The little book of solar

little book of e Th

solar We lco me

An educational text from the Solar Shop Australia Solar Academy

Introducing Solar Shop Australia At Solar Shop Australia, we believe that by sharing knowledge, everyone can feel connected with their energy and feel good about where it’s coming from. That’s how we started over 10 years ago—before solar was so popular!

Since then, Solar Shop Australia has become one of Australia’s top national solar retailers. To this day, we are specialists—solar is all we do.

Our renewable energy advisors are available in-store and for free in-home consultations. They are trained to work with you, your energy usage and your lifestyle to design a system that can reduce your bill or even earn you an income through solar energy! They’ll also stick with you during the whole process to guide you through rebates, tariffs and financing.

Read on to learn more about going solar. We hope by the end, you too will believe in what we call ‘the power of good’.

Renewable Energy Advisor

Contents 2 Solar Academy 5 The Science N W

E

13 The Art

S

19 The Maths 27 The Results 32 Notes

F I Ts

Solar Academy Hi, I’m Professor PV. I started with Solar Shop 10 years ago, researching all over the world for the best solar technologies for Australian homes.

Now I help run the Solar Shop Solar Academy, which we created to reinforce our passion for solar power and to help Australians learn about home solar energy solutions.

Prof

f PV. ProP V

2

PV Factoid: Solar technology is not new—Einstein

Rewards for all graduates The Solar Academy is designed to reward you for your curiosity. You become a ‘solar student’ from your first visit

SOLAR ACADEMY

to our website, becoming more qualified as you attend an

information session, schedule an in-home consultation and,

SOLAR ACADEMY

ultimately, buy a system from Solar Shop Australia. Get in

touch with us and be rewarded for your new-found knowledge

SOLAR ACADEMY

at www.solaracademy.com.au.

Y

SOLAR TUDENT

SOLAR STUDENT

SOLAR STUDENT

SOLAR STUDENT

Visit website

Attend info session

Home consult

SOLAR TUDENT S OLAR

S UCTEE IND

SOLAR DUA GRA SOLATRE OFFICIAL

SOLAR DUATE GRA

REA WABLE RENE ADVISO ERGY R EN

Enlightened ‘solar’ graduate

REA

coined the term ‘photovoltaic’, or PV, in 1905.

SOLAR UCTEE IND

REA

SOLAR OFFICIAL

3

WABLE RENE ADVISO ERGY R EN

t m en d ver tise A

The Power of

Good People Who deserves to win a free solar system?

Find out more!

solarshop.com.au/ thepowerofgood

Julie Sutherland, one of last year’s winners, with a panel from her free system.

Nominate your local do-gooder at

thepowerofgood.com.au

the

Science of solar

It takes dedicated research and expertise to offer the best solar technologies for the Aussie environment.

5

What is electricity?

The first law of thermodynamics tells us that energy can be neither created nor destroyed; it can only change form.

The sun sends out energy as electromagnetic radiation.

This energy, in turn, creates wind, weather, waves and helps plants grow (the original source of coal-powered electricity).

Nearly all of our energy originally comes from the sun!

Solar cells act as semi-conductors which, along with some other components, convert this energy into an electrical current. A device called an inverter then converts direct current (DC) from the solar panels into alternating current (AC)—which is what we use in our homes.

Electricity is simply a flow of electrons, or current, that travels via a conductor from a negative terminal to a positive one.

This flow produces heat and light (measured in watts), which is used in homes and businesses.

There is enough solar energy for us all to create enough clean, renewable electricity for all our domestic and commercial needs.

6

PV Factoid: The amount of sunlight that hits the Earth every hour

the Science of solar

contains more energy than we use worldwide over 10 years!

7

v ‘Bad’, or non-renewable, energy includes brown coal and petroleum-based fuels.

Electricity is created through burning finite fossil-fuel resources to power turbines that generate an electrical current that is sent down a wire to your home.

8

PV Factoid: Currently, only 1% of Australia’s energy comes from renewables.

the Science of solar

s.

Good ‘Good’, or renewable, energy comes from a variety of sources.

This is done by harnessing natural resources such as solar, wind, hydro (water), and geothermal (heat from the earth) to drive turbines to create electricity. All of this happens, of course, without the damaging side-effects of burning fossil fuels. Advances in solar system design now make home generation viable.

The other 99% comes from unsustainable resources like coal and oil.

9

Two kinds of solar energy There are two ways to harness energy from the sun.

Thermal energy (heat): This is the kind used in

Light energy: This is

solar hot water systems,

the kind used in solar

where the sun’s heat is

panels, where the

used to heat water.

sun’s energy (photons) is used to create an electrical current.

10

PV Factoid: The right system for you depends on your energy usage

the Science of solar

Home-made electricity Green power from an accredited electricity supplier is a good thing, though it’s even better to create your own electricity at home by harnessing the power of the sun.

