At present I have 26 solar panels in all put in 2010,so I get the .60 cent back until 2024, the system is split over 2 inverters 16 x 175x 1 3kw on the house and 8 x 175 x1 1.5Kw on my shed. I have asked a 2 companies who also use the ATA logo if I can put in a Tesla 14KW battery into my system but neither have replied. Its I'll get back to you and never do or its a good Question and I'll be in touch. So is anyone out their that can answer the question: Can I put a battery in to my system and NOT lose my rebate?.
Thanks
Solar Batteries
(11 posts) (5 voices)-
GregD
MemberPosted Wednesday 19 Jul 2017 @ 1:25:43 am from IP # -
Bushwalker
MemberGood question.
So you currently get 60C/kWh, you will lose that 60C for every kWh you pump into the battery.
Why would you do that?
Next question: Why not put up a separate PV system offgrid and use it to run the baseload of your house, leaving the previous system intact?
Next question: Can you keep your 60C/kWh feed in tariff if you add an offgrid solar system with battery to your property?
Posted Wednesday 19 Jul 2017 @ 4:32:08 am from IP # -
CharlieGreene
MemberI'd agree with Bushwalker, you don't want a grid connected battery. Since you sell electricity for more than you buy it, having a battery would cost you money both short and long-term!
Posted Wednesday 19 Jul 2017 @ 5:19:33 am from IP # -
GregD
MemberI'll try and answer your questions one at a time. Our provider is SP Ausnet for this part of Victoria. Prices were out the window for Solar installation early 2008-9.
Our system is in 3 stages first part of the system in late 2009, 9 panels 3kw inverter SMA, then early 2010 few months later we were able to do a few other things.
Put another 9 more panels on the house to total of 18 panels,rip out the ducted gas heating and Evap cooling replaced the gas hot water system with the following.
Hot water solar panel gas boosted 200lt tank, then put in a 14 kw invertor for heating & cooling. and to finish it off another 8 panel on the Garage roof.During the summer months Nov to May we receive enough credit from Electricity company from the solar even if I run the inverter 24hrs for a few days doing the hot weather I can still provide a credit.
Its not about lose the .60c for charging the battery. I just got our last elect' bill from Apr to Jul a overed heated $1200. less then last year but when I checked the costing per KW its .44c to .47c during the day and .19c at night and as off the 1st Jan next year is when Victoria has its increase like the other states. How much will this state increase by who has the crystal ball to say.
I log into my electrical provider and I can see how much I use per day and the cost.
The big question to charge the battery during Winter as I am averaging about 8-10 kw in generation on most days if it is not raining. So why not use it.
The battery would only be for the house only the Invertor would still be direct to the grid.
As for the last 2 question they are the answers I am looking for. I do understand for the power company the only thing I am able to do is replace panel or inverter if damaged but that was well before batteries were on the table.
I contacted a Solar installer in March this year had the ATA logo at the bottom of his page and no reply will get back to you that is all I have heard.
I don't have the room for a separate system and even then I would still be in the same position who can give me the answer.
That is why I am asking about Batteries.
Posted Wednesday 19 Jul 2017 @ 5:28:37 am from IP # -
CharlieGreene
MemberHmmm... there's a fair bit there I don't understand. E.g. "The battery would only be for the house only the Inverter would still be direct to the grid." Are you saying that you'd charge the battery overnight on cheap tariffs, and then use that energy during the day while exporting your solar generation?
I still really don't think you'll want to install a battery, unless you're prepared to pay a lot of money to be an early adopter and support the industry, in the knowledge that it will cost you money upfront and long-term.
For the record Vic govt website (https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/victorian-feed-in-tariff/premium-feed-in-tariff/maintaining-eligibility-for-the-premium-feed-in-tariff) states you can't add solar panels (or other renewable energy systems) to you PROPERTY and maintain eligibility for PFiT. In other places it talks about increasing the size of your system, so... it's about as clear as mud!
Posted Wednesday 19 Jul 2017 @ 5:47:24 am from IP # -
Bushwalker
MemberBushwalker said:
Next question: Can you keep your 60C/kWh feed in tariff if you add an offgrid solar system with battery to your property?
For SA, this is possible. There are requirements that the offgrid system will never be connected to the grid. SA Power networks sent us the 'Service Installation Rules 2016' and confirmed that an offgrid solar battery system is possible and will not impact the feed-in tariff as long as it complies with the rules.
Posted Tuesday 25 Jul 2017 @ 2:14:26 am from IP # -
David
MemberGregD said:
I get the .60 cent back until 2024.......................Can I put a battery in to my system and NOT lose my rebate?.
No ............. under the contract rules you agreed to when you put the system/s in, you can't.
You can put in a standalone system (solar panels, inverters, batteries) but that's the only way to not loose your current FIT.
Posted Tuesday 25 Jul 2017 @ 2:32:02 am from IP # -
Bushwalker
MemberSo GregD,
* You are unable to add more solar due to no more usable roof area.
* You have a 60c feed in tariff for your solar system. (6kW system)?
* You have a kWh import from the grid charge of 44-47c and 17c overnight.
* You want to add battery for winter use.
* You have 8-10kWh solar in winter that could be charged to the battery.The question is, how will you charge the battery? If you charge it from the solar, you will lose 60c/kWh to charge the battery from solar. The cost would be 60c loss to save 17-47c (so the nett cost of charging the battery would be a loss of 13-43c per kWh)
Add the cost of the battery, and the (small) loss in charging and drawing from the battery doesn't make sense. Would be cheaper to do what you already do: Feed in power to the grid and draw it back when you need it.
Posted Tuesday 25 Jul 2017 @ 2:37:04 am from IP # -
GregD
MemberThanks for comments the real idea was to try and make any power drawn from normal usage within the house (lights, fridge, power point )come direct from the battery. The A/c unit would be direct from the grid,the a/c in general has about 3-4 months down time in a 12 month period.If the battery was charged/topped up at night it would only cost about 17c kw. But after reading these comments which is very interesting the only way that in which batteries would be more viable is to wait until Jan 1st and see how much Victoria goes up by on services, then that could be the game changer.
Thank you everyone GregDPosted Thursday 27 Jul 2017 @ 1:31:58 am from IP #
