This is based on the Clean Energy Council's figures for averaged solar power over the year being 3.9 kW, for each 1 kW of solar panel. Hardly enough to justify any investment!
Importantly in a net metered environment you make more money by offsetting imported power costs.
Our research is currently showing, there may be a drop to 4 cents at the start of 2017 for each exported kW, [we are already seeing 5 cents in electricity retailer's current offers]. It appears there is no minimum limit set by the Government as to what electricity retailers can offer!
Each exported kW then will only be worth $56 @ 4 cents.
Now this same amount of power which over the year is 1423.5 kW, if you consumed it and offset your imported power at 25 cents, would be worth $355 off your electricity costs!
So how do you reduce the exported power under your roof? Well you need to pay attention to activating appliances whilst the sun is shining. This can be done by:
- Manually turning the appliances on
- Programming the appliance
- Adding a timer
- Using a smart switch to turn the appliance on when exported power is detected
The main issue for any net metered household, is how do you know if you are importing or exporting at any time? Well you don't unless you are camped out in the powerbox! The only way to know if your exporting / importing in realtime, is to install energy monitoring on your consumption and solar power circuits.
Once you have that missing data, then of course you can see what your generating and make an educated decision on what appliances to turn on to use the power, offsetting imported power.
The secret is to use as much of the solar power and import as little as possible, thus keeping your costs to a minimum.
Of course not everyone has the time to work all this out. You may be able to program the air conditioner or add a timer to the tumble dryer. But what happens if those appliances turn on when under a cloud and your not home? Of course your now importing and unable to do anything about it.
So here is the solution!
Why not install a smart switch into any 10A socket of your home, whereby the appliance plugged into it, will turn on when exported power is detected. And amazingly turn off when exported power stops.
No it's not rocket science it is an easy solution that we are working on.
If this Solar Export Reduction Solution appeals to you we want to hear from you.
Please email our office with the subject 'Solar Export Reduction Solution' and we will keep you updated on developments.
We reckon such suitable appliances would be:
- Tumble dryer
- Washing machine
- Portable air conditioner
- Electric heater
- Heated towel rail
- Storage heater
- Air to air heat source pump
- Samll immersion heater
- Electric slow cooker
- Water pumping
- Charging electronics
- Golf buggy
- Electric car
- Hot tub
- Pool pump
- Auto pool cleaner
- Water pumping
Appliances would have to be capable of being turned on / off and not have a manual switch needed for activation. Currently the rating for a 10A socket is 2.4 kW.
Visit SMART SOLAR POWER for all the information on this exciting new home energy monitoring addition.
 |
| Excess Power Diversion |
This blog post brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY SAVING SERVICE industry in Australia.