A well-designed home solar system can cover all your household electricity needs, and even generate you an income from any excess power fed back into the electricity grid.

patterns. Individual energy usage patterns can vary dramatically!

11

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Power in Numbers

Solar Shop Australia’s bulk-buy programs Solar Shop Australia’s Power in Numbers programs allow groups (including communities, schools and businesses) to harness the power of good.

solarshop.com.au/powerinnumbers

the

Art

of home energy

A home solar system that suits you perfectly is no accident. At Solar Shop we know the art of solar system design!

13

Why go solar?

Everyone’s motivation for going solar is different! Our renewable energy advisors make sure you get what you want out of your system.

We’ve found that most of our customers have one of the following goals: ENEN ER EN GY ER ER BI EN GY GY LL ER BILL BI GY BILL LL

ENEN ERER GYGYBILL BILL

EN ENER GY ER ENE RGY GYBIBIL BILL L LL ENERGY

ENERGY BILL ENERGY BILL

BILL

$0.00 $300 cre dit

$0.00 $300 cre dit

I. Reduce their power bill

III.

Earn money by selling excess electricity

II. Eliminate their power bill

IV. Reduce reliance on non-renewable energy

Simple steps Try out our online ‘configurator’ to see how going solar can make a difference.

14

PV Factoid: Not all solar panels are the same. Even the same

the Art of home energy

Panel technology choice These days there are four main solar panel technology types.

Panels vary in size, appearance, the amount of electricity they generate, their ability to tolerate shade or heat and, of course, their cost. The better the panel, the more power it will output per m2. Solar Shop Australia understands all these technology types, and can design a home energy solution best suited to your individual needs.

Energy outputÂ

Heat tolerance

Hybrid thin-film

Price range

Shade tolerance

Copper Indium Selenium (CIS) thin-film

Space efficiency

Carbon footprint

Mono-crystalline

Poly-crystalline

4

type of panel can have many different grades of quality.

15

System design Solar Shop Australia has more than 10 years of experience designing systems for our customers through all the changing technologies and Government regulations. This experience has enabled us to develop our own unique system design tool (we call it Solve) that helps you make the right choice for your individual needs.

If you want, a Renewable Energy Advisor will consult with you about the specifics of your situation—and come out with the best system that suits your needs and budget.

Roof type

Shade

Dimensions

Angle

Location

N W

E S

Orientation

16

PV Factoid: It’s important to compare your current

the Art of home energy

Power Output Guarantee Because every home is different, no two solar systems will be the same. Different technologies deliver different power outputs in different conditions—and the technologies cost different amounts.

Since we started, Solar Shop Australia has researched a range of panel and inverter technologies so that we can get the maximum power output in any situation. With a system design from one of our Renewable Energy Advisors, you will see the power output from your system.

You can count on your system delivering consistent results well into the future. We only select reputable, stable manufacturers with industryleading warranties, and our customer service team will support you well into the future.

energy use with the projected output of your system.

17

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Looking for

a good

investment?

This 10kW system had a payback period of only four years!

Talk to our Renewable Energy Advisors about the financial benefits of going solar with Sunworks.

solarshop.com.au/sunworks

the

Maths of going solar

A solar system can save you money, and new financing options put you—not big energy companies—in control of your energy bill.

19

Take charge of your electricity Energy prices are predicted to rise 15% every year across Australia. Installing a solar system will not only save you money in the long run, but also can reduce your bill from the first day it’s installed.

Because Solar Shop Australia offers customers $0 deposit financing for a solar system, it can cost you nothing up front (and repayments are generally lower than your current power bill).

This solar thing just makes sense, huh Sunny?

Mum and Dad are already paying more than they would with solar!

20

PV Factoid: Going solar decreases your power bill, increases the re-sale value of

the Maths of going solar

Beat power price rises!

Save money from day one with $0 deposit

tr

ec

El

ty ci

s

st

co

i

Solar savings (or earnings!)

Solar bill

This graph shows both the immediate and long-term benefits of solar finance, including the option to pay $0 up-front!

The red line represents the predicted rise in electricity costs.

The green line represents your low solar repayments plus the much-reduced bill you receive from your power company.

See how it starts out less than the current energy cost? This shows that you can invest in solar and reduce your fortnightly costs straight away! Plus, your money goes toward a long-term, sustainable energy source for your home.

The bigger your system, the shorter your payback period can be. Once you’ve paid your system off, you’ll enjoy years of ‘free’ power!

your home and can even earn a tax-free income on excess power you generate.

21

Why NOW is the time for solar!

State Government feed-in tariffs Every state has legislated feed-in tariffs (FITs) that make big electricity companies pay those contributing solar energy to the grid. This means the producers of ‘bad’ energy have to pay ‘good’ solar energy generators (like you) for power.

FITs vary from state to state. However, these

F I Ts

tariffs are being wound back as we reach target levels of legislation, so act now to lock in your rate for years to come.

