As the famous poem so eloquently states, we love our sunburnt country – a place which, on average, receives between six and 11 hours of sunlight per day. It’s also no surprise that Australia’s average sunlight increases between October and April.
With that kind of natural resource on tap, Australian businesses and households have jumped on board Solar Energy solutions with solar PV panels the obvious popular choice. And there is no better time to get on board the solar train than right now.
A record 3.5 million panels were installed on Australian household rooftops in 2017, giving the equivalent output of a medium-sized coal-fired power station¹. That number doesn’t include businesses and commercial buildings, who are also rampantly installing the technology.
With that kind of power going back into the electrical grid, energy supply authorities are now having capacity concerns with the amount of energy coming back from the community. A report in The West Australian² admitted steps are being taken to ensure serious malfunctions are avoided due to the soaring output generated by rooftop panels.
Wood & Grieve Engineers (WGE) have been working closely with our clients for years in advising best practice for their energy needs. At the forefront of that has been Electrical and Energy Project Engineer Mark Price, who says now is the best time to look at solar energy.
“It’s no secret that solar energy can save businesses money, and that’s a huge drawcard when you consider the amount that’s spent powering buildings that are running high energy items such as lighting, air conditioning, telecommunications and ICT to name a few,” he says.
But how and why is solar a cost saver?
“The sun shines on solar panels generating direct current (DC) electricity, which is then fed into a solar inverter that converts it into traditional electricity, or alternating current (AC). This AC electricity is then used to power your lights, appliances, air conditioning etcetera,” Mark says.
“You can really get creative with solar energy. You can offset your energy bills, sell it to your tenants, rent your roof, set up community solar garden schemes – the possibilities are endless.
“Whilst consuming this solar powered energy directly is the most sustainable and financially attractive purpose, any surplus electricity not used is then typically fed back into the main grid.”
Depending on where you are located in Australia there are little to no restrictions on the amount of solar energy you can produce, or the amount of energy that can be put back into the grid. But Mark says that may change with energy authorities cautioning about potential risks to the system.
“Right now, and within reason, businesses and households can pump as much surplus electricity back into the grid as they like. But with that comes potential risks, so it’s likely we may see policy makers step in and make some changes,” he says. “Therefore, there really is no better time to get in the game than now.”
Thankfully, WGE has a team of experts who have been working closely with our clients on their energy requirements for years. Along with solar, our energy services team can assist with a range of solutions, including photovoltaic systems, hybrid and off-grid solutions, battery storage and co-and-tri-generation and bio-fuel solutions.
“We understand the challenges of energy solutions and that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. We work with our clients to determine the best solution for them through consultation, modelling and financial analysis, to ensure the design is tailored to each project’s unique needs,” Mark says.
“It’s an exciting and emerging market that’s constantly evolving, and we’re happy to help our clients with the journey.”
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