Why Connect?
There are three really good reasons for installing a grid connect solar generator.
FINANCIAL
i) Cost of Electricity: Australia’s consumers have benefited from being amongst those who have the cheapest energy prices available anywhere in the world. Our access to a wealth of natural resources and reliance on fossil fuel derived energy generation has been a prime economic force in the development of the national economy. Because of this it has been heavily subsidised by the collective purse. This is changing.
In the next few years electricity is going to cost the consumer much more than it has in the past
Electricity produced by your solar system will be subtracted from your electricity bill, every watt your system generates over its working life time will be one watt less you have to purchase from the supply authority.
The eventual introduction of Feed in Tariffs Australia wide ensure that solar power system owners are paid a premium for the solar electricity that they produce. Time of use metering used by some electricity retailers can also increase the value of the electricity produced as electricity prices tend to be highest during the daytime.
In Perth, if your home uses an average of 20Units per day of electricity and you purchase a 1kw system from MESA, it will take around 10 years at current prices (not including a standard inflation factor) to recover the capital costs in savings on your bill. If you factor in standard CPI inflation and the most conservative energy price increases over the next 5 years it will take less than 5 years to recover the capital outlay. The system will be generating a true net positive fiscal benefit thereafter.
ii) Equity: When you purchase a grid connect solar generator you increase the value of your home or investment property. Given that the existing 5 times RECs scheme recovers a large part of the capital outlay the equity is immediate.
The value of having a grid connect solar system installed will also increase as the price of electricity increases making an investment property easier to market and attracting a higher rent or lease return.
iii) Depreciation: Solar Power systems are a depreciable asset which reduces ongoing operating costs by reducing the amount of electricity required from the grid, especially during expensive peak periods. The benefit of this depreciation will vary from business to business and is best assessed by your account or financial planner.
PEOPLE
i) Lead the way
With ever growing awareness of the issues regarding climate change, there are significant advantages for businesses that are seen to be taking a proactive approach to reducing their impact. Solar power is a great option as not only is it a highly visible and well known method of making a contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it will also give ongoing cost reductions rather than continuously costing money like many other environmental options.
ii) Create Jobs
Renewable energy technologies have been found to create twice as many jobs as fossil fuel technologies for the same amount of electricity produced. By supporting renewable energy you can help to create more jobs in this interesting and growing field.
iii) Improve Local, State and National Security
This is not as farfetched as it would seem. By becoming a small part of a larger system incorporating many decentralised semi autonomous generators the risks of catastrophic failure of whole grid connected sectors is reduced.
Continuity of supply is of prime importance at every level and having it ensures improved security for everyone.
As the take up of smaller grid connect systems expands, the reliance on over extended existing centralised base load infrastructure is reduced. Given the improvement and uptake in smart metering and switching systems, demand can be better managed across supply sectors to stabilize demand load fluctuations, this means a more consistent and reliable energy supply.
THE ENVIRONMENT
We live in it, without it there would be no place to live nor any reason to worry about abstracts such as money.
By installing a solar power system you could save tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year and make a huge cut in your carbon footprint. Solar power is a simple, effective and tangible way of making real change by reducing the amount of coal fired electricity you need without any loss of amenity or quality of service. In addition to CO2 emission, coal fired electricity is responsible for large amounts of other emissions, including those containing sulphur and mercury, uses vast quantities of fresh water and requires locally destructive mining.
