Solar Power – Never More Affordable

December 14th, 2011

Although the first solar power (photovoltaic) cell was produced in 1883, it was not until the late 1960’s that technological advances began making the components cheap enough to produce a viable solar panel. By 1973 the industry saw a fivefold decrease in prices. Since then solar power Ipswich technology has advanced in leaps and bounds so that components are more cost effective and easier to make, and yet produce greater efficiency. Combining that with the fact that electricity prices are continuing to rise, solar power ipswich has never been cheaper or easier to buy than now.

Buying solar power ipswich for your home is an important investment, one that will save you money for the next 20-30 years. Today solar power has never been more cost effective. With the Federal Government Solar Bonus scheme and the Queensland State Governments generous feed in tariff there has never been a better time to invest in a solar power system.

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Solar Power Rebate

December 13th, 2011

As of 1 July 2012 the solar power brisbane rebate that is currently in place will end, either to be replaced by another, lesser rebate, or ended completely.

Currently the rebate is in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) which are a tradeable commodity associated with the installation of eligible renewable energy systems including solar panels, solar water heaters and heat pumps. STCs have replaced Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). (for more information on STCs and how they are generated and calculated go to the Office of Renewable Energy (ORER) website www.orer.gov.au or talk to your solar power brisbane company.)

Under the Federal Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, when you install an eligible system, you may claim a set number of these STCs. This number is based on the amount of electricity in megawatt hours (MWh) generated by your small-scale solar panel system over the course of its lifetime of up to 15 years, which is then multiplied by the Scheme.

Most suppliers offer a point-of-sale discount for STCs when you purchase a solar power Brisbane (photovoltaic) system, and the scheme currently stands at a multiplier of 3 as of 1 July 2011. When the rebate changed on the 30 June 2011 from a multiplier of 5 it was initially supposed to change to a 4x multiplier, but instead the government lowered it to 3x. Although the new rebate is proposed to change to a 2x multiplier in July 2012, there is a very real possibility that the government could end the rebate altogether.

This being the case, it is recommended that if you were considering installing a solar power system that it be completed prior to June 30 2012. For more information on the rebate and a system for your house visit us at Ultimate Solar Solutions or call us on 31024003.

Installation Period Multiplier
9 June 2009 – 30 June 2010 – 5 x [number of eligible STCs]
1 July 2010 – 30 June 2011 – 5 x [number of eligible STCs]
1 July 2011 – 30 June 2012 – 3 x [number of eligible STCs] *
1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013 – 2 x [number of eligible STCs]
1 July 2013 – onwards – 1 x [number of eligible STCs] (ie no multiplier)
* unless contracts made on the basis of a multiplier of 4 were signed and a deposit paid prior to 5 May 2011, in which case the multiplier of four (4) does apply.

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Questions to ask before you buy a Solar Power System

December 7th, 2011

With the large variety of solar power brisbane photovoltaic (PV) panels and inverters on the market it is hard to decide which solar products to choose. One way to check the quality of the products you have been quoted is to check the warranty statements and the conformance to quality standards. You can get these from the solar power company that is supplying you the quote or you can check out the product’s website.

The things you should be paying attention to are whether the products are fully accredited and approved for use in Australia, the experience of the company supplying you (testimonials are a good place to start) and where you might have to send your products if there is a problem. Ensure that the warranties are backed by reputable companies that will still be around for the length of the product’s life.

Questions to ask the Solar Power Company supplying the quote are:

*Who designs the system? Are they accredited by the Clean Energy Council (CEC)? (click here to go the CEC’s website)

*What brand of panels and Inverters do you use?

*What is the negative tolerance on the panel power rating? (This is the amount of “leeway” the manufacturer has given himself when quoting minimum power output – the smaller the better 0% is excellent, more than 5% could be a warning sign).

*How many systems have you installed?

*Who does the electrical hookup to the grid?

*Does the price quoted include all the necessary metering changes and paperwork for my local electricity supplier? (trust me – you don’t want to have to organise this yourself!)

*If the panels are installed on different roof areas facing slightly different directions, will you use an inverter with two MPPT’s? (this is essential)

*Do the panels have bypass diodes installed? (these diodes improve the performance in cloud cover and under partial shading by ‘bypassing’ the shaded cell so that it doesn’t bring down all the other unshaded cells’ performance)

*How will I know if my system is performing to its max potential on a day to day basis?

*Do you handle all the rebate paperwork for me so I just have to pay the difference?

*What is the lead time from my payment to getting electricity from the brisbane solar panels?

*Do you give an accurate, written estimation of system electricity production with your quotes? What is my comeback if I don’t get that production?

