Viewbank Solar Monitor

Viewbank Solar Monitor

Introduction

The intention of this blog is to record my solar system performance.
I record five meter readings weekly into an Excel spread sheet and from that I can track system performance and solar trend data.

System Description

The system comprises a 4.8KW "on grid" and a 3.2KW "off grid" system.
There are 47 PV panels in a near perfect situation with no shading except at very low sun angles.
The system was installed at Viewbank Australia in Feb 2011. Viewbank latitude is -37.74 deg.
The predicted solar power, which was used to justify the installation, was calculated using a small PV panel over a 3 month period.

In 2009 the Australian government announced a 15 year Premium Feed In Tariff (PFIT) of $0.60/KW hr which is really $0.66/KW hr with GST feed back. Furthermore my contract included an increase in line with inflation for two years which has increased my feed-in tariff to $0.71.
At the time of installation, the cost of electricity from the grid was $0.18/KW hr "on peak" and $0.09 "off peak".
Even with that attractive PFIT, the "on grid" system was barely viable. The addition of the "off grid" system gave a slight benefit by ensuring most of the power generated actually went to the grid to maximize the payback. It also removed the temptation to not use power during the day, doing the washing etc at night. This change of lifestyle is something that many, who have installed "on grid" systems, go through once they realize their daytime power is actually costing them $0.66/KW hr.
The system is currently on track for a 10 year payback period, however this doesn't include cost of funds, insurance and maintenance. If those are included there is no payback!
For those interested in installing solar my advise is "DON'T".
The feed in tariff for new systems in Victoria is now just $0.08/KW hr. The cost of power from the grid is around $0.30/KW hr "on peak" and around $0.16/KW hr "off peak". So yes! It's a joke!

System Performance for Financial Year 2012-2013

Previous years have been very similar with solar energy steadily increasing over the three years as shown here.

Three Year Solar Power Trend

The above may seem of interest in the climate change debate, however the prediction was done toward the end of the El Niño and 2011 through 2012 were affected by the La Niña.
It will be interesting to watch that trend. The PV panels will deteriorate to around 80% after 25 years so the trend should eventually reflect this.

That's it for now. I will continue to update this post each year around July.

Original post July 2013.