The Not So Sunny Side of Solar Energy
The solar market for householders in Australia, right now, is replete with traders offering all manner of ‘great’ deals, usually involving State and/or Federal Government subsidies.
An unfortunate consequence of government subsidies is that, inevitably, they seem to attract those who seek to profit at the expense of others and have no qualms about how they do it. In addition to the ‘fly-by-night’ opportunist element, government subsidies tend to inflate prices.
The solar industry has some very reliable, well established and competent suppliers and installers. It also has many that are exactly the opposite and who use all sorts of methods of misrepresentation and avoiding having to meet their future obligations, such as going out of business & re-opening under a new name, selling poor quality panels as good ones, inserting ‘small print’ get out clauses in the contract, not being insured properly for accidental damage to your property, and sub-contracting or out-sourcing installation to others who may or may not be appropriately skilled and for whom the supplier will take no responsibility.
For a specific client, property and l evel of electricity use, it is not uncommon to receive vastly different ‘advice’ as to the size and type of system that is most appropriate. It is also very difficult to obtain easily verifiable details as to the quality and characteristics of equipment suppliers and installers, let alone the differences in panels and other componentry.
For my own needs and property, for instance, I had some suppliers tell me that it wasn’t worth my while to put solar on at all. Others also advised that I needed anything from a 3.9kw system to a 6.6kw system.
Warranty conditions vary enormously and are complicated by different warranties applying to different aspects of the systems. One period mmay apply to the inverter, another to the installation and yet another to the panels. There is rarely a clear explanation of the difference between warranty of the life of the panel as opposed to its performance at a particular age or whether it is covered for accidental or natural damage.
It is impossible to rely on the claims made by suppliers on how long it will take to recoup the cost of the system through savings against fossil fuelled energy & payments for excess energy contributed to the grid. The amount paid for energy inputs is continually changing, downward being the trend, and some energy providers place limits on how much input they will accept at all or at particular periods of the year. Information given rarely considers future changes in either the purchaser’s needs or the general energy supply situation across the nation.
Reviews of companies are problematic, too. In my quest, I discovered suppliers with lots of diametrically opposed reviews, making it impossible to draw any conclusions except, perhaps, that some of the reviews, at least, must not be valid.
All of these complexities make it very difficult to compare ‘apples with apples’, even when one takes advantage of the knowledge and generous assistance of ‘brokers’ such as ‘Solar Quotes’ that put a potential purchaser in touch with vetted companies. Even when a company has a Clean Energy Council (CEC) Certification, one cannot depend on it acting ethically & responsibly.
So, my advice as a lay-person without financial assets that I can afford to squander, is to ensure that you prepare. Ensure that you know, well before-hand, what your energy needs are and are likely to be in the ensuing years as well as what it is likely to cost. Consider whether you will have children leaving home or new additions to the family. Are you soon likely to retire and spend more time at home or take up work and not be at home or is all likely to be the same for the foreseeable future.
Acquaint yourself with any regulatory limits or compliance requirements that are required by your local council. Check out the costs of electricity from your local supplier (s). Check that your roof structure is sound and able to support solar panels and be aware of its type, for ceramic tiles are readily susceptible to damage if installation is not carried out appropriately on such roofs. Make your own assessment of the shade on your house and of the roof area available for panels, particular on the North and West facing areas of roof.
*Don’t* even bother to arrange quotes until you have done all of these things. Then, be sure to obtain the assistance of an independent advisory service or broker or someone similarly experienced who is not beholden to particular suppliers or receiving commissions from them. Compare that advice with the information and knowledge you have already assembled. Then, you may be able to make a wise decision.
Lastly, as with any major purchase, don’t let your heart rule your head. Solar is a brilliant & desirable way to obtain your energy and contribute to a healthier environment and the planet. I believe that and so may you. To change to solar is a positive contribution to the planet’s survival and to society and a very responsible action to take. However, for most of us, financial resources are limited and often also unreliable. Sometimes it is better ‘the devil you know, better than the devil you don’t’.
Having said that, I encourage you to look on the sunny side and move to solar renewable energy if you can but — caveat emptor, be careful that you don’t end up on the dark side.