Federal Government rebates To support the uptake of solar, and help

meet the target of 20% of Australia’s energy coming from renewable sources by 2020, the Federal Government has created tradeable certificates for anyone buying a home solar energy system. These small-scale technology certificates (STCs) are like shares; they can be sold or traded.

Initially, the government has applied a multiplier to increase the value of these certificates for small home solar systems.

However, the multiplier is reducing each year until 2013.

22

the Maths of going solar

We make it easy for you to take charge Generating electricity from your home solar system is very empowering. However, to benefit from state government feed-in tariffs (FITs) and to access back-up electricity for the non-daylight hours, you need to connect to the main electricity grid and get a smart electricity meter.

Solar Shop Australia helps you with this process.

We do all the chasing around and paperwork for ‘permissionto-connect’ approvals. We now also have the ability to install your ‘smart-meter’ and connect you to the electricity grid.

Contact us on 133 765 to discuss your needs, or visit us online at www.solarshop.com.au to find out more.

23

t m en d ver tise A

coNCEPT

REALITY Australia’s most innovative commercial solar projects. from concept to Reality.

1MW Adelaide Showgrounds installation 2010.

www.commsolar.com.au A member of the SSA group.

the Maths of going solar

Turn sunshine into savings Australia is blessed with a lot of sunshine, and taking advantage of it can gain you huge financial rewards.

Solar Shop Australia’s range of technologies and custom design service allow us to create a system that will go to work for you. Often, there’s only a minimal price difference in financing a larger system, while the long-term returns make it an undeniably smart investment.

You can even put solar panels on your holiday house and make money on it while you’re not there!

Good outcomes sooner than you think.

Speak to a Renewable Energy Advisor about a return-on-investment model for your home based on a Solar Shop Australia home energy system.

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Share in the power of good.

$200 REFERRAL VOUCHER

Customers of Solar Shop who refer a friend who buys a system receive $200!

Call 133 765 or visit

solarshop.com.au/referralrewards

the

Do you know a local hero?

Results:

Nominate a local hero to put them in the what next...

running to win a free custom Solar System from Solar Shop Australia! Nominations can be made online at www.solarshop.com.au or in-store.

From here the steps are easy. We’ll be able to help you with each phase of your journey to energy independence.

27

Ready, set ...

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the Little Book of Solar.

You’re almost ready to graduate from the Solar Academy.

So what happens next?

• Invite us to visit: Contact Solar Shop Australia to arrange a free in-home consultation with a Renewable Energy Advisor.

• Check out our specials: Look for great deals online at www.solarshop.com.au/specialoffers.

• Keep in the loop: Register with the Solar Academy at www.solaracademy.com.au, come back when you are ready to go solar and take advantage of graduate specials!

• Fill in the form: Send the form at the back of this book to us via FreePost and we’ll get in touch.

... go solar!

Once you’re ready to go solar, a Renewable Energy Advisor can work with you to design your system. Once it’s installed, we’ll be there to help you get the best out of your system with monitoring options and ongoing technical support.

28

PV Factoid: Your home solar system will help work towards the

the Results: what next

SOLA

R

GO

Australian Government’s ‘20% by 2020’ renewable energy targets.

29

30

the Results: what next

The power of good people We’re just as excited about solar today as we were when we started 10 years ago. Perhaps that’s because the ‘power of good’ goes beyond feeling great about your free electricity— it’s also about reducing your carbon footprint. To keep the good feeling going, Solar Shop Australia continues to support other organisations that believe in the power of good.

We donate solar systems to clients of Habitat for Humanity, we are one of the major supporters of Sustainable House Day, and we are also the only solar company in Australia to be endorsed by Planet Ark. Endorsed by

Supporting

2345 kg carbon dioxide (CO2 ) saved This publication was printed carbon-neutral under an ISO 14001certified EMS with vegetable-based inks on Australian paper made from 100% post-consumer recycled waste (such as paper from kerbside recycling).

Sustainable production methods used for this booklet have saved approximately 2345kg of damaging greenhouse ( CO2 ) emissions compared to conventional production methods. That’s approximately 1.5 times the amount produced by an average Australian home in a month (without solar, of course)!

Notes

Title: The Little Book of Solar Subtitle: An educational text from the Solar Shop Australia Solar Academy Publisher: Solar Shop Australia ISBN: 978-0-646-55466-2 Publication Date: June 2011

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Book a home consultation If you’d like to have one of our Renewable Energy Advisors visit you for an obligation-free custom design consultation, book a free in-home consultation. It’s easy—just fill in the form and leave it with us here at a Solar Academy info session, or visit the website, give us a call, or pop into one of our retail outlets.

Inside back cover

Call us on 133 765 or book online at www.solarshop.com.au.

Australia’s leading solar energy retailer!

Our renewable energy advisors live locally, Australia-wide.

WA | SA | VIC | ACT | NSW | QLD 133 765 or visit www.solarshop.com.au