Solar hot water in Australia
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Main article: Solar hot water
Solar hot water is heated using natural energy from the sun. Solar energy heats up large panels called thermal collectors. The energy is transferred over a fluid system to a reservoir tank for storage and subsequent use. It is then used to heat water for commercial or domestic use and also as an energy input for heating and cooling devices and industrial applications.
Depending on certain climatic considerations, Solar hot water systems can be divided into Passive systems (relying on natural circulation of hot water around the tank and heated panel) and Active systems. An Active system is mechanically pumped and is suitable for colder climates where there is a risk of the water freezing in low temperatures.
[edit] The Australian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate Program
The Government is running a Solar hot water rebate program[1] between July 18 2007 and March 2012, where a $1000 discount is offered on the installation of solar hot water systems.
The rebate can be collected once the installation has been finished, if the household meets the necessary requirements stated below.
- The Solar hot water system is a substitute for a previous electric heating system
- The application and the installation process has taken place within the dates the rebate is offered
- The household is a place of residence
- The Solar or heat pump hot water system is be eligible for minimum 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
- A licensed plumber/electrician is consulted for the installation
- The taxable income of the applicant's family was less than $100,000 the year prior to the installation
Once the system is installed, the applicant has up to six months to summit the application form with the purchase receipt attached to it.
The Mandatory renewable energy target[2] scheme was created by the Australian Government to encourage energy retailers to the usage of renewables. Each solar heating system is accredited a certain number of RECs depending on how effective it is and in which of the four climate zones[3] you reside in. Each zone is associated with a number of post codes ranging across the whole continent.
When the system is in use, you will receive your REC's that you are then able to sell to energy retailers. The market value of RECs is subject to variation, but is usually around $40 [4]. Potentially, if you system is entitled to 30 RECs, selling them will generate a discount of the total cost of installation with $1200.
It is important that you determine how many RECs the solar water heater is entitled to before installing, so that you know you are actually eligible of the rebate[5]
[edit] Solar hot water in the Australian states
[edit] ACT
The ACT Energy Wise program[6], run by the ACT Government, offers rebates to houseowners or tenants that do energy saving improvements for at least $2000 to their residence. This includes everything from insulation, inserting double glazed windows to the installation of solar, gas or electric heat pump water heating systems.
Only the first $1000 of the cost of the installation of the water heating system (which replaces the existing electric heating system) can be used to calculate the $2000 to be used on improvements. This means that to receive the rebate, the householder needs to spend another $1000 on additional energy savings. Read the terms and conditions very carefully, making sure that the system you are installing is eligible for the rebate. Please see Home Energy Audit Terms and Conditions[7].
In addition, to be eligible the rebate of $500 the householder/tenant must:
- Have an energy audit by HEAT ($30) (Ph 02 6260 6165 or email: info@heat.net.au).
- Be able to give detailed information about the residence's energy usage during the past year.
- Be able to show receipts from the renovations and improvements made.
- Lodge the application with attached receipts within six months after the energy audit.
- Not have received any other rebate under another program.
[edit] New South Wales
The NSW Residential rebate program [8], running from 01/10 2007 to 30/06 2009, offers all house owners in NSW a rebate on systems that are replacing existing electric hot water system.
The more efficient the system is (emitting less Greenhouse gas), the more RECs is the system eligible, which generates a bigger rebate.
| Solar or heat pump hot water system, eligible for: | Rebate in $ | |
|---|---|---|
| 20-27 RECs | 600 | |
| 28-35 RECs | 800 | |
| 36-43 RECs | 1000 | |
| 44< RECs | 1200 | |
| 5-star< gas hot water system | 300 |
[edit] Northern Territory
Power and Water Corporation, the main water and electricity supplier in the Northern Territory, offers rebates on installations of solar water heaters. The rebate amount is varying depending on different factors, e.g. the type of system installed, the tank size and its efficiency on saving Greenhouse gas[9].
To get the rebate you have to contact a Solar hot water system supplier, who will have a look at your system and let you know how many RECs it is entitled to. The application for the rebate has to be done at the latest one year after the installation was finalised[10].
[edit] Queensland
The Queensland Government's Solar hot water rebate scheme finished on 30 June 2005.[11]
No rebates other than the Federal Government's are offered at the present.
