Solar Power

Starman73 · #1 18-10-2010, 11:05 PM

Hello Everyone,

I know this is not astronomy related, but I remember reading a post once that said that you could almost ask any question to any problem and someone here will be able to answer it.

Anyway I was wondering if anybody has taken up the governments offer for rebates to get solar pannels installed? I'm in NSW by the way. My main thing is what sized system to get and what kind of power it can generate as aposed to my energy usage, ie am I going to have to have my entire roof covered with pannels to generate what I use. I am also a little concerned about the where the pannels are manufactured or at least the standards thay are build to. I have heard that some pannels that are made overseas (I am talking mainly northern hemishpere countries) and all the specifications are for the pannels being at 25C. I was told that as the pannels get hotter the performance drops. Does this mean that when the pannels reach the kinds of temps that happen under the hot Aussie sun that they don't perform as well? The pannels that are built to Aussie specifications, do they stand up better to the Aussie sun and does their performance drop too as the temp goes up?

Thanks for your information
Paul

GrampianStars (Rob) · #2 19-10-2010, 07:47 AM

http://www.energymatters.com.au/
these guys

are who you should be asking

rat156 · #3 19-10-2010, 08:04 AM

I just signed up for a 5 kW system on my roof and a 2 kW stystem on my mother-in-laws place. I don't think that she will ever get a power bill after they're installed as she live by herself and doesn't use much power. At home we use a lot of power hence the upgrade. Not cheap in the first place, but better in the long run. In NSW you get gross feed in tariff, which will pay the system off in no time. If you can afford to make the investment, go for it.

Cheeers
Stuart