Technical Questions
- How does it work?
- What is the 'grid'?
- What is a kilo watt hour?
- Does the system use batteries?
- What types of solar systems are there?
- What happens during a blackout with a grid connected system?
- Will the system power my whole houses electricity needs?
- How much of my houses electricity will a 1kW system supply?
- What happens if my system produces more power in a year than I use?
- If it is a rainy day, will I lose power?
- How do I know how much energy my system is producing?
- What maintenance is required on the system?
- What reduction in Greenhouse gas emissions will my system provide?
- Does the system work like solar hot water?
- Do you offer upgrades to 1kW systems?
- Do you offer high efficiency solar modules?
Our Products Questions
Installation Questions
- How do you know if my house is suitable?
- How long does the installation take?
- Do I need to be home on the day of installation?
- Where do you mount the solar modules?
- What is the optimum angle for the modules?
- Where does the inverter get positioned?
- What is a standard installation?
- What extra costs might there be?
- Is there any charge for changing the meter?
- My house is fully shaded, can I still have a system?
- How long from paying the deposit will it take for my system to be installed?
- What happens after you have installed my system and when do I pay the balance?
- My meter board is a long way from the house. Will I need a cable to be trenched in for the solar system?
- What type of roofs can you install on?
- How much roof space is required for a 1kW system?
- I have a flat roof, what are my options?
- I am planning a renovation after the solar is installed, what do I do?
- What is the quality of your installations?
Warranty Questions
- What is the warranty provided?
- Does the warranty of the solar modules cover hail damage?
- Who do I contact if my system is faulty?
Government Rebate and REC Questions
- Can I take the solar system with me if I move?
- What happens if I sell my house within 5 years from installation?
- What are REC’s?
- How many REC’s can be created?
Answers
Technical Questions
How does it work?
The solar panels convert the suns energy into DC (Direct Current) electricity via a process called the photovoltaic effect. The inverter then converts the DC into normal 240V AC (Alternating Current) electricity, feeding energy into your homes electrical wiring. The houses appliances use their immediate electricity needs and any excess energy is fed back into the grid (effectively spinning your meter backwards) gaining you credits on your electricity bill. During the night or in cloudy weather, your meter runs forward again. The whole process is seamless and automatic.What is the 'grid'?
The grid is the electrical connection network consisting of power stations, transmission lines and substations that feed electricity from the generating source to your home or business. 90% of Australia’s electricity comes from coal-fired power stations, which are a significant producer of carbon dioxide (greenhouse gasses) contributing to global warming and climate change. The other 10% comes from renewable sources such as hydro electricity, wind farms and solar.What is a kilo watt hour?
A kilowatt hour (kWh) is the measurement of electricity supply/usage. Your current electricity meter measures kilowatt hours which determines what you are billed. E.g. Using a 100W standard light globe for 10 hours, uses 1 kWh of electricity (100W x 10hrs = 1000Wh = 1 kWh). Kilo means 1000.Does the system use batteries?
No. Our standard grid-connected systems provide no backup power. They use the grid as their ‘battery bank’. The solar system provides your house with electricity in the day, with excess being sent to the grid, effectively spinning your meter backwards. During the night or in cloudy weather, your houses electricity needs are supplied from the grid, running your meter forward again.What types of solar systems are there?
There are 3 types of solar systems available: 1) Grid connected – has no batteries and requires the grid to operate. 2) RAPS (Remote Area Power System) or Stand alone – has batteries and is totally self sufficient, not requiring the grid. 3) Backup, Hybrid or grid-interactive – has batteries which can supply power in the event of a blackout and can also grid feed and have the batteries charged from the grid and/or solar system.What happens during a blackout with a grid connected system?
What happens during a blackout with a grid connected system?For safety reasons, the solar system is required to shutdown during a blackout, even in the day. We offer backup solutions that use batteries that can both grid-feed and supply your house during a blackout.
Will the system power my whole houses electricity needs?
That depends on the size solar system you have installed and the amount of electricity that you use. Your electricity bills for the past year are the best way to determine what you use. You can install a smaller solar system, which will supply part of your electricity use from the sun, with the balance being made up from the grid.How much of my houses electricity will a 1kW system supply?
