Grid Connected
Solar Power and your Business: The Basics
Solar power basics
When the sun shines on your solar panels it generates direct current (DC) electricity. The DC electricity travels along the cables to an ‘inverter’ which converts it to 240Volt alternating current (AC) electricity. This is the same kind of electricity which is supplied by your energy provider to power the appliances in your business.
The maximum amount of energy which can be generated by the solar power system under ideal conditions is measured in kilowatts (kW). The actual amount of energy a solar system produces over time is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). kWh is also the measurement your energy provider uses to charge you on your electricity bill.
The power your solar system provides can be used directly in your business premises, which reduces the amount of electricity you purchase from your electricity provider during the day.
If your solar system produces more power than your business is consuming, the surplus energy is fed into the mains grid. At night when the solar system is not producing power, your business is powered by the mains grid as normal.
On the weekends when you are enjoying a well deserved break, you may even earn money back. In Queensland, the surplus energy produced during the day can be sold to the energy provider (Ergon or Energex), to assist in reducing your energy bill.
Solar system materials
The four important components of a solar system are:
1. the solar panels
2. the inverter
3. the mounting frame
4. the electrical cables
All these items must be appropriate for your system and your business. Sometimes additional items may be required to ensure your businesses distribution board is complaint with legal requirements.
At Tropical Energy Solutions, we only use materials from reputable manufactures who offer an industry leading warranty and after sales support, for example SMA, Trina, Kyocera, Sunpower, Fronius and Latronics.
Solar system installation
Only Clean Energy Council accredited solar PV installers, like Tropical Energy Solutions, are allowed to install your solar system.
Ideally the solar system should be oriented to the north and angled at an elevation roughly equivalent to your latitude. This will allow maximum energy production, all year round. In North Queensland the system will also need to be cyclone rated.
Rebates: Solar Credits Scheme
Selling Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated through the installation of new photovoltaic (PV) solar system is a great way to reduce the upfront cost of a new system.
Under the current Solar Credit Scheme, small businesses which install solar panels will be awarded with three Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of clean energy their system produces (up to a system size of 1.5 kilowatts peak (kWp)). This multiplier will be reduced to 2 in mid 2012 and reduced to 1 in mid 2013.
This means if you act soon you will receive 3 RECs for every 1MWh your system is predicted to produce for the first 15 years of operation. For every MWh over 1.5kWp, 1 REC per 1 MWh will be issued.
For more information on RECs see the Australian Government Information Pamphlet