This new home is going to be a power-guzzler. It will be highly dependent upon a lot of electricity to run the home’s ventilation, heating and air-conditioning systems, plus all the electrical requirements for the 4K Ultra High Definition 3D Internet-connected Smart TV’s and computers etc. Therefore, the more solar energy that we can harvest freely from the Sun, the better for us to mitigate and minimise our future and ever-increasing energy costs as much as possible.
After a lot of research over the past 18 months, we’ve decided to buy a home solar power energy system to be supplied and installed by a highly reputable Aussie company, namely, Energy Matters. Energy Matters is passionate about high performance solar energy alternatives for the modern home at a very reasonable and competitive cost. If you’re in the market for a home solar energy system do yourself a big favour and have a look at the following Link which will take you to Energy Matters’ website:
Energy Matters
have given us an excellent quote of AUD $8,500.00 for the purchase and
installation of a 5kW, 3 Phase, grid-connected, solar energy system, which
includes:
1. 20 x 250W rooftop mounted, photovoltaic
solar panels, specifically, REC poly module Peak
Energy Series panels; and
2. 1 x [transformerless] Fronius
Symo inverter; and
3. All rooftop installation work.
REC solar panels
REC is a Norwegian company and their highly reputable solar panels are manufactured in Singapore.
REC Solar
panels deliver more power per square metre thanks to a number of design
improvements, including the introduction of three bus bars and superior contact
between the cell and metal fingers, boosting the electrical flow. Special glass etching and anti-reflective
coating used by REC also improves the power output of the Peak Energy Series in
all sunlight conditions. Using REC solar
panels, you can make better use of your valuable rooftop real estate.
REC solar
panels display temperature ratings that are best-in-class. In typical polycrystalline solar modules, the
rate of degradation is approximately 0.5% per degree Celsius for temperatures
above 25⁰C. REC have decreased this to
0.4%/⁰C - ahead of the biggest names in the industry.
This feature
is one of the many stand-out benefits of REC solar panels in a country such as
Australia where temperatures are frequently above 25⁰C.
REC Peak Energy Series modules have also
passed the Dynamic Load Test according to IEC 62782 (1000 cycles at 1000Pa with
10 cycles per minute) and have been tested by TÜV to withstand the impact of
35mm hail stones.
REC also
features positive watt class rating, meaning the nameplate wattage is the
absolute minimum. REC modules can be up
to 5 watts more than the rated power.
Fronius - Inverter system
Inverter system – Fronius Symo 5kW, 3 Phase, east-west compatible inverter
Maximum
DC power: 5,000 W
Maximum
DC voltage: 1,000 V
Nominal
voltage: 595 V
Minimum
input voltage: 163 V
Maximum
input voltage: 800 V
Maximum
output power: 5,000 W
Maximum
strings: 2
Mechanical Characteristics
Height: 645 mm
Width:
431 mm
Length:
645 mm
Weight:
19.9 kg
Brand:
Fronius
SKU:
Symo
5.0-3-M
Background
Fronius is
an Austrian (not "Australian") company that has been developing innovative solar power inverter
systems since 1992, resulting in highly functional mains-connected inverters
set to optimise solar module performance.
Fronius
makes grid-connected solar inverters for systems of all sizes that work
reliably and efficiently in all Australian conditions.
Fronius was
the recipient of the Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Award 2008 for its
development of the high-performance Fronius IG Plus PV inverter series and for
outstanding service.
Since that
time, the company's products have continued to evolve. In June 2013, the
Fronius Galvo and the Fronius Symo were awarded the Plus X Award in the High
Quality, Functionality and Ecology categories. Fronius Galvo also won the ‘Best
Product of the Year 2013’ Plus X Award.
Specifications:
The transformerless Fronius Symo 5.0-3-M 5,000
watt 3 phase inverter is not only very efficient, it's one of the most
communicative units on the market; allowing connection to third party systems
with minimum effort. The inverter is
also ‘future-proof’, with upgrades
able to be performed through a plug-in card system.
The Advanced Grid Features (AGF)
of the Symo prevent grid faults and
unexpected failures leading to yield losses.
Fronius
Symo 5.0-3-M - Inverter Features
·
Wide input voltage range;
·
2 MPP trackers;
·
WLAN or Ethernet interface;
·
Innovative hinged system;
·
Minimal conduction losses;
·
Ability to connect all strings to the inverter;
·
Plug-in card technology facilitates future upgrades;
·
Smart-grid ready; and
·
Symmetrical infeed means highest yields and
contributes to a stable grid.
