What are solar multipliers, solar credits, STCs and RECs?

June 6th, 2011

Solar multiplier, solar credits, REC, SGU, STC, LGC, feed-in tariffs – these terms are regularly thrown around by the Australian government and the solar power industry without much explanation. Often, it’s hard to get around the tech-speak and find out what they actually mean for your solar power system.

Actually, these strange words and acronyms are nothing to worry about! They mostly relate to the Australian federal government’s solar credits scheme, which rewards homes and businesses that install renewable energy systems. So, what do they actually mean?

SGU – Small Generation Unit

A Small Generation Unit is the official name for a small solar power system that generates under a certain amount of electricity per year. An SGU could be a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel, wind or hydro power unit. Generally if your solar system is for your home or small business it’s classified as an SGU, but the best way to know is to ask Greenway Energy when you request a quote. SGUs can be eligible for certain government rebates and feed-in tariffs.

STC – Small-scale Technology Certificate

When you install an eligible SGU solar panel, solar hot water system or heat pump, you can claim a set number of Small-scale Technology Certificates. These STCs are calculated according to the amount of electricity in megawatt hours (MWh) your system will generate over its estimated lifespan. Each STC is worth a certain amount of money on an open market. The easiest way to receive that benefit is as a discount on your initial purchase by a provider like Greenway Energy, who buys them from you and does all the work of claiming and trading the STCs.

LGC – Large-scale Generation Certificates

Larger businesses that install bigger, higher-generating renewable energy systems have a separate trading scheme of Large-scale Generation Certificates. Greenway Energy can tell you if your system is eligible for STC or LGC credits.

RECs – Renewable Energy Certificates

REC was the previous name for all renewable energy certificates for generators large and small. The term was replaced by STCs and LGCs in January 2011.

Solar credits and the solar multiplier

This federal government scheme increases the actual number of STCs you get for your system.  It uses a solar multiplier system, where the number of eligible STCs you receive for the first 1.5 kilowatts (kW) of your system’s capacity is multiplied by a specific number.

Unfortunately, the government is slowly reducing the solar multiplier every year, which reduces your rebate. Therefore, install your renewable energy system sooner and you’ll receive greater benefits!

Feed-in tariffs/Grid connect tariffs

On top of the STCs or LGCs you can claim, grid connect or feed-in tariffs provide yet another source of rebate for your solar system! A feed-in tariff is a premium rate paid for electricity your solar system feeds back into the electricity grid. Australia does not have a national feed-in tariff system, but most states have a system where you are credited for the renewable electricity you supply. Learn more about Victoria’s feed-in tariff program.

Still confused? We understand and are happy to answer your questions. Visit Greenway Energy’s FAQs page for more information on STCs, solar credits or grid connect, or contact us

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What are deep cycle solar batteries?

March 22nd, 2011

What happens when you want the electricity stored by your solar panel at night? Of course, the solar panels aren’t generating electricity once the sun is down – so where does the system store energy for use later?

When you need something to efficiently store the power your home solar panels generate, you need a deep cycle solar battery. Kind of like a car battery, a deep cycle battery is a lead-acid battery that uses a chemical reaction to store generated energy. In a car’s case, the battery stores any electrical energy produced during driving, and your solar panel battery stores power from during the day from when the panels generates solar power.

However, don’t call the RACV and request a deep cycle battery for your solar power system! Deep cycle batteries are different to car batteries in a few important ways.

For example, have you ever left your car lights on by accident and come back to your car to find it won’t start? That’s when you call the RACV! It happens because car batteries, often called starter batteries, are designed to provide a large surge of current for a short time – enough to start the engine. Once the car is driving, the alternator provides the electricity a car needs to run. However, if you leave the lights on all day, the starter battery drains very quickly as it’s not designed to produce a small current over a long time. And, if you forget your lights regularly enough, your starter battery just can’t charge anymore, meaning you’ll need a new one!

A deep cycle solar battery is the opposite – it’s designed to produce a small current flow over a long period of time. This is much more suitable for electricity use in a home, as a surge of power all at once could be disastrous! Plus, unlike a car battery, a deep cycle solar battery can be completely charged-up and then totally discharged over and over again.

There are different types of deep cycle batteries, from flooded lead-acid batteries, gel batteries and AGM batteries (Absorbed Glass Mat), which can be used for different purposes and output capacities. Rather than guessing, the best way to be sure of the right deep cycle solar battery for your solar power system is to ask an expert – like the crew at Greenway Energy.

See our deep cycle solar batteries or contact us to learn which model is right for you.

