Went to a building show at the weekend and checked about 10 solar panels installers, wanted to make my mind up b4 the rebate finishes.
I came to a conclusion that (I was just thinking cold hard money in my pocket did not allow any speculation about global warming or green mumbo jumbo feel good) it is money very badly invested.
For any system size you install it will take you about 8.5** years of electricity saving on your bill to pay for the array. If you left the money for the same period of time in an investment acc. @ 6.5% (you could do better than that) for the same period of time you would save more and still have the capital. I decided against it. I did not add the maintenance cost of the system (cleaning, servicing, cutting the growing trees etc….)
In 8 years I will have doubled my investment and will be in a good position to invest in an efficient power producing system that will work better (wind, hydrogen???? Who Knows?)
Has anybody looked into power factor improving devices? In WA are we paying purely the kW or kva?

**that is if they keep the buy back at $ 0.40 per unit and it looks like that will change soon.

felixdcat said...
**that is if they keep the buy back at $ 0.40 per unit and it looks like that will change soon.

That's already changed in WA. It's down to 20c. All existing buyback contracts @ 40c will be honoured.

felixdcat said...

and still have the capital.

From what I've seen that's the key part most people seem to forget to take into account when comparing to any other investment. Along with maintenance costs as you've mentioned. I reckon after about 10yrs that same PV system on the roof will be considered a liability rather than an asset.

A wise business man once told me "Don't just deal with one client.... and especially when they set the price!!!"

Most solar enthusiasts admit that the investment is not about the dollars, but an investment in green energy. The fact that an initial outlay reduces your energy cost, whilst chewing up less carbon is my reasoning...otherwise I'd go with a term-deposit or property investment if my thoughts were on dollars alone. If I wanted more money, I'd move to the city (or to one of those big holes in the ground in WA) & get a higher paying job.

It's a feel-good thing.

felixdcat said...


When I want to feel good I buy beer or go sailing... to me it is a wiser way to spend my hard earned cash!

No argument here!

doggie said...

What is the cost of replacing the storage batteries?

They must have a life expetancy??

No batteries what you produce and do not use is fed back to the grid and you get $0.40 per unit. That changed to 0.20 from the end of the month. Was a good deal as you pay about 0.20 per unit.

Sailhack said...

felixdcat said...


When I want to feel good I buy beer or go sailing... to me it is a wiser way to spend my hard earned cash!

No argument here!

same here , I go outside after my solar heated shower, look up at my panels making electricity, check out the nearest tree to check the wind, THEN go for a sail , and a beer.
life is sweeeeet