Smart Power – Solar & BatteriesSeniors Week 2020

A Tweed household power saving story

Council’s Sustainability Program – reducing our environmental footprint

Fossil fuel power is our major source of greenhouse emissions…

62%

31%

6%

1%

Tweed Shire Major Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sources 2016

(t CO2e)

Grid electricity

Transport fuel

Waste

Wastewater

Council is tackling its power use to reduce carbon emissions

Opportunities to save energy

Opportunities to save energy

Opportunities to save energy

From $20

Borrow from your local library

Opportunities to save energy

Stand-by lights

Accessibility solutions

Opportunities to save energy

Opportunities to save energy

A full fridge is most efficientCheck & replace the sealsPlan before openingFridge settings 3o-4o CFreezer minus15o-minus 18oCUpgrade if possible (drink & ice dispenser)NSW Appliance Replacement program!

Opportunities to save energy

Use lids!Turn off before fully cooked.Induction cooktops are most efficient.

If you can, turn your microwave off at the power point (significant standby power use)

Opportunities to save energy

Only heat what you needUse that spare thermos

Opportunities to save energy

• Use cold washes wherever possible.

• Always wash a full load.• Dry outdoors or in a

room with your aircon on DRY mode.

• If dryer, buy an “inverter” type dryer

Aim for a high STAR rating for WATER and ELECTRICITY

Opportunities to save energy

www.energyrating.gov.au/calculator

Opportunities to save energy

Upgrading appliances using the NSW government incentives and discounts

Replace your old fridge and save up to $200 a year on your power bill

Replace your old TV and save a further $125

Upgrade your downlights to LED

Receive up to $1000 off the installation of a split system AC

Do the free on-line energy training

Opportunities to save energyHeating, Cooling & Insulation

• Insulation-ranges from R 1.5 to R6• Curtains and blinds - an easy insulation tip for your

windows. Make use of pelmets• Unused rooms – close doors• Sealing the gaps around doors / windows• Ceiling fans!• Reverse cycle air conditioning (split system) – aim

for a high STAR rating• A/C set points: Try 25-26 degr. C in summer and

18-20 degr. C. in winter. Use DRY mode in summer!

Opportunities to save energy

Hot Water

Solar & Batteries

Why go solar?• Over the past five years, the cost of installing

a solar system has reduced year after year. • Solar energy used during the day will

generate savings in your electricity bill.• Solar is a very effective way of reducing your

emissions

• Still costly!• The payback time can be around or more than

10 years• Warranties vary between 10 – 15 years, or

throughput of power/number of cycles.

What about batteries?

Solar Battery WarrantiesWhat is actually warranted?• Battery suppliers usually specify an amount of total

throughput in kWh – these includes charges and discharges.

• For example, TESLA warrants 37,800 MWh in total, based on one cycle per day. If you use 10kWh per day, thisequates to a warranted life ofapprox. 13 years at 80% DoD.

Get a credit on your bill for excess solar produced- Electricity retailers determine what rate they’ll pay for

your excess solar, following state pricing guidelines.- Using your own solar power is more cost effective

then selling power to the grid: using less grid power at 20 – 30cent/kWh is better than selling your own solar power at 6 – 12 cent/kWh

- Make sure you compare all of retailers’ electricity rates, charges and discounts as well as solar feed-in tariffs when deciding on which energy retailer to sign up with.

- Demand management: some energy retailers will pay ‘grid credits’ if you export power during peak times

Going solar: Who’s who

- Use reliable, accredited suppliers with local expertise- Check online for reviews, ask around for

recommendations- Don’t buy from doorknockers!

Price guide (including STC discount)

Size $ Min $ Max No. Panels Savings $ p.a.

2kW 3,000$ 4,500$ 6 $400 - 570

3kW 3,500$ 5,000$ 9 $650 - 850

4kW 4,000$ 6,000$ 12 $870 - 1130

5kW 4,500$ 8,000$ 14 $1090 - 1420

6kW 5,000$ 9,000$ 17 $1300 - 1700

6.6kW 5,200$ 9,000$ 18 $1400 - 1900

8kW 7,500$ 11,000$ 23 $1750 - 226010kW 8,000$ 12,000$ 29 $2100 - 2850

Solar system prices 2020

Source: Modified from www.solarquotes.com.au

Based on premium quality components and a reputable installer

Quality products

• Only use Clean Energy Council accredited equipment• Check out Choice/CSIRO’s survey of panel

performance• Tier system rankings refer to

production capability of manufacturers, NOT the performance of the panels

• Installers preferences for technology differ – here’s an online supplier’s preferences as an example…

