Batts88
Well-Known Member
The need for thermal coal maybe slowing but we still need coking coal.
Being charged for exporting from your solar panels.
- Thread starter Corndoggy
- Start date
Batts88
Well-Known Member
Yep that's how it works their pollution levels are down now it's moved to another country. Similar to coal mines I've been told they have emition limits specific to each mine for polluting for eg an open cut mine running a diesel powered machines but they can run electric shovels and draglines so it pollutes elsewhere. So you can have more machines to increase production and feel good about not increasing your on site pollution levels that gives the big knobs that warm fuzzy feeling inside.
peterfermtech
Well-Known Member
It's funny how the countries with plenty of baseload renewables such as hydro and/or geothermal and to a lesser extent nuclear are leading the propaganda to decarbonise. I guess if Equinor's oil exploration in the Bight had gone ahead then Norway would have blamed Australia for the carbon exports.
LurchWA
Active Member
I have heard that mate though I don't know a lot about the way it is setup over there. A few mates of mine that were working here in power generation have picked up jobs over your way and the salaries have been up to double or more to do the same kind of work so somebody somewhere must be doing alright out of it.
Batts88
Well-Known Member
Just had a look we pay around 23 cents a kw it says around 38 cents in WA fat cats pockets are making the country tilt dramatically to the west.
Albynsw
Well-Known Member
Coal-fired power plants in peril as prices plunge
Most of Australia’s coal-fired plants are running at a loss as energy prices crash, sparking warnings about early closures.
In the process of changing my supplier, again. Have just finished doing it, did not get the plan or prices I was told by one of those compare the price mobs. Prices were higher and no solar feed in tariff. Contacted the supplier and they said we'll change you to the solar plan. Prices were higher again for use but had a solar feed in. Told them forget the solar. Just signed up to a new mob with better daily, peak and off peak rates and standard solar feed in. The guy did say the feed in will be changing from 10.2c to possibly 6.?c I would say anyone thinking of getting solar should think long and hard about it now. It might/might not be worth the money now or in the future.
typhoeus
Well-Known Member
buy a wrecked tesla and make your own battery bank, even buying a tesla battery bank would be worthwhile if that meant you could disconnect from the grid
Toyasaurus
Well-Known Member
That depends on how much power you use Matt.
I could disconnect from the grid now with what I have ( 27kw/h ) storage, buying a small 3.5kw generator would be a good idea though.
From memory tesla cars have a heap of storage in them 50kw/h +, even the hybrids have 20+.
It all depends on how much power you use and how much you can generate.
Cdog, those compare the market site`s aren`t worth a fart, they only list companies that will pay them a commission or advertise with them.
Which state are you in?
I know in NSW you can get up to 21c kw from 2 companies, but you pay more for the power you use.
I could disconnect from the grid now with what I have ( 27kw/h ) storage, buying a small 3.5kw generator would be a good idea though.
From memory tesla cars have a heap of storage in them 50kw/h +, even the hybrids have 20+.
It all depends on how much power you use and how much you can generate.
Cdog, those compare the market site`s aren`t worth a fart, they only list companies that will pay them a commission or advertise with them.
Which state are you in?
I know in NSW you can get up to 21c kw from 2 companies, but you pay more for the power you use.
Les PK Ranger
4x4 Earth Contributer
Best bet for solar now is just get what you need to offset your usage, forget feed in, or at least don't depend on it.
Or, get slightly more solar than you need / use, and have the days balance charging a battery so you can draw on that during the night, next day you offset all needs and recharge battery.
Make sure it's based on winter use, or just be prepared to pay a little in Winter . . . for most parts of Oz that's only one bill a year, the rest of the year should be fine.
Or, get slightly more solar than you need / use, and have the days balance charging a battery so you can draw on that during the night, next day you offset all needs and recharge battery.
Make sure it's based on winter use, or just be prepared to pay a little in Winter . . . for most parts of Oz that's only one bill a year, the rest of the year should be fine.
Hoyks
Well-Known Member
I tried that, but due to the distance I am from a transformer, Energex would only allow me to hook up 2.5kW to the grid. we use a bit more than that.
You should be allowed to get 5, 10, 20 or 100KW but it will be export limited to 2.5Kw in your case. Though that is really low. Normally it is 5Kw. I got 10
They will limit your export such that you can use as much as you like but never pump more than the 2.5Kw back into the system. Its a configuration in the system. But in IMHO get as much as solar you can afford. On cloudy winter days the output can drop to about 10% or even less. Don't worry about the export limits.
I loaded up on insulation and use my house as a 'heat battery'. The reverse cycle Aircon is set to 20 in the middle of the day when it's sunny then it stays warm till the next day's sun. So I am only using the aircon when the solar panels are at their peak. Most sunny days I heat the house and shove about 5 - 7 Kw back into the system. Cloudy winter days are a different story :-( but at least it doesn't get as cold when overcast.
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Kippie
Moderator
You can also hookup your electric hot water system provided you change out the heater element with a lower powered one to match your solar output. I have fitted a 1.8kW element hooked up to a 3kW array with a timer that's set between 11am and 4pm. Works a treat, both in summer and winter.
Batts88
Well-Known Member
When we got 3k watts of solar they also recommended getting a switch with timer installed for the hot water but said nothing about reducing the elements size that's a good idea thanks.
peterfermtech
Well-Known Member
heat pump
Hoyks
Well-Known Member
Re-wiring everything was not really an option.
When I got it installed the plan was to demolish the house, so the solar went on the shed. Power runs to the house and the shed was connected to the opposite end of the house, so any feed in restrictor would have to be on the fuse box on the house, well away from the inverter and then there is the whole house being demolished thing again.
For hot water we have instantaneous gas, 40kg lasts us around 4 months, so happy enough with that. Heating is a wood stove.
Now I have another 6m of shed roof and the house is almost ready to push into a hole, might be time for another 3kW up there and think about a battery.
When I got it installed the plan was to demolish the house, so the solar went on the shed. Power runs to the house and the shed was connected to the opposite end of the house, so any feed in restrictor would have to be on the fuse box on the house, well away from the inverter and then there is the whole house being demolished thing again.
For hot water we have instantaneous gas, 40kg lasts us around 4 months, so happy enough with that. Heating is a wood stove.
Now I have another 6m of shed roof and the house is almost ready to push into a hole, might be time for another 3kW up there and think about a battery.
Batts88
Well-Known Member
That's good info it's like trying to sell something without listing the price.
peterfermtech
Well-Known Member
So after googling "heat pump hot water" I found this reference https://www.aef.com.au/for-home/hot-water/hot-water-heat-pump-guide/ also this unit that uses less than 1kw https://www.solarflow.com.au/produc...kOiI88_FxbgZbgNXjocCMrEtFUF4q4rRoCQDUQAvD_BwE so more than capable of running off your existing solar.
If I hadn't replaced my existing gas about 5 years ago or had an old electric it would probably be the way I would go. But then I'm an old troglodyte that still believes there is a need for fossil fuels.
If I hadn't replaced my existing gas about 5 years ago or had an old electric it would probably be the way I would go. But then I'm an old troglodyte that still believes there is a need for fossil fuels.
Kippie
Moderator
When we need to replace our hot water system, well definitely go for a heat pump. At the moment our PV powered system works well, albeit not as efficient as a heat pump.
I think that's the trouble with retro fitting. It's too expensive to replace the entire system so adding on bits and pieces is the only option. Ideally you'd demolish the whole house and design from the ground up. Maybe next time.....
But what astounds me is that new houses are built using none of this technology. Moreover, most new builds in our area (Central Victoria) have black roofs. Great in winter, but not so great in summer.