Solar Electricity

[Jonno from ERD]

G'day guys,

Is there any rebates still happening in QLD for solar?

 

[wiz-fiz]

My grand-dad, who loves up at nimbin, has 100% solar electricity I believe. He has bateries that store energy for when there is no sun, and I'm not sure weather (pun intended) he uses that much electricity during the day tho. We have solar panels an I think they just make help us with the power bill or something.


Will

 

[Stevo2]

The only rebate going in QLD is the RECs buyback, not sure of their current price though as the value is dependent on market factors - for the 2.15kw system I have on order it amounted to a $6384 rebate.

 

[Kristy_07]

yeah as said, the initial cost is a bit hefty straight up.

So, really, the question is... do I go solar, or buy myself a pair of GTPs? :shock:

 

[smeejason]

So, really, the question is... do I go solar, or buy myself a pair of GTPs? :shock:

buy the GTP at least they are real and will be exactly what you pay for not some dreamed up figure that was plucked from a salesmens you know what..

There is plenty of threads on here with people actually quoting what they are getting from their systems and not one is even close to what any of these overnight solar experts are quoting...ask one of them for a money back guarantee if what they is true and watch them back peddle down your driveway.. same door to door love potion sellers were selling aluminum foil a month ago telling everyone alfoil repels the heat out of your roof.( does not seem to when you cook a roast wrapped in it)
BE VERY CAREFUL WITH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT IS..

 

[gruba10]

Lol!! Now that's a hard one!!!!!

 

[gruba10]

Lol that's salespeople for u, but there just doing there job. If I were to get something I would research myself anyway like most ppl

 

[wokka]

How good is this?
Is there always enough power so that you have NO electricity bills???
Or are there catches???

Prices??

Yes, if you dont use too much pwer. because you are NSW tou'll get 60 cent per kw feedin tariff. That's the price you get paid for the electricity you generate.You pay about 20cents per kw for the electricity you buy from the grid. So, if you can generate power eqqual to one third of the power you use you will break even. If you generate more than one third then you will be ahead. This is ignoring the cost of buying the system. On top of that you get the warm fuzzie feeling that you are saving the planet!

 

[bigi]

be warned if the solar electricity excess is transferred back to the grid, you will be expected to pay tax on the income, this is true

 

[wokka]

be warned if the solar electricity excess is transferred back to the grid, you will be expected to pay tax on the income, this is true

If you have to tax it will be on profit not gross income so whats wrong with paying tax. It would be a great day if every house generated so much renewable power that everyone had to pay tax, not only helping the planet but also sustaining our community.

 

[bigi]

If you have to tax it will be on profit not gross income so whats wrong with paying tax. It would be a great day if every house generated so much renewable power that everyone had to pay tax, not only helping the planet but also sustaining our community.

sorry wokka i could be wrong but you only pay tax on profit if you are a business, therefore if a private citizen has only got a normal employee income and the solar panels are not run as a small business then it is classed as income, i refer to a retired couple who like most of us spent a considerable amount of money on solar panels only to find that their government pension was reduced due to the pathetic price they got for their excess off the grids service provider
you need to be fully informed of the financial burden when purchasing, this includes all aspects including purchase and installation costs, depreciation, maintenance, government rebates and any deemed income and taxes. Not just the environmental and feel good aspects.

 

[gruba10]

Like everything. Research is needed before jumping into anything unknown.

 

[Ramsayi]

It is not taxable based on this ruling.

What this ruling is about:
Are payments received from electricity retailers, for excess power generated by solar panels and exported to the grid, assessable income?

Ruling:

Are payments received from electricity retailers, for excess power generated by solar panels and exported to the grid, assessable income?

No.

Year(s) of income or period(s) to which this ruling applies:

Year ended 30 June 2009

Year ended 30 June 2010

Year ended 30 June 2011

Year ended 30 June 2012

Year ended 30 June 2013

 

[wokka]

sorry wokka i could be wrong but you only pay tax on profit if you are a business, therefore if a private citizen has only got a normal employee income and the solar panels are not run as a small business then it is classed as income, i refer to a retired couple who like most of us spent a considerable amount of money on solar panels only to find that their government pension was reduced due to the pathetic price they got for their excess off the grids service provider
you need to be fully informed of the financial burden when purchasing, this includes all aspects including purchase and installation costs, depreciation, maintenance, government rebates and any deemed income and taxes. Not just the environmental and feel good aspects.

In Australia if an income is taxble then the cost of achieving that income is tax deductable.
I agree that without an inflated feedin tarriff it is not economical to generate and sell your own power through the grid as the cost of reticulating power is about 75% of the final power cost. Solar power generation will not be vianle until the real cost of coal fired power is charged for coal fired power. Currently the community wears the cost of polutio of air and groundwater resulting from coal. Until this is taken into account CLEAN solar power cannot complete.

 

[wokka]

I would expect this ruling would need to be qualifoed by the amount of power generated, and would the intent of installing the system be relevant? For example if I were to put 2 acres of panels in my backyard and sell surplus power I expect the nett income would be taxable.

It is not taxable based on this ruling.

What this ruling is about:
Are payments received from electricity retailers, for excess power generated by solar panels and exported to the grid, assessable income?

Ruling:

Are payments received from electricity retailers, for excess power generated by solar panels and exported to the grid, assessable income?

No.

Year(s) of income or period(s) to which this ruling applies:

Year ended 30 June 2009

Year ended 30 June 2010

Year ended 30 June 2011

Year ended 30 June 2012

Year ended 30 June 2013

 

[Kristy_07]

I know of some new "clean" energy technology in the works... These things are not too far off

 

[cracksinthepitch]

The average over a year is 5-7 hours of collection per day. That gives 5-7kw/pday for a 1kw system, 7.5-10.5kw/pday for a 1.5kw system and 10-14kw/pday for a 2kw system average - though you do then need to deduct some for the loss due to inefficiency.

Actually, most panels are now 90%+ efficient. Even the first example you gave gives an efficiency of 92.5%...

Stevo. i paid alot extra for quality panels(bp solar) and upgraded larger invertor to enable me to add on panels at a later stage if i choose. For me here in the west of melb with my panels facing north i would need 5 to 6 kw of solar to cover my electricity usage year round, yes in summer and spring i would kill it but winter and autumn would kill me.

 

[gruba10]

Saying that. It's not about trying to eliminate your full power usage throughout the day with a system that can do that such as an unrealistic 6kw system. It's about saving energy and being rewarded through R.E.C's

 

[FAY]

A question?

Are these solar panels hail proof??

 

[gruba10]

A question?

Are these solar panels hail proof??

yes, panels are deemed to be a certain grade "hail proof", mind you if it were hailing bricks i wouldnt think so