c | 66c | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Simply Energy | - | 60c | - | 44c | - | - | - | - |
| South Australian Electricity | - | - | - | 44c | - | - | - | - |
| Synergy Energy | - | - | - | - | 47c | - | - | - |
| NT Power & Water Authority | - | - | - | - | - | - | 45.76c/23.11c** | - |
| Queensland Electricity | - | - | 44c | - | - | - | - | - |
| TRUenergy | 66c | 66c | - | 50c | - | - | - | - |
| Victorian Electricity | - | 60c | - | - | - | - | - | - |
* 50.05c below 10kW / 40.04c below 30kW system
** 45.76c capped at $5 per day, 23.11c for each kWh above $5 per day in Alice Springs, At purchase rate elsewhere in NT
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