Solar Power: Home Solar Power for Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coasts

Enquire here

Name

Address 1

Address 2

Postcode

Phone

Message

Solar

WebShop

Residential

Grid Connect

Solar Pv

Systems

Off Grid

Remote

Standalone

Solar Pv

Systems

National

Solar

Schools

Program

Commercial

Grid Connect

Solar Pv

Systems

Solar Pv

Pumps

and

PV Pool Pumps

Solar Power News

All the latest Solar Power and Renewable Energy News from around the globe.

Solar Credits?

Recent Projects

Simple Solar How To...

Easy 12 Volt System for Lighting or a Pump

In this guide will look at how to properly setup a small solar photovoltaic power supply. The areas covered will be Applications, System components, System Sizing and System Assembly and Operation.

Applications

This system makes a very handy stand-alone light that will run for several hours a day with charge for the battery being entirely supplied by the sun. Ideal for Garages/carports where 240V isn’t wired, also makes a great black-out back up light for those annoying storms and blackouts, and also fantastic to take camping or fishing.

System Components

The main components of the system are:

Photovoltaic Module (Solar Panel) - Captures the sun's light energy and converts this into dc electric energy

Regulator - Is used to regulate the charge to the battery and prevents overcharging or self-discharge at night. It Is fitted in between the Pv Module and Battery.

Battery - Is this system we are using a Sealed Lead Acid Battery. It stores the energy generated by the module for latter use when needed.

Switch - Used to provide a convenient way to turn light on or off easily

Compact Fluro Lamp - In this system we are using a 12 Volt DC CF Lamp

System Sizing

The following is a general rule of thumb. To size the panel, regulator and battery:

First determine how long each day the light will run. Lets say 3 hours for a example.

Secondly we need to figure out how much energy our light will use in this case we are using a 18 Watt Lamp.

To get our daily energy usage we multiply our run hours by the lamp wattage rating.

=3 hours x 18 Watts

=54 Watts

In Australia as a rough guide we receive approx 4 Peak Sun Hours per day annually. So from this a 20 Watt Pv Module will produce approx 80 Watts per day (20Watts x 4 PSH)

We could get away with a 15 Watt Pv module, however it is always a good idea to slightly oversize the Pv Module to compensate for soiling etc. So for this system we will choose the 20 Watt Module.

Now lets look at the regulator sizing, it needs to be rated to be able to handle the output from the pv module, in this case the spec sheet for our module states a Peak Current of 1.26 Amps. The regulator we have choose is a Morningstar Sunguard SG-4, it has a rating of 4.5 amps, plenty for this application.

Finally the battery size, we worked out before we will be using 56 Watts a day, now we need to work out how many Amps that is. Now to do that we divide the Wattage by the Voltage. This would be 56/12 which equals 4.66 Amps per day. For this system we are going to choose a 12 Volt 7 Amp Hour Battery, this will give us about 2 days supply even in poor weather. (More Click Here)

Campervan

and Rv Systems

Pole Mount Industrial Pre-Built Photovoltaic Power Systems

Solar

Gate Kits

New owners of both Grid and Off-grid systems under the new Solar Credits Scheme will be able to claim five (5) times the number of RECs for the first 1.5 kW of installed system capacity, redeemable as cash back discount off the cost of your Solar PV system

There are several major differences between previous rebate scheme and the Solar Credits scheme.

1. No Means Test

2. Both Residential and Commercial

3. Simpler quicker claim process

To find out exactly how much you can save, simply arrange a quote today.

Solar Tutorials

July 2009

4.59 kWp Grid Connected Commercial Photovoltaic System

Client: Westside Christian College, Goodna, Qld

Funded by the National Solar Schools Program

Gecko Solar was proud to be chosen as the Designer and Installer of a 4.6kWp Grid Connected Solar Power System for Westside Christian College. The system comprises of a total of twenty-seven (27) Bp Solar BP3170N 170 Watt Pv Modules connected in 3 parallel strings of 9 modules in series. These provide a solar input of Approx 360 Volts Dc to a SMA SunnyBoy SB3800 which then provides a synchronized Ac output to the college's electricity switchboard. The system is constantly monitored by a state of the art SMA Sunnyboy Control Plus datalogger. This is datalogger provides advance plant management features including: Connectivity to a External Led Scrolling Display for visualization of plant data, intergration into client's computer network, automated notification system and remote administration.