Our 1kW system comprises of 6 x 175W monocrystalline solar modules. At an optimum, unshaded mounting location (True North, 24 deg pitch – Northern NSW), the system will produce 1506kWh/year. This is around a quarter to a third of an average homes yearly needs. In dollar value, at current rates of around 16.3c / kWh and a 1:1 buyback rate, this equates to about $245 electricity saving.
In other terms one of our 1kW systems will supply:
6 x 18W CFL (Energy saver light globes) used for 6 hours / day each – 236kWh/yr
Average Refrigerator/Freezer (400L) – 500kWh/yr
LCD widescreen TV (81cm) & set top box / DVD player used for 5 hours / day – 301kWh/yr
Medium Stereo used 6 hours per day – 87kWh/yr
5kg Washing machine used once/day – 55kWh/yr
Average laptop computer used 8 hours / day – 102kWh/yr
Boiling kettle 3 times / day – 98kWh/yr
Cordless phone and mobile charger – 43kWh/yr
Microwave oven (no clock) used 5 minutes / day – 45kWh/yr
2 Slice toaster used once per day – 20kWh/yr
What happens if my system produces more power in a year than I use?
You will receive credits on your electricity bill, and you can request payment annually for your excess electricity generation, while you pay nothing for your electricity consumption.
If it is a rainy day, will I lose power?
No. Your electricity usage will again come from the grid seamlessly as it does in night time.
How do I know how much energy my system is producing?
The inverter has a digital readout which shows the solar systems instantaneous, daily and total output figures. The bi-directional digital meter installed shows the import and export energy to/from the grid.
What maintenance is required on the system?
Very little. Rain will usually keep the solar modules clean, though in dry or dust conditions it may be necessary to hose down the modules or wash with soapy water and rinse. The inverter has a heatsink that should also be kept clean.
What reduction in Greenhouse gas emissions will my system provide?
A 1kW system will reduce approximately 1.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide gas being introduced into the atmosphere every year. Household electricity usage in Australia accounts for 17% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Does the system work like solar hot water?
No. Solar electricity is generated via the photovoltaic effect. Solar hot water uses the suns energy to heat water in pipes.
Do you offer upgrades to 1kW systems?
Yes. We can install a larger inverter with a 1kW system which will allow you to add more solar modules later. You can also add additional inverters and solar modules later to operate in conjunction with the original system.
Do you offer high efficiency solar modules?
Yes. We offer SunPower’s USA made modules that are 17.3% efficient. This means a 215W module is the same physical size as a regular 170W module, allowing greater utilisation of limited roof space.
Our Products Questions
Where are your solar modules made?
We source our modules from leading manufacturers in China and the USA through Australian distributors. We only use the highest quality products for our systems and can provide you full technical specifications.
What inverters do you offer?
We use German made SMA & Kaco, Austrian made Fronius and the new transformerless, high efficiency Aurora inverters from Power One made in Italy.
How do your backup systems operate?
We offer backup options that allow you to have a grid-connected system that can supply your electricity needs during a blackout. These systems use batteries which are charged either from the solar system, the grid or an external generator. When the batteries are charged and the immediate electricity needs of the house are supplied, excess electricity is exported to the grid gaining you credits. When there is a blackout, power is supplied to the house by the solar system (in day time), the batteries and the generator if needed.
Installation Questions
How do you know if my house is suitable?
One of our BCSE accredited installers will do a site inspection on your house at a suitable time to assess the options available to you and advise you if there are any additional costs.
How long does the installation take?
Usually less than one day.
Do I need to be home on the day of installation?
Yes. We will need access to your roof space and have access to an electrical outlet. We also want to be certain you are completely happy with our installation and show you how it works.
Where do you mount the solar modules?
On your most north facing roof with minimal shading, reducing cable lengths as much as possible. Systems can be mounted on East or West facing roofs, but a performance loss of up to 10% may be experienced.
What is the optimum angle for the modules?
In Northern NSW, the optimum angle is 24 degrees for a grid connected system. This is the latitude (29deg) – 5 deg which favours the longer summer days. This differs from a battery based system which generally has to favour the shorter winter days, when electricity usage is more.
Where does the inverter get positioned?