Quality products - enlargedThis is the view of ONE review site (‘Solarquotes’) – all recommended to varying degrees

Sizing your solar system1. Work out the average daily energy consumption from your

energy bill: 12 – 16 kWh/day for most households

2. Work out your daytime consumption: assume 1/3 of daily use

Black line: typical use pattern of people at home during the day

Grey area: peak power periods

Yellow line: typical solar production pattern

Red bars show the amount of excess solar being sent back to the grid

Try to move as much of morning and evening peaks into the yellow zone

InvertersThe heart of your system, and the part most likely to fail…>> therefore buy a premium brand with local support>> and opt for a hybrid inverter if you’re thinking

about batteries for the future

Inverters

Microinverters vs. Power Optimizsers

Inverters – Quality productsThis is not the Gospel, but the view of ONE review site (‘Solarquotes’) – all recommended to varying degrees

What kind of returns can you expect?www.solarcalculator.com.au

Meters and monitors• Monitor the performance of your

solar with the inverter interface

• And where energy is used in your home with either: A consumption or smart meter as

optional part of your inverter A separate monitoring system such as

EFERGY, WATTSCLEVER or many others

Examples of battery storageLithium ion

Currently the market leaders in terms of energy density, cycle life and low maintenance.Still expensive!

Examples of battery storageLithium ion

Commonly known brands:• TESLA Powerwall• LG RESU• Samsung SDI• BYD Box• SONNEN Batterie Eco• DELTA Hybrid E5• And many more

Example of Battery StorageLead acid

“Advanced lead acid batteries”, e.g. lead carbon, are better, but for the average household not as good as Lithium Ion.

Other battery technologies

• Sodium (Saltwater) batteries• Enviromentally friendly, bulky, first producer

went broke, revival announced…. Our verdict:A technology that is already maxed out and has no future.

• Flow or Redox batteries• Made by Australian ‘Redflow’ and others.• Long life, easy to recycle, safe technology.• Very well suited to very hot conditions.• Bulky – suited to large properties, not really

your suburban home. Pump motors may cause a noise issue. Maintenance required.

Why have battery prices increased?

• The expectation of government subsidies• SA, VIC and QLD have battery incentives

• High cost of Lithium due to high demand• Very high demand for utility scale batteries• EV batteries eat up manufacturing capacity• Just because they can….?

Battery prices – what to do?

• WAIT! Unless you have frequent blackouts and want protection against that.1 or 2 years down the track, increasing competition will bring prices down (I said this last year…)

• DON’T panic!Try to maximise your daytime (“Solar hour”) energy consumption and install as many solar panels as you can (afford). Make money by exporting to the grid rather than feeding your battery.

Check out online resources

Battery comparison table with prices – updated monthly www.solarquotes.com.au

SOLAR DIVERTERS for hot water heaters

• Heat your hot water with surplus solar power from your PV panels.

• During bad weather or high hot water consumption you’ll still need grid power to keep the water hot!

• Solar diverters or hot water relays use excess solar energy during the day to “smartly” heat your water – unless a simple timer, they avoid buying grid power when a cloud passes over…

Solar diverters for electric hot water heatersExample: FRONIUS hot water relay

Solar diverters for electric hot water heatersExample: Typical solar diverter

Finance optionsRenewable Energy Credits can bring the cost of the average 3kW system down by between $3,000 to $6,000. Funding options include:1. Buying Outright2. Add it to your home loan3. Some solar retailers offer no interest loan

schemes (closely check their terms and conditions)

4. Lease: pay a fixed regular cost to access power from a system owned by the installer/financier

5. Power purchase agreement (PPA): pay only for the solar energy provided by the system.

More than anything:• Use experienced, local, accredited suppliers

Ready access to installers for follow-up service is a must.

• Install more kW in solar panels than you think you’ll need.Remember, even a 12 cent FIT is higher than the lifecycle cost of your solar energy.

• Try to get the best FIT you can.Current offers range form 7 cents to 12 cents per kWh. Before signing off on any contract, check the “Daily Supply Charge” rate. Some retailers offer a great FIT at the expense of a high daily supply charge. A best fit would be getting somewhere above 12 cent for your solar and paying not more than $1.20 per day for supply.

• Use your export solar to pay for your supply charge.For example, at 12 cents per kWh FIT, 10kWh of export per day will earn you about an average supply charge of $1.20 per day.

What’s your next step?Enter today’s PRIZE DRAW for the chance to win

Describe what new actions you’ll take to reduce energy use or investigate solar/batteries at your place

1. Sign your name and list your best contact details

2. Get your photo taken with your actions to enter the prize draw

3. Take your actions list home, place it somewhere visible to remind you!

GOOD LUCK!45