June 2009

2.97 kWp Stand-Alone Power System

Client: Private Residential System

Location: Leyburn, Queensland, 4365

50% Funding under previous RRPGP

The client who is situated off the grid, came to us on recommendation from a previous client. He was looking for a new stand-alone solar power system to power his home, he already had a small existing system which was in very poor condition and he had only a limited 12 volt supply from it.(Picture Above Right).

The job brief was to design a system on a reasonable budjet which could supply the entire home, to which he occupant was going to install modern appliances including a fridge/freezer, front loading washing machine and Lg Solardom Oven.

Gecko Solar set about designing a system which would meet the current and future needs of the client, The final design was system comprising of 18 Bp Solar 4165N Mono-Crystalline Photovoltaic Modules, these feed a SMA Sunnyboy SB2500 Inverter in off-grid mode. A maintenance free SLA Sealed Lead Acid 48 Volt 600ah battery bank is also fitted included to which a SMA Sunny Island 5048 Inverter Charger is connected. The system configuration is based on a coupled Ac bus, this allows for the client to use all standard 240v Ac appliances and devices and provides for extremely flexible expansion. The system operates automatically and silently. (Learn More Click Here)

Solar Hot Water Rebate

3/2/2009

The Australian Government is providing a rebate of $1,600 to help eligible home-owners, landlords or tenants replace their electric hot water systems with solar or heat pump hot water systems. This offer is part of the Government's $3.9 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package and it came into effect on 3 February 2009. The $1,600 Solar Hot Water Rebate will help people save money on their power bills and reduce their household's greenhouse gas emissions. Water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home. Link to Government Environment Website. Bp Solar Energizer Plus Brochure Click Here.

SMA releases New Sunny Island Off-Grid Inverter

19/12/08

SMA continues to innovate with a range of new and improved models coming to Australia in 2009, In Q1 2009 a new Sunny Island off-grid solar inverter SI2224(2.2kW, 24V)will become available. Not only does it include the well-known features from the big brother Sunny Island 5048 model, but lower weight and reduced size make the inverter even easier to handle and install in remote areas. This model can be used in single or three phase solar power systems from 1 to 10kW with either DC or AC coupling, and carry SMA's 5 year warranty.

Rudd's dud CPRS defeated in Senate

Thu, August 13, 2009

The Labour Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme was voted down in the Senate this morning, causing further calls from the clean energy industry to decouple the Renewable Energy Target legislation or risk catastrophic damage and job losses in Australia’s emerging industry. “The RET bill needs to pass, and quickly,” Clean Energy Council (CEC) Chief Executive Matthew Warren said. “The bill needs to be amended immediately to decouple it from the CPRS. This is a simple amendment. ”The CEC says that the proposed RET legislation only requires one other simple amendment to deliver the expanded target: the adjustment of the target to account for creation of the multiple RECs under the proposed Solar Credits scheme. The Rudd Government plans to reintroduce the CPRS bill in November, in the hope that it is passed before the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December. The CEC is meeting with key government representatives in the coming days to discuss the RET passage.

