"I want mto reduce my power bill"
Most enquire about grid tie as they want to save money on their power bill. If you fit into this category in my honest opinion you need read no further than the next paragraph. This isn't for you.
There a myriad of things you can do that will save power and cost you way less than installing a grid tied solar system, the simplest being
Turn some of that stuff you have going on off! At the wall!
I am often amazed when I visit people on the grid how many gizmos they have plugged in doing nothing except bleeding their bank accounts with electrical leaks (which is how I think of unnecessary electrical loads)
Some suggestions that may help
- Turn your hot water cylinder down (call a sparky if not comfortable with this one get them to check the thermostat and element while he or she is there)
- Insulate cylinder so water stays hotter longer
- consider a solar hot water system or other method of water heating other than electrical
- fit energy saver light bulbs
- turn off that heated towel rail when its not really needed, better still chuck it
- stuffed security lights that stay on permantly could be costing you more than $1 a day. Personally I'd rather have an extra box of beer a month. Buy good quality ones or ditch the sensor and simply switch them yourself.
- wash your clothes with cold water and then hang them on a good old fashioned clothes line like countless generations have done in the past, instead of jaming them in the dryer (if you have kids and its raining you are excused)
- repair or replace that ancient fridge or freezer that is running continuously modern ones are way more efficient
- Standby mode for stereos TVs micowaves etc wastes quite a bit of power over a period of time.
all these things will pay back way better than a PV grid tied system which will probably have to be in 30 or more years before you start to turn a tiny profit
I have seen or read about grid tied systems overseas, why not here?
They are here, in low numbers. Why not so many?
Because overseas governments are way more up to speed than ours! In Australia for example subsidies and other schemes are in place to make grid tie worth while or at least cost the household into which it is installed virtually nothing. Our government is quite content with our allegedly 70% renewable generation and it this time is not interested in paying a worthwhile rate for power from micro generators. They have however made it easy for you to "gift" power to the network. Big of them eh!
The best deal that you can get as far as I know is 1 for 1. In other words if you are using no power at all your meter will run slowly backwards on sunny days. For example an $18000 system we have available might save you $300 on your power bill a year
I'll let you work out the pay back :-( Admittedly solar is getting cheaper all the time but I think it will be a while before I need rewrite this page
Is there any reason to do grid tie in NZ
YES!
But it is not financial. You may entertain the idea if you want to
- Be a friend to the environment and future generations
- Be able to use the system as a promotional tool for your business
- Secure power source. A battery backed system to provide your home or business with a more secure power source or UPS
If you think our government should get off its arse and do something more proactive I suggest you contact REFIT as they are lobbying on your behalf for a better deal |
