G'Day JohnMN,
Welcome from us too. See the forum on SOLAR FARMING. Some of it is heavy going, but it may answer some of your questions.
Just some brief pointers from what we know ...
You'll need a patch of land on which you can have panels pointing north. This land will require a clear view of the sky across as large an area as possible. The sun tracks differently in summer and winter by a margin that would probably surprise you.
You can put your panels on free standing racks - some even have flash "tracking systems" in which the solar panels actually track the sun for greater efficiency .... but of course, greater costs involved too.
We have it on good authority that an angled "carport" type structure (that is, a simple iron roof tilted to face the north sky) is cheaper than the racking - and provides a lot more utility for you to use as storage. Get quotes from your favoured shed/garage manufacturer. They will be limited as to the degree to which they can tilt the roof due to wind loading calculations, but get it as angled as you can. The racking that goes on the roof can be tilted too to ensure the panels are pointing as favourably as possible.
Be aware that you may need council approval for your preferred structure.
Find out the latitude of where you are living. I think there are links for finding this out on the Office of Clean Energy website, but both Jeff and Swanning above are very knowledgeable on this and can confirm. This is the angle your installers will aim to achieve ... plus or minus.
We have had a stand-alone solar/battery setup with just 8 Sharp 165 Watt panels for 5 years now, and it makes lashings of energy for us (we are a 5 person family, but very low consumers) - exceeded all expectations. We swore that we would never again connect to the grid BUT the rebates for grid connecting, as you are considering, are the best now that we have EVER seen .... Most folks that install an appropriately sized system report receiving cash back on their power bills - it's a really super setup ... but be aware that there is trouble in paradise.
See the Sydney Morning Herald. Not sure if it was today or yesterday.
Gov't may be about to pull the plug on the whole incentive system due to massive over-subscription and the burden it is placing on power costs!!
In any case I would recommend you research the appropriate Victorian body that regulates such things (check the Clean Energy website); calculate your average useage, size the system that you want to install and get plenty of quotes. Our QLD solar bonus scheme, for example, allows a generous "feed in tariff" of at least 44 cents per kilowatt exported to the grid, paid by your power retailer and mandated until 2028 ... but subject to "review" (we all know what THAT means). You must use some power yourself for this scheme to apply.
There are quite a few web based "specials" about, and given the explosion of interest in these systems, an equivalent number of shonks have been attracted to the game. Again, the Clean Energy website has some great links to guide you through possible pitfalls.
Tread carefully though .... it might be all about to change.
Good luck, and enjoy the ride!!
Cheers,
...Michael & Kirsty...
Posted Thursday 14 Apr 2011 @ 3:20:58 am from IP
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