[edit] South Australia
In accordance with the South Australian Government rebate scheme [12], starting 2008-07-01, anyone who is installing or replacing a water heater must install a low-greenhouse one[13]. The rebate scheme is aiming towards giving less fortunate people a financial incentive to the use of gas, heat pump or solar energy to heat water.
To be eligible of the $500[14] rebate, the householder has to hold at least one of the following concession cards:
* Centrelink Health Care Card * Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card * DVA Gold Card – Totally and Permanently Incapacitated * DVA Gold Card - War Widow * DVA - Extreme Disablement Adjustment
Following to the installation, the householder has up to three months to send in the application to receive the rebate if the below criteria is met.
The water heating system does not replace existing one:
| New system | No natural or LPG gas access | Gas access (natural or LPG) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas solar | Yes | Yes | |
| Electric solar or heat pump | Yes | No | |
| Electric or gas storage/instantaneous | No | No |
The water heating system does replace existing one:
| New system | Gas | Solar gas | Electric element/solar, heat pump | Other types (oil, combustion…) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas solar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Electric solar or heat pump | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Electric or gas storage/instantaneous | No | No | No | No |
[edit] Tasmania
No Rebates other than the Federal Government's are offered by the Tasmanian Government at the moment.
[edit] Victoria
Sustainability Victoria’s solar hot water program[15], sponsored by the Victorian government, offers rebates to householders who have installed a system abides that the following criteria:
- Acts as a replacement of a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar-system
- Is a solar driven pre-heater, which is additional to an existing natural gas of LPG water heating system
- Is a retrofit kit, which is additional to an existing electric water heater
New houses and buildings can get a rebate by selling the RECs their system is eligible. The Commonwealth government is also offering a $1000 rebate to the replacement of electric water heating.
Residential and community buildings:
| Installation situation | VIC gov rebate $480-1500 | Commonwealth Gov rebate $1000 | RECs eligible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replacing natural gas or LPG WH w/ gas-boosted solar system | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Installing SWH as preheater to an existing natural gas or LPG WH | Yes | No | No | |
| Adding solar panels to an existing off-peak electric WH either with a pump or by thermosiphon as a retrofit kit | Yes | No | No | |
| Replacing a wood or briquette WH w/ gas-boosted or electric solar system | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Replacing an electric WH w/ gas-boosted or electric solar system | No | Yes | Yes | |
| New homes and buildings installing a gas-boosted or electric solar system | No | No | Yes | |
| Existing buildings requiring a custom designed system for a large hot water load | Yes | No | No |
Commercial buildings:
| Installation situation | VIC gov rebate $480-1500 | Commonwealth Gov rebate $1000 | RECs eligible |
|---|---|---|---|
| New or existing building installing SHW | No | No | Yes |
[edit] Western Australia
By installing a environmentally friendly, gas-boosted solar water heater that replaces a previous water electric heating system, you are eligible of the Government of Western Australia’s rebate[16] .
| System | Rebate in $ | |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas-boosted solar water heaters | 500 | |
| Bottled LP gas-boosted solar water heaters used in areas without reticulated gas | 700 |
[edit] Major Australian suppliers of complete solar hot water systems that are available to consumers in Australia
| Brand | Operating in the following states | Address | Coordinates of head office | Phone number | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apricus | NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA | 1300 277 428 | jdagencies@westnet.com.au | http://www.apricus.com.au | |||
| Beasley | NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA | 10 - 11 Walker Street, Braeside VIC 3195 | (03) 9271 6625 | enquiry@rinnai.com.au | http://www.rinnai.com.au | ||
| Conergy | NSW, QLD, VIC, WA | Unit 6, 44-48 O'Dea Avenue Waterloo NSW 2017 | (02) 8507 2222 | b.cope@conergy.com.au | http://www.conergy.com.au/ | ||
