On the grid!

Right on schedule my "net" meter arrived early this morning and within half an hour was installed
and monitoring my meagre 600W contribution,
due to overcast conditions.

Installed

Right on schedule the install team arrived to a crystal clear, but really cold morning, perfect for the outdoor roofwork.
Cabling went well in the end, after original wall cavity path proved impassable, fortunately my previously installed A/C wiring ducts provided the perfect solution. My additional DC wiring (for proposed batteries) was also easily accomodated, just have to arrange the necessary switch and then scrounge an old refridgerator to serve as a battery cabinet.
Now we have to wait until mid June for the "net" meter which measures and records both (consumed) power from the grid [import] and (generated) power put into the grid [export]. Until then the system is just sitting idle....
The installer was telling us his 3kW system was producing approx. $500 - $800 per quarter of credit (I didn't ask but reasonably suspect he's getting the old 54c/kWh feedin tariff).
Oh well, as long as our electricity bill reduces significantly it will be worthwhile, later, when we've pocketed some savings we'll move to the next "phase" and install another 3kW system and really put a dent in the bill, if not eliminate it altogether.

Installation Date

Notwithstanding inclement weather, my panels and inverter will be installed on May 3rd, unfortunately the "net" meter (which tracks both my consumption and production separately) won't arrive until late May. My system will still be connected to the "grid" and feed any electricity produced into it, I just won't have any (official) record of it.

While I was waiting

Having a break in the Barossa and happened upon this substantial installation at Jacob's Creek Winery.
The panels appear to be ~200W units and each array is 5x14=70 panels, giving a total combined output in the vicinity of 25-30kW!
To ensure maximum output they track the sun, too.

Always Learning!

So my installer rang me to see if I'd received any communication from my electricity distributor, which I had (see previous post). He was concerned as, unusually, his submission for approval wasn't responded to by the distributor. Turns out my application for a "peak" capacity of 5kW may be the sticking point, procedurally, as he usually gets his approvals returned "same day" (and without the consumer's involvement). It's possibly due to new attitudes, policy wise, about larger systems?

Nevertheless, his call got me thinking about other "approval" I hadn't paid particular attention to, mainly, in this instance, "Development Approval" (in South Australia). I remembered hearing some time ago that some people were running into strife with their Council Building Inspectors because they hadn't sought approval for the installation of their solar panels, and this had consequences. A quick check of my council website failed to identify any specific requirements for approval. On the contrary, a Council Fact Sheet (last updated January 2012) identified information about "Schedule 3 - Acts and activities which are not development" which, in section 15 clearly set out the exemption that applies to Solar Panel Installation:

(The following acts or activities are excluded from the definition ofdevelopment (other than in respect of a State heritage place, or as otherwiseindicated below).)

15—Solar photovoltaic panels

        (1)         Subject tosubclause (2), the installation, alteration, repair or maintenance of adesignated photovoltaic system on the roof of a building.
        (2)         Subclause (1)does not apply if the place where the designated photovoltaic system isinstalled is a local heritage place if, when installed, it is able to be seenby a person standing at ground level in a public street.
        (3)         In thisclause—
designated photovoltaic system means—
            (a)         aphotovoltaic system comprising solar photovoltaic panels that have a totalweight not exceeding 100 kilograms; or
            (b)         aphotovoltaic system comprising solar photovoltaic panels that have a totalweight exceeding 100 kilograms if—
                  (i)        the weight load is distributed so that it does not exceed100 kilograms at any 1 point of attachment to the roof; and
                  (ii)        the panels (and any associated components) do notoverhang any part of the roof; and
                  (iii)        the panels are fitted parallel to the roof with theunderside surface of the panels being not more than 100 millimetres abovethe surface of the roof; and
                  (iv)        the panels are installed by a person who holds anaccreditation under a scheme recognised by the Minister for the purposes ofthis paragraph.  

Application Progress

Today I've received email from my electricity distributor advising...
"Your application to install a Small Embedded Generator at (my suburb), has been received"
Just have to sign the T&C's and return it to them, and we move a step closer....

First Hiccups!

The Feed-in Tariff
So this morning I ring my electricity retailer (incognito) to get the rate they offer for "feed-in", without hesitation I'm told "..it's 51cents per kiloWatt Hour, sir."

I thanked the consultant and decided to double check that figure, it sounded familiar but I was sure it had been reduced last year.

I googled up the local info and, sure enough, that generous rate had long disappeared and was now less than half that. My second call to my retailer confirmed the lesser amount, after a long wait "o hold" as they scrambled to get the right answer, as this time I chose to identify and verify myself as an existing customer.
More Panels, later.

That same info revealed my second problem - my plans to "upgrade" to an additional 2kW could have ended in disaster! Turns out you have to nominate your "peak capacity", and if this is, as in my case, your initial installation capacity, that's it!, any additional capacity will erase your feed-in completely - to quote from the website:

"If you wish to install beyond the original peak capacity approved by ETSA Utilities this is described as an upgrade.

Any upgrades will make you ineligible for any feed-in tariff."

So I quickly put in a call to my installer to "upgrade" my peak capacity to the eventual maximum.

The key point here is to ensure you apply for your eventual "peak capacity" at the outset, because you can't "upgrade" your application.

The other interesting fact to come out of this is that you can connect up two complete systems, i.e. panels and inverter, rather than partially populating say a 4kW inverter with 2kW of panels initially then following up with more panels later. Moreover, our discussion touched on the performance of larger vs smaller inverters, and, in fact the smaller ones have less heat build up tendencies and therefore are likely more reliable. AND, if one inverter does have a problem which needs shutting down and repair, you've still got the other one producing electricity - you'd have to be very unlucky to lose both simultaneously.
It's interesting to note a little known fact about Solar "Grid Connected" Installations; if the power fails, you will not have you own power supply!

The "Grid Tied" inverter is designed to only operate in the presence of the grid supply, and shut itself down completely in the event of a (Grid) power failure.
This is a safety requirement for all "Grid Tied" Inverters. If you want a system to run independent of the grid a different type is required.

Helpful Links

Some useful web pages about Solar Power and system installation:

1. A series of videos (Australian) which step through the installation considerations and process.
2. A free iPhone app that can help calculate likely performance for your specific location and panel placement.
3. Feed-in tariff specific to South Australia

The Decision, finally.

After several years of watching many offers and researching the many factors that contribute to a successful purchase/install, we've finally put money down to get our Solar Power underway.

The most significant contributor to our decision was, simply, a person. All previous contacts about this investment were faceless 'phone callers heralding our urgent action to commit, lest we "miss out" on the current best offer. Any response of ours suggesting someone visit to, most importantly, check out our house was quickly met with a casual re-assurance that we'd be OK as the installers would sort out any difficulties, and to get one to "pre-inspect" would naturally happen when we committed (to a verbal contract). That always troubled me and left me feeling they weren't interested in my concerns about some of the potential difficulties and challenges my installation could present.
Through our network of work colleagues an offer came up and an enthusiastic installer and business principal "walked the walk" to get up close and personal with our roof and it's challenges. It confirmed that some extra effort and cost would be involved, but at the end of it a firm price written on a sales order was all we needed to sign with confidence.