Green Guide: Sun's Set to Power the Future

SOLAR power is a clean, green energy source with unlimited potential.Up to the early 1990s, the high cost of the technology for solar electricity discouraged its widespread usage. But more recent breakthroughs in the cost of manufacture, and significant improvements in technical efficiency, have now combined with attractive financial incentives.The Federal Government is offering a rebate of up to $8000 on the installation of new solar photovoltaic systems for domestic use, or up to $5000 on extensions to existing home systems*.It also offers a $1000 rebate on the cost of installing solar and heat-pump hot-water systems to replace electric storage hot-water systems in existing private homes.The cost of a complete new solar photovoltaic power system - including power conditioning equipment and installation - varies depending on the size and system type.A typical domestic installation of a 1kWh system should cost between $3500 and $6000 after government rebates and renewable energy certificates (REC) are deducted.At the Perth Sun Fair in April, WA renewable energy firm Renewablelogic launched a special offer of grid-connected 1kWh photovoltaic systems for $1500 installed after the Federal Government rebates.Though that program has since finished, Renewablelogic has a limited number of systems still on offer at that price. More information is available from the company website www.renewablelogic.com.au.A solar power system can make a property more appealing to prospective home buyers.A grid-connected system links a series of solar panels through a power inverter to the state electricity grid.Each solar grid connect system is specifically adapted to suit the home's energy requirements and budget.Solar panels feeding power into the grid can literally make the power meter spin backwards. Electricity bills are reduced and power companies will ultimately have to pay some of their customers, rather than the other way around.And electricity prices are bound to increase in coming years. A typical household paying $1000 a year for electricity now can expect to be paying $3000 a year in 20 years for the same amount of power.* Last month, the new Federal Government caused controversy by announcing a means test for the PV system rebates, making them available only to households with an income of less than $100,000 a year.Industry representatives reported the immediate cancellation of millions of dollars worth of installations, and predicted the collapse of their business. The WA Sustainable Energy Association said the Budget decision was a disaster for solar power businesses.More information is available from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts at alternative through SynergyWA power supply company Synergy offers its customers the option of having NaturalPower, energy generated from renewable sources, supplied to their house. Renewable sources are sources that cannot be depleted or can be replaced, such as wind.NaturalPower costs an extra 4.4c per unit including GST.Call Synergy on 13 13 53 to find out how much extra it will cost you. You just need to decide what percentage of your electricity you'd like to be NaturalPower (25 per cent, 50 per cent, 75 per cent or 100 per cent) and Synergy works out the rest.Subscribe to our Email NewsletterOriginally published asSun's set to power the future