Conergy Press Releale - CPRS & RET

Dark Days for Australia’s Solar PV Industry

Thu, August 13, 2009

Following the defeat of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Legislation in the Federal Senate today, Conergy, a leader in the renewable energy industry has again appealed for our political leaders to find a way for the promised Renewable Energy Target (RET) to be decoupled and passed. “What do we, as an industry, have to do for these politicians to stop playing politics with our futures?” Rodger Meads, Conergy’s Managing Director said. “We say again to Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull - sit down and figure out how you can pass the RET Bill, it is a measure that you have both publicly reaffirmed your support for in recent days. “We simply can’t wait for a repeat of the ETS debate in November as forecast. Many of the businesses in the suburbs and regions of Australia who we supply solar and wind products to have told us that the game will be up by then,” Mr Meads said. “Is this what the Prime Minister wants - people out of work and a fledgling industry again facing uncertain and bleak times? Rudd has the power to sort this mess out, and we are calling on him to do this – now. “The average Australian should be outraged that, at such a critical time, our political leaders are using renewable energy as the nails to crucify each other politically. “Today we are demanding two things. Firstly, that the Government return a decoupled version of the RET Bill to Parliament for a vote next week. “Secondly, that the Opposition unequivocally state that they will not have a change of heart and that they will pass it, immediately,” he said. “The Government, despite claims this week, can do this- as can the Opposition. “Jobs, jobs, jobs, they tell us is their main aim - well here are thousands of Australian jobs reliant on the promised support and certainty that the RET will deliver. “The value of Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s) is falling through the floor on the back of all of this uncertainty. Many thousand local jobs and apprenticeships will shortly follow, “Mr Meads said. “As long as we are still here, we will remind Australians, every day if we have to, why their friends and family who work in the clean energy sector are losing their jobs and who is responsible.”

Suntech to develop 500MW of projects in China

Mon, July 27, 2009

Suntech Power Holdings has recently entered into an agreement with China Huadian New Energy Development (HNE) to develop a total of 500 MW of utility-scale and commercial roof-top solar projects in China's sun rich western provinces, Jiangsu province and Shanghai, over the next three years. Under the agreement, HNE will be responsible for the project investment and development of solar projects and Suntech will be responsible for supplying crystalline silicon solar modules, system design and technical support. Separate project-specific agreements will be signed prior to the implementation of solar projects related to this agreement. All projects are subject to feasibility studies and government approvals.

Alice Springs Solar Cities Reaches 1000 homes

Wed, July 22, 2009

Alice Springs now boasts 1,000 households committed to being more energy efficient through the Alice Solar City Project. Acting General Manager for Alice Solar City Sam Latz said that this represents a major milestone for the town, given the goal was to reach 1,500 by 2013.“We have been overwhelmed by residents’ interest to implement energy efficient activities in their homes and congratulate all those who have become involved since our launch in March last year.” “By far the biggest interest has been in solar hot water systems - we have supported the installation of 175 systems in 15 months,” said Sam Latz. Fifty eight homes now have solar photovoltaic systems on their rooftops, with other measures include painting the roof white, installing low energy lighting, installing or upgrading insulation and servicing existing solar hot water systems.A major monitoring and evaluation project will soon be conducted to further evaluate the project’s success. Alice Solar City is part of the Australian Government’s $94 million Solar Cities program designed to test integrated approaches to urban energy management.

BP Solar to install, operate 2.42MW PV rooftop system on FedEx hub in New Jersey

30 July 2009

FedEx Ground, the small-package shipping unit of FedEx, plans to have installed what it calls the largest rooftop solar-electric system in the United States at its distribution hub in Woodbridge, NJ. The project is the third between a FedEx operating company and BP Solar and the fifth solar power project for FedEx. The 2.42MW photovoltaic power system will employ about 12,400 BP panels across approximately 3.3 acres of rooftop space.BP will begin installing the system in August and expects to finish the job by October. When completed, BP will operate the system and FedEx will buy the power generated, which will be as much as 2.6 million KWhr of electricity annually and up to 30% of the hub’s yearly energy needs.Last year, FedEx Freight installed two solar power plants in Southern California, a 282KW array in Whittier and a 269KW system in Fontana. In 2005, FedEx Express activated a 904KW system at its Oakland, CA, hub--the first of its kind in the FedEx family. The Oakland system meets up to 80% of that facility’s peak energy demand, the company says.FedEx is building its Central and Eastern European gateway at the Cologne/Bonn, Germany, airport, which is slated for completion in 2010 and will include a 1.4MW PV power system.Once all the PV power systems are activated, FedEx will have more than 5.25MW of solar installed at the five sites.