| Chromagen | VIC, | 90 – 92 Woodlands Drive, Braeside VIC 3195 Australia | (03) 8587 1500 | marty@chromagen.com.au | http://www.chromagen.com.au | ||
| Dux | NSW, | Collins Rd Moss Vale NSW 2577, Australia | (02) 4868 0200 | dhotwater@dux.com.au | http://www.dux.com.au | ||
| Edwards | NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA | 1 Alan Street Rydalmere NSW 2116 | (02) 132 949 | info@edwards.com.au | http://www.edwards.com.au | ||
| Hills solar | SA, | 944-956 South Road, Edwardstown, South Australia 5039 | 1300 363 386 | info@hills.com.au | http://www.hillssolar.com.au | ||
| Quantum | NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA | 56 - 60 Bourke RoadAlexandria NSW 2015 Australia | (02) 9699 7444 | salesint@quantumenergy.com.au | http://www.quantumenergy.com.au | ||
| Rheem | NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA | 1 Alan Street, Rydalmere NSW 2116 | (02) 9684 9100 | rheem.wa@rheem.com.au | http://www.rheem.com.au | ||
| Rinnai | NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA | 10 - 11 Walker Street, Braeside VIC 3195 | (03) 9271 6625 | enquiry@rinnai.com.au | http://www.rinnai.com.au | ||
| Solahart | NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA | 1 Alan Street Rydalmere NSW 2116 | 1300 721 984 | solahart@solahart.com.au | http://www.solahart.com.au | ||
| Sola-Kleen | WA, | 24 Bassendean Road BAYSWATER Western Australia 6053 | (08) 9271 5725 | sola@sola-kleen.com.au | http://www.sola-kleen.com.au | ||
| Solco | WA, | 126 Sheffield Road, Welshpool WA 6106 | 1800 454 161 | info@solco.com.au | http://www.solco.com.au | ||
| Solartech | NSW, | Gate 1, James Craig Rd, Rozelle, NSW 2038 Australia | (02) 9555 2042 | info@solartech.com.au | http://www.solartech.com.au/ |
[edit] Major Australian companies using solar hot water
| Company | Operating in the following states | Coordinates of head office | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XX | States | Coord | website | ||
| XX | States | Coord | website | ||
| XX | States | Coord | website | ||
| XX | States | Coord | website |
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/solarhotwater/ Solar hot water rebate program
- ^ http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/solarhotwater/#recs The Mandatory renewable energy target
- ^ http://www.hillssolar.com/arbitrage/pages/88 Hills solar
- ^ http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=100954&catId=100519&tid=100008 Choice
- ^ http://www.orer.gov.au/publications/swh.html The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator
- ^ http://www.heat.net.au/pdf/ACT_Energy_Wise_terms&conditions.pdf The Act energy wise program
- ^ http://www.heat.net.au/pdf/ACT_Energy_Wise_terms&conditions.pdf The Act energy wise program
- ^ http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/rebates/ccfhws.htm The NSW Residential rebate program
- ^ http://www.nt.gov.au/powerwater/customers/solar_hw.html Power and Water Corporation
- ^ http://www.nt.gov.au/powerwater/customers/solar_hw.html Power and Water Corporation
- ^ http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/sustainability/energy/solar_hot_water_rebate_scheme_shwrs/ Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme in QLD
- ^ http://www.dtei.sa.gov.au/energy/rebates_and_grants/solar_hot_water.html South Australian Government rebate scheme
- ^ http://www.dtei.sa.gov.au/energy/government_programs/water_heater_standards.html New Performance Standards for Domestic Water Heater Installations
- ^ http://www.dtei.sa.gov.au/energy/rebates_and_grants/solar_hot_water.html South Australian Government rebate scheme
- ^ http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/070801_SV_Solar_Hot_Water_Guidelines_Metro_RS_v51.pdf Sustainability Victoria
- ^ http://www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/subsidy.asp Sustainable Energy Development Office
[edit] See also
- Photovoltaics
- Photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering in Australia
- Renewable energy commercialisation in Australia
- Solar power
- Solar power station in Victoria
- Wind power in Australia
- Solar power plants in Central Australia
- Solar Cities in Australia
[edit] External links
- http://www.apricus.com.au Apricus
- http://www.rinnai.com.au Rinnai
- http://www.conergy.com.au/ Conergy
- http://www.chromagen.com.au Chromagen
- http://www.edwards.com.au Edwards
- http://www.hillssolar.com.au Hills solar
- http://www.quantumenergy.com.au Quantum Energy
- http://www.rheem.com.au Rheem
- http://www.solahart.com.au Solahart
- http://www.sola-kleen.com.au Sola-kleen
- http://www.solco.com.au Solco
- http://www.solartech.com.au/ Solartech
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