Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

[GreenMummy]

Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

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Hello

I am looking at getting solar panels installed soon, but wanted to hear about anyone's experiences first.

Has anyone had them installed? Who did you use? Good? Bad? Any feedback?

We are in Melbourne, but any feedback is good!!

Thanks.

[Amanda.R]

Re: Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

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I'd be interested too, I think the deadline for our rebate in vic is end of june or july so not much time left.

[server-guy]

Re: Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

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I have a friend who was already off the grid, but running a water generator in a creek. Their batteries packed it in..... and the cost of replacing them was too high.

So...!!!!

They applied for the solar panel rebate thingo just to get the batteries- could not apply just for the batteries.... and now they have solar power, with a water generator backup.

But look. Don;t worry about the rebate disappearing. There are still going to be some rebates around, and the fact is the rebate has artifically kept pricing in Australia high. I have a friend who is the financial controller of a company that is installing them by the hundreds per week.... and they are going to take a hit come July, but not a huge one he reckons.

a. The existing technology is going to come down by about $3000 a house by October.
b. Thin film technology is going to be half that price, though it will take up more of your house, its not as efficient.
c. Most of those installing have plenty of profit margin they can forgo, several thousand at least.

The end result is installing a solar system is only going to be marginally more expensive come July in any case.

Don't panic. You will save a bit if you get in now, but not as much as you might have thought.

[rubes]

Re: Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

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i hope you are right. dh and i are very keen to install a solar hot-water system, and more so if the price comes down.

[GreenMummy]

Re: Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

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I hope you're right, too, that way it'll encourage more people to install them. Hopefully!!

That said, we've just moved into a house and we want to get them installed and make the house as green as possible as soon as possible (a.g.a.p.a.s.a.p.!!), so we'll still try to get them in installed by end June.

So anybody from Melbourne with any experiences, please come forward!!

Thanks!!

[hanabi]

Re: Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

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There will still be ongoing grants and programs you can 'buy into' like server-guy suggested.

We have solar panels too - plus a blackout system (=battery backup). The solar system feeds the grid and the batteries are charged from the grid. It was the only way that Ergon would allow us to install it in our region but we do get a really good rate for the energy we generate.

Because we were early to buy in, ours were cheaper to buy but we've since had to install new/different inverters and meters to what was originally installed because because Ergon/Energex kept changing the protocols in the years since then. Depending on the type of system you want to run, I'd advise you find a reputable consultant to do the middle-work for you. Otherwise you risk getting a dodgy contractor who isn't really up with the knowledge but jumping on the bandwagon (like we got).

Definitely do it now if you can afford to.

[ENR]

Re: Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

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My boyfriends parents (in Melbourne) have just a solar hot-water system and from what I can tell it's crap. You have to shower and wash teh dishes in the morning because by night time the hot water has gone.

They were thinking of getting solar panels though so it must just be solar hot water systems that they don't like.

[hanabi]

Re: Solar Panels - has anyone got them?

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ENR, sounds like they need a bigger reservoir tank. Solar hot water is wonderful but it needs a booster during long overcast periods.