Usually near the meter board, but may be installed near a distribution board if that is the nearest connection point, keeping cable lengths from the solar modules as short as possible.
What is a standard installation?
A single storey house with a metal/tin roof, less than 20m of electrical cabling required and a suitable meter board or distribution board for the inverter connection.
What extra costs might there be?
There are extra costs for tile roofs, 2 storey houses, difficult roof access, greater than 20m of cabling, upgrading meter board or distribution board. You will be advised at site inspection if there are any of these costs.
Is there any charge for changing the meter?
Currently (Sept 08) Country Energy is not charging for the bi-directional meter changes in Northern NSW, though have advised that charges will be likely in the future and be in the order of $220.
My house is fully shaded; can I still have a system?
Shade is to be avoided as much as possible. The accredited installer at site inspection will determine what options are available to you. It may be possible to use a shed roof or build a ground mounted system in an unshaded area.
How long from paying the deposit will it take for my system to be installed?
It takes approximately 6 weeks for the government to pre-approve the rebate. Once you have received your pre-approval we aim to have your system installed with 3 months.
What happens after you have installed my system and when do I pay the balance?
Once the system is installed, we will test it and show you basic operation. We are then required to leave the system switched off until Country Energy checks the system and change the meter to a bi-directional type. This can take a week or two depending on Country Energy’s workload. Once the system has been switched on we require you to pay the balance (usually the rebate amount) and sign the installation completion report and the REC assignment note. You will then receive the rebate amount directly from the government in around 6 weeks.
My meter board is a long way from the house. Will I need a cable to be trenched in for the solar system?
No. We can connect the inverter to any distribution board inside a house or a shed.
What type of roofs can you install on?
Metal and Tile roofs. Tile roofs have additional costs due to greater difficulty in install. Asbestos roofs are not suitable.
How much roof space is required for a 1kW system?
Approximately 8 square metres is required for each 1kW of solar modules. We usually mount the modules in a row (1 row of 6) which is a total size of 5 m x 1.6m. We can also mount in other configurations such as 2 rows of 3 where each row is 2.5m x 1.6m. Our Suntech solar modules are 1580mm x 808mm x 35mm and weigh 15.5kg.
I have a flat roof, what are my options?
A flat roof in Northern NSW will still generate 89% of maximum. We can supply raised frames at additional cost if your existing roof meets AS1170.2 for wind loading requirements. Generally the additional cost of the raised frame will take many years to pay for itself.
I am planning a renovation after the solar is installed, what do I do?
The solar modules can be removed then reinstalled on the new renovation. This may require extra cabling and would take several hours of labour.
What is the quality of your installations?
We pride ourselves in our work and attention to detail. Our installers are BCSE accredited, experienced and monitor all stages of your installation. Our electricians are fully licensed and all parties carry liability insurance.
Warranty Questions
What is the warranty provided?
The solar modules we use all carry 25 year performance warranty. The inverters carry 5 year warranty. The frames have 10 year warranty. Installation has a 1 year warranty. All warranties are backed up by manufacturer’s distributors in Australia.
Does the warranty of the solar modules cover hail damage?
No. The solar modules are designed to withstand a 2.5cm (1inch) hailstone at 80km/h. You should check with your home building insurance company to make sure the system is covered should damage occur.
Who do I contact if my system is faulty?
Contact Nickel Energy and we will ascertain what the problem is and have it rectified under warranty if covered.
Government Rebate and REC Questions
Can I take the solar system with me if I move?
Not for 5 years. It is a requirement of the rebate that the system must be maintained, operating on the premises for 5 years from installation.
What happens if I sell my house within 5 years from installation?
The new owner takes on the 5 year rebate commitment with DEWHA from the original installation date.
What are REC’s?
Renewable Energy Certificates. This is a government legislated system for trading renewable energy generation and encourage its deployment. It is managed by the Office of Renewable Energy Regulator (www.orer.gov.au). As your solar system generates renewable energy, REC’s can be created from it. As part of our competitive solar system pricing, you assign these REC’s to Nickel Energy and we register and process them. This helps keep our price to you as low as possible.
How many REC’s can be created?
With a 1.05kW system installed in Northern NSW, 21 REC’s are generated for 15 years