*Are all the external cables in UV protected conduit?
*Which guarantees/warranties are your responsibility and which are the manufacturer’s?

*If I have to deal with the panel or inverter manufacturer in the future, do they have an Australian office?

If you would like further information give us a call on 3102 4003 or send us an email via our Contact Us Page.

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How Solar Power can save you from feeling the effects of the Carbon Tax on Electricity Prices

November 21st, 2011

After being passed through the Senate the Carbon Tax will now be implemented on the 1st July 2012. Many are trying to figure out how this will impact upon them personally. Whilst the government assures that there will be very little impact on the average household, and that most will actually end up better off, there will in fact be an increase to electricity costs. While the Federal Government and the QLD Treasury modelling claim that there will be a 10% increase on electricity in the first year of the Carbon Tax, the Electricity Supply Association of Australia is saying there is likely to be an increase of 20%.

The carbon tax is being implemented as a way to encourage people to turn away from using carbon based power sources, such as coal fired power stations (which currently provide 75% of electricity in Australia) and instead look towards sources of energy that are renewable and have little or no impact on the environment.

The time to turn to renewable sources of energy is now and solar power is a great investment. If you are looking at installing a solar power brisbane system there are rebates available and if the system is grid connected you can put any extra electricity that your system creates back into the electricity grid, which will lower your electricity bill, and sometimes even get a credit, depending on your household energy usage. It is certain that the costs of carbon-fuelled power will continue to rise and become an increasing burden upon the family budget.

Installing a high quality solar power brisbane system will protect you from these rises and in some cases could actually earn you money. In an energy conscious future, any home which does not have a solar power brisbane system will be very expensive to run and very hard to sell. A quality solar power system will save you money on your electricity bill and add value to your home.

For more information on which system would best suit your needs call us today on 31024003 or via our Contact Us page.

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Community

November 10th, 2011

At Ultimate Solar Solutions we believe in only using the highest quality panels and inverters for our solar power brisbane systems. That is why we use and recommend SMA inverters. SMA have been designing and manufacturing inverters for almost 30 years. German designed and made, they are the market leader for solar power brisbane inverters, known for quality, reliability and performance. We also believe in partnering with companies who like us share our passion for helping within the community. Below is an article about their donation of two inverters to the charitable organisation It’s Time Foundation. Read on for more information.

“SMA Australia is a proud sponsor of the charitable organisation It’s Time Foundation. Their aim is to replace C02 with education. Across the Pacific, low income schools are struggling to afford expensive fuel for their diesel generators, so the students have to go without essential items such as books and computers.

Through replacing these generators with solar and wind energy systems, It’s Time Foundation is freeing up funding for necessary resources. SMA has contributed two Sunny Island’s and two Sunny Boy’s to this project.
Kioa Island Primary School in the North Eastern Fijian Islands has five teachers providing classes for 106 students from kindergarten to year 8. After year 8 the students either finish school or they board on the larger island of Taveuni to continue their education.

Previously, there was limited daytime power to the school supplied by a small old generator. Another larger generator was awaiting repair. The school now has a 1400W solar system that exceeds the schools current needs and will cater well for significant growth in the school’s power demand.

At Navatu Secondary School in the North Eastern Fijian Islands, seventeen teachers provide classes for 220 students. The students are drawn from nearby village primary schools. Approximately 45 students live too far to walk to school, so they board during the week and go home at the weekend.

Before the solar system was installed, the school accessed power from a generator that they could only afford to run for three to four hours each day. A 2700W solar system now well exceeds the school’s current needs and allows for a growing amount of school equipment.

Rob Edwards, the founder of Its Time Foundation, said “These projects are simply not possible without the generous support of SMA and other organisations. To be able to include some of the world’s best inverters in the these island conditions is extremely comforting and very much appreciated – thank you SMA for the equipment, insights and professionalism.””

For more information on our range of SMA inverters and solar power brisbane please contact us on 31024003 or via our Contact Us page.

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Solar Power History

November 9th, 2011

Did you know that solar power brisbane from the sun was used even in ancient times in Egypt and Greece?

Light and heat from the sun have always been used, from drying clothes to baking bricks to build houses. The ancient Egyptians were the first to use solar heated water for under floor heating. They captured heat from the sun in black pools filled with water during the day, then pumped the hot water through pipes underneath the floors of the palaces at night to warm the cold floors. The ancient Greeks and Chinese oriented their houses to the south in order to make the most of the sun’s heat and light, building thick walls to capture the heat which kept the building cool during the day, and warm during the night as the heat slowly released from the walls.

During the Little Ice Age, the cold period between 1550 AD and 1850 AD, English and French farmers built ‘fruit walls’. Fruit walls acted as thermal masses and were built perpendicular to the ground and facing south, so that they collected heat from the sun and warmed the trees in their orchards, causing the fruit to ripen faster.