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The 5 advantages of solar power grid connect

March 22nd, 2011

You may have heard the terms ‘solar power grid connect’ or ‘solar panel grid connect’ and wondered what they mean. Well, these two terms refer to a a system where solar panels on your roof generate power for your home – and any extra power you generate actually lowers your power bill.

The efficiency of solar panels has come a long way since Russell Ohl invented the solar cell back in 1941 – they’re now so efficient that homes using solar power sometimes produce too much! This is where using a grid connect system with your solar panels can actually save you even more on your power bill.

A grid connect solar power system provides solar power for your home using solar panels on your roof, and feeds any additional power you generate into the local power grid. It runs your meter backwards and saves you money and reduces your carbon emissions!

1. Free power from the sun

Why pay a big company to burn fossil fuels for your power when the sun is giving it away for free? Solar power has grown in popularity as solar panels and solar cells become more efficient and more affordable power alternatives for homes and businesses.

2. Get paid back for additional power you put in

This is the genius of the solar power grid connect system. If your solar panels produce additional power above what you use, your electricity meter actually runs backwards as the power flows into the common grid. This lowers your electricity bill, and it’s like you’re a little extra power station for your community.

3. Earn back on your investment

The money you save on paying for regular electricity, plus the extra you can save by putting power back into the grid, means solar power grid connect is a great investment in your home.

4. Save tonnes of carbon emissions

Of course, this is an advantage of all solar power. Instead of a power plant burning fossil fuels to make your power, it’s clean, renewable power from the sun. Australia is one of the biggest per capita carbon emitters in the world, and it’s something we at Greenway Energy want to help change. A solar power grid connect system stops several tonnes of carbon emissions made on your behalf per year

5. Feel fantastic!

If saving money and helping the environment at the same time feels good to you, then you’ll feel fantastic with a solar panel grid connect system installed in your home.

Want to learn more about this simple, but ingenious idea? Visit our Grid Connect page or contact us.

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Posted in Grid Connect, Renewable energy, Solar Farm, Solar power | 2 Comments »

100kW Grid Connect Passive Solar Tracker

October 5th, 2009

Greenway Energy and Eco-Kinetics are installing the first of 10 passive hydraulic grid connect solar trackers ever,  in north east Victoria. Each tracker will consist of 56 x 175Watt Sunowe solar panels. This large Project will take 1 year to complete and will be a showcase not only for both companies, but for the regions of North East Victoria.

Greenway Energy plan to continue installation of these impressive 100kW solar farms along the Murray River and around regional Victoria and New South Wales.

This undertaking will be the largest solar installation in North East Victoria and the largest tracking passive hydraulic solar system in Australia.

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How does a heat pump work?

October 1st, 2009

A Heat Pump works like a refrigerator, only in reverse. Air which contains solar heat energy is extracted by the Heat Pump to heat water. A fan draws air through an evaporator which contains very cold liquid refrigerant. The heat in this air is absorbed by the refrigerant, turning it into a very hot liquid. The hot liquid refrigerant is then compressed to a “super heated” gas via a compressor. The gas is then circulated to a condenser, where the heat from the gas is transferred to the water in the tank. The now cool refrigerant is then reused and the cycle starts all over again. Power is only required to operate the compressor to move the heat around the system, not to heat the water.

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Solar Electric System

October 1st, 2009

In these trying times of increased economic slow down, many people are becoming more and more concerned about the high cost of electrical power usage as they look for ways to cut down on their monthly expenses. As a result, solar power usage is on the rise and more and more people are turning to it for electricity needs. Various electrical power companies are coming up with different designs so that many customers can incorporate a solar electrical system into their homes power source.

People have been harnessing the power of the sun for centuries. As time has progressed, we have learned how to create a solar electrical system for home usage as a viable alternative to relying on power companies to supply our electricity. Early solar electrical systems used to only provide heat or hot water, but nowadays we have learned how to provide electricity from asolar electrical system. Since the cost of electricity is rising at a rapid pace, not to mention becoming unreliable due to outdated power grids, a solar electrical system can provide a free and effective method to generate the electricity we need for our homes. In fact, scientists have discovered that they can measure how much power sunlight can generate. When it falls one square foot it can produce the equivalent of 1000 watts of electricity.

You will have zero running costs if you convert your home into a solar electrical system to generate electricity. A solar electrical system will be able to provide you with up to 20 years of free electricity once it is installed with major maintenance needed only after 10 years. The best thing is that your current power company may even pay you for generating surplus electricity.

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