Symo
5.0-3-M Solar Inverter - Technical Data
INPUT DATA
|
Fronius Symo 5.0-3-M
|
Max. input current
|
16.0 A / 16.0 A
|
Max. array short circuit (MPP1 / MPP2)
|
24.0 A / 24.0 A
|
Min. input voltage
|
150 V
|
Feed-in start voltage
|
200 V
|
Nominal input voltage
|
595 V
|
Max. input voltage
|
1,000 V
|
MPP voltage range
|
163 - 800 V
|
Number of MPP trackers
|
2
|
Number of DC connections
|
2 + 2
|
OUTPUT DATA
|
|
AC nominal output
|
5,000 W
|
Max. output power
|
5,000 VA
|
Max. output current
|
13.5 A
|
Min. output voltage
|
150 V
|
Max. output voltage
|
280 V
|
Frequency
|
50 Hz / 60 Hz
|
Frequency range
|
45 - 65 Hz
|
Total harmonic distortion
|
< 3 %
|
GENERAL DATA
|
|
Dimensions
|
645 x 431 x 204 mm
|
Weight
|
19.9 kg
|
Degree of protection
|
IP 55
|
Protection class
|
1
|
Overvoltage category (DC / AC)
|
2 / 3
|
Night time consumption
|
< 1 W
|
Inverter design
|
Transformerless
|
Cooling
|
Regulated air cooling
|
Installation
|
Indoor and outdoor installation
|
Ambient temperature range
|
-25°C to +60°C
|
Permitted humidity
|
0 % to 100 %
|
DC connection
|
4x DC+ and 4x DC- screw terminals 2.5 mm² - 16 mm² 1)
|
Certificates and compliance with standards
|
DIN V VDE 0126-1-1/A1, VDE AR N 4105, IEC 62109-1/-2, IEC 62116, IEC
61727, AS 3100, AS 4777-2, AS 4777-3, CER 06-190, G83/2, UNE 206007-1, SI
4777, CEI 0-21
|
EFFICIENCY
|
|
Max. efficiency
|
98.0 %
|
European efficiency (ηEU)
|
97.0 %
|
MPP adaption efficiency
|
> 99.9 %
|
PROTECTIVE DEVICES
|
|
DC insulation measurement
|
Yes
|
Overload behaviour
|
Operating point shift, power limitation
|
DC disconnector
|
Yes
|
INTERFACES
|
|
WLAN / Ethernet LAN
|
Fronius Solar.web / Fronius Solar.web, Modbus TCP, JSON
|
6 inputs or 4 digital inputs/outputs
|
Interface to ripple control receiver
|
USB (A socket) 3)
|
For USB sticks
|
2 x RS422 (RJ45 socket) 3)
|
Fronius Solar Net, Interface protocol
|
Signalling output3)
|
Energy management (potential free relay output)
|
Datalogger and Webserver
|
Included
|
1) 16 mm² without wire end ferrules.
2) and at Umpp min / Udc,r / Umpp max.
3) also available in the light version.
Since the advent of solar energy systems over the past 40 years or so, solar array panels needed to be mounted on north facing roof tops in Australia in order to achieve optimal harvesting of solar energy. That's because in the southern hemisphere, a northerly aspect faces towards the Equator. But... that's not quite the case any more thanks to this latest technology.
The rear of our narrow block of land faces north. However, our northerly facing rooftop has the smallest and least amount of available roof space. Therefore we can't mount a rooftop solar array on that roof to harvest and supply our 5kW solar energy system.
Upon our request last year, McDonald Jones Homes agreed to upgrade the standard Natural Gas or Electric Hot Water Service to a Natural Gas-boosted Solar Hot Water Service. Primarily, it's a Solar powered Hot Water Service. As a secondary power source and back-up, its operation can be boosted or supplemented by the mains-connected Natural Gas supply.
For generations, until very recently, Australian Natural Gas was a very inexpensive and affordable means of heating and energy for Australian homes, particularly in comparison to the spiralling mains Electricity costs. However, the cost of the domestic supply of Natural Gas in New South Wales/Australia has recently started to increase significantly. The cost of Natural Gas to consumers in New South Wales is expected to soar even more until 2016. From and beyond 2016, the cost of the supply of Australian Natural Gas to domestic consumers will be more equivalent to the international rates that Australian companies are charging for the exportation of Liquefied Australian Natural Gas (LNG) to overseas markets. With those rising costs, Natural Gas is no longer looking like an inexpensive and affordable energy source.
In our new Douglas 10M, we do have connections to the mains Gas supply. There are 2 x Gas connections inside the new home, one in the kitchen and the other at our nominated position in the open plan Family/Lounge area (where a Gas heater can be connected to the wall-mounted Gas bayonet, if we ever want to run a Natural Gas heater from that outlet).
In the kitchen, our SMEG cooktop is Gas, not electric. Conversely, the underbench SMEG oven is Electric and not gas. Apparently that's because, nowadays, Gas ovens are not flued like in yesteryear, and so Electric ovens are used in combination with Gas cooktops and related rangehoods.
During construction, McDonald Jones Homes installed the 2 x large rooftop solar panels on our north-facing roof. They will be used to heat the Dux Sunpro Solar Hot Water Service. The hot water tank will be installed when we are ready to occupy the new home in order to minimise the risk of theft.
With our new home and the advent of Fronius' new east-west compatible Inverter technology, we can now mount the 20 x rooftop REC solar panels on both the east and west facing roofs to maximise the harvesting of our solar energy effective from sunrise to sunset every day. Traditionally and previously east and west facing rooftops were considered undesirable and less optimal for harvesting solar energy. That's not quite the case any more thanks to this latest technology.
Any unused, daily, solar energy that our 5kW system doesn't use will be safely fed into the local electricity grid. That will store-up credits for us to offset the payment for any electricity that we might need to draw back from the local electricity grid, on occasions when our own solar supply is limited or depleted. With both of us still working in full time jobs and not being at home consuming too much electricity during the daylight hours every weekday, that's a lot of potential, unused, clean solar electricity, that's being fed into the local grid for other consumers to use. We just have to sort out which Electrical Distributor/Retailer in New South Wales offers the best deal for tariff payments in relation to the above, before we lock ourselves into a contract for a designated period. I guess it depends on how much they'll pay for us to sell them our solar-generated electricity, and how much they'll charge us to buy and use their Off Peak electricity supply.
There's not much in it for the consumer anymore in the way of Government approved financial incentives which no longer really apply to any new entrants into those schemes in New South Wales. Going Solar is something that we want to do: to decrease our carbon footprint on this precious planet; and to keep more of our hard earned money in our pockets instead of giving it to the big, exploitative, energy and mining companies through our ever increasing energy and power bills.
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