From 1860-1881, after receiving funds from the French monarch, Auguste Mouchout designed a device that turned Solar panel install energy into mechanical steam power, which operated the first steam engine. Later he connected the steam engine to a refrigeration device, showing that heat from the sun can be used to make ice! However, after the French renegotiated a cheaper deal for the supply of coal, Mouchout’s research and invention was no longer considered a priority and he no longer received any funding.

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Quality & Price

November 9th, 2011

Global factors now mean that Solar Power Brisbane components are cheaper than ever before. There is a real temptation to buy the lowest cost because the prices seem just too good to go past.

But as always buyer beware – fire sale bargains are almost certainly not going to give you the best solar panel install outcome. If it seems too good to be true – it usually is.

Unfortunately there are many unscrupulous people out there who are only after a sale and their commission. They have little interest in the technology, environmental benefits or your needs. We urge everyone to do their research on what they are buying and installing solar power brisbane, because today’s bargain does not look so good when you are replacing modules after just 2 years.

If you have any questions check out our Packages and Pricing Guide for more information.

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5 Good Reasons to go Solar

November 8th, 2011

5 good reasons to go solar
The reasons that you should add solar power to your home are numerous, so I will list the 5 most important ones in install solar power Brisbane in your home.
1. It’s clean. Solar power Brisbane is supplied by the sun, a clean and renewable source of energy that is free to obtain.
2. Quiet. Solar power Brisbane is quiet and unobtrusive.
3. Safe. Unlike nuclear powered energy, there are no risks associated with Solar panel install energy. The solar panel install is placed on your roof, an inverter is placed next to your power box, and then you can forget about it.
4. Requires little maintenance. Solar panel install can be installed on your roof, after which it only needs to be dusted perhaps once a year if there has been little rain.
5. Pays for itself. With feed in tariffs and Government rebates, after the initial investment your electricity bills are reduced and sometimes even get credits.

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Ultimate Solar Solutions Supports the Mater Children’s Hospital

November 7th, 2011

Ultimate Solar Solutions solar power brisbane believes in supporting our local community, which is why we support the Mater Children’s Hospital by donating to them every month. The new Mater Children’s Hospital became fully operational on 29 May 2001, celebrating over 70 years of care by the Sisters of Mercy in providing specialist paediatric healthcare services to Queensland children through Mater Children’s Hospitals.

Mater Children’s Hospital is a major tertiary referral centre providing an intensive care unit, theatres, inpatient and outpatient services and a 24 hour emergency department.
Each year, more than 15 000 children are cared for as inpatients by Mater Children’s Hospitals. More than 120 000 children are seen in the outpatient departments and more than 32 000 children receive care in the emergency department, which is the busiest paediatric emergency department in Queensland.
We feel that it is so important for businesses to get behind organisations such as the Mater Children’s Hospital so that they can continue their great work. Of course, there are so many great charities and community organisations out there who all deserve our support. So we would like to encourage everyone to choose a worthy organisation solar power brisbane and do what you can to help.

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Easy tips about solar panel installation

November 7th, 2011

Solar power Brisbane are normally installed on north facing roofs, building tops. It is very important that solar panels are installed in such a way so that they receive maximum direct sun exposure so that they are effective and their use is optimised the whole year round. Before setup, experienced solar panel installers will refer to solar resources to track the position of the sun in the sky over the course of the year.

When it comes to solar panel installations brisbane, it is important to position the photovoltaic array directly north to maximise the efficiency of the system, and to remove all unnecessary items or trim branches that may be blocking sunlight to your solar power system. It is also important to trace the path of the sun in the sky to determine if an object is casting a shadow over your solar panels. If this is the case, then the operating efficiency of your unit will undoubtedly suffer.

Solar power brisbane panels mounting systems are used to install the solar panels directly to the roof during the solar panel installation process. The mounting system will either mount the system directly to the roof using the existing pitch or use a variable system which will elevate the system to a more efficient angle. Again, expert advice from a solar installations specialist will be invaluable.

In order to receive the Federal Government rebate and the State Government Rebate you must install solar panels which are CEC accredited (Clean Energy Council Accredited). You also must ensure that the installation company are also CEC accredited, like Ultimate Solar Solutions, who‘s trained staff are not only accredited with the CEC but are experience solar panel installers and solar power designers as well. If your system is not installed by an accredited solar panel installer then you may have to repay any money given to you under the current rebate scheme. All solar panel installers should be CEC accredited and it is your right as a customer to ask the solar power installer for his or her CEC approval licence.

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