1.5kW photo voltaic techniques had been as soon as the most well-liked system dimension in Australia. As photo voltaic expertise costs have come down in recent times, nevertheless, most properties at the moment are tending to go for bigger techniques – within the 2kW to 5kW vary. This text takes a take a look at the case for putting in a 1.5kW photo voltaic system in present Australian market circumstances.
A 1.5kW photo voltaic system is just about the smallest photo voltaic system dimension that you may have put in professionally. Whereas 1kW photo voltaic techniques are on the market, you’ll not usually see them marketed by installers as a result of they’re so small as to have a minimal affect in your power invoice. Moreover, our expertise is that techniques within the 1kW-1.5kW dimension vary supply considerably much less worth for cash than techniques even just a bit bit larger.
Nonetheless, 1.5kW photo voltaic techniques might supply superior returns over bigger system due to the truth that it might be simpler for a house to ‘self-consume’ extra or all the power produced straight.
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How a lot does a 1.5kW photo voltaic system price?
Photo voltaic Alternative has been holding observe of Australian photo voltaic system set up costs since August 2012. Throughout this time, we’ve seen costs for bigger techniques fall considerably, whereas 1.5kW system costs have hardly moved (and even elevated in some situations). A number of that is to do with the truth that a excessive proportion of the price of this method is time and labour from the set up firm. Usually it can nonetheless be a days work to put in a 1.5kW or a 7kW photo voltaic system for an set up crew.
Primarily based on the Photo voltaic Alternative Value Index we count on the common price for a 1.5kW photo voltaic system to be round $2,800 relying in your state and site. See the under graph which particulars the historical past of 1.5kW Photo voltaic System pricing in Australia.
How a lot power does a 1.5kW photo voltaic system produce?
The facility output of a 1.5kW solar energy system will fluctuate as a consequence of quite a lot of components together with, together with the native local weather, close by shading, and the lean and orientation of the panels themselves, amongst different components.
Whereas it might be handy and helpful to summarise a photo voltaic system’s output in a single ‘kilowatt-hours per day’ (kWh/day) determine, the truth is that the majority places obtain extra sunshine in the summertime than the winter.
The desk under offers some tough figures on common every day outputs from 1.5kW photo voltaic techniques in a handful of Australia’s capital cities, in addition to the utmost and minimal outputs for summer time and winter. All of the conditions under assume that the panels face north, and that the system has an general system effectivity of 85%. (Information supply: PVWatts.)
Indicative 1.5kW photo voltaic system output for choose Australian cities |
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Sydney | Brisbane | Melbourne | Perth | |
Common | 5.8kWh | 6.3kWh | 5.7kWh | 6.8kWh |
Summer season (Dec) | 6.7kWh | 8.5kWh | 6.7kWh | 7.9kWh |
Winter (June) | 4.5kWh | 4.8kWh | 3.7kWh | 4.8kWh |
What’s the payback interval for a 1.5kW photo voltaic system?
As a result of 1.5kW photo voltaic techniques are comparatively expensive for his or her dimension, it’s crucial to make use of as a lot of the power they produce as attainable to be able to maximise the funding and minimise the payback interval.
The desk under reveals payback intervals and inside charge of return (IRR) for 1.5 kW photo voltaic techniques in choose capital cities, assuming that they pay 25c per kWh (c/kWh) for electrical energy from the grid. We’ve assumed that the house in query both makes use of 70% of the photo voltaic power produced by the system or 100% of the photo voltaic power produced – however please understand that it might require effort (or a minimum of planning or the precise expertise) in your half to make sure that the self-consumption charge is that this excessive.
Remember that the figures within the desk under – that are already fairly good – are indicative solely and primarily based on median system set up costs; you would possibly be capable of enhance these numbers by purchasing round (we can assist).
Indicative returns for 1.5kW photo voltaic techniques @ common costs (Assuming 25kWh electrical energy consumption/day @ 25c/kWh, 85% system effectivity and 8c/kWh feed-in tariff) |
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Sydney | Brisbane | ||
$3,200 | $2,900 | ||
@ 70% self-consumption | @ 100% self-consumption | @ 70% self-consumption | @ 100% self-consumption |
~6.1 12 months payback | ~4.9 12 months payback | ~5.2 12 months payback | ~4.1 12 months payback |
~15% IRR | ~20% IRR | ~18% IRR | ~24% IRR |
~$500 annual financial savings | ~$640 annual financial savings | ~$540 annual financial savings | ~$690 annual financial savings |
Melbourne | Perth | ||
$3,300 | $2,300 | ||
@ 70% self-consumption | @ 100% self-consumption | @ 70% self-consumption | 100% self-consumption |
~6.5 12 months payback | ~5.2 12 months payback | ~3.9 12 months payback | ~3.1 12 months payback |
~14% IRR | ~19% IRR | ~26% IRR | ~33% IRR |
~$480 annual financial savings | ~$610 annual financial savings | ~$580 annual financial savings | ~$740 annual financial savings |
Need to be taught extra?
Strive plugging some figures into our photo voltaic system ROI calculator your self! Self-consumption is simply one of many variables that may be adjusted to find out your possible payback time and return on funding. (Calculator outputs are indicative solely–please understand that electrical energy charges and feed-in tariff charges might change over time.)
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