Excerpt from today's Courier Mail. 
​
As a company, Driftwind Electrical has been operating for 20 years, we have seen a lot of solar companies, come and go in this time. While its been a fledgling new industry, in recent years, its a been a very cut-throat industry, and whilst prices have dropped on the solar products, due to high demand, there have been a number solar companies offering very very low prices, with how low these prices have dropped, while this might be good for the consumer's pocket in the short-term, its has proven these prices are unsustainable to survive in the industry and therefore its the consumer that loses out in the long-term, when the company is no longer able to service the warranties and their system for the warrantied years.
Driftwind Electrical, whilst being competitive in this industry, have also ensured that we could continue to service our existing and new customers. Driftwind Electrical is only too happy to help customers, who may have installed solar with a company who is now no longer around, with any warranty issues (including submitting warranty claims to the manufacturer, if these manufacturer's are still in the solar market place), solar system health checks, and any works that might need to be performed to keep your solar system running optimally. 

As the Clean Energy Council points out: safety and quality are of vital essence when installing your solar system. Feel free to contact us to have a chat about installing a new system, or for your exisiting solar system, is it time for a solar health check to make sure your system is safe and performing optimally?

See the Clean Energy Council Newsletter below with more information about solar safety.

 Updated 16/03/2018 -11.30am
Driftwind Electrical team had discussions with Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy regarding the offer for interest-free loans and rebates this morning @ 11.30am.

We were advised that this is currently being reviewed and tweaked to determine eligibility criteria before being rolled out. Please continue to review our Website and Facebook pages regularly as we will be updating on this as more information is provided.
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Information below prior to 16/03/2018

​Queensland has the highest uptake of solar PV installations in Australia. To drive continued uptake of solar, and support customers to adopt battery storage technology, $21 million is being invested to provide no interest loans for these technologies.
The no interest loans enable households and small businesses to take control of their own electricity consumption, address electricity affordability, and provide access to the necessary upfront capital required to purchase systems.
Customers can save up to $700 per year by installing these new technologies.
Note: Actual savings depend on a range of factors, including how much of the power generated is used by the customer.

No interest loans for solar and battery systemsNo interest loans for rooftop solar and battery systems will be made available during 2018.
​
Rebates for systems including batteries
To complement the loan scheme, and recognising the higher costs associated with batteries, we will provide a rebate on battery systems.
The rebate will be made available in 2018.

You can find out more on the QLD Government Website 
www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/solar-battery-rebate

Applications for the energy efficient appliance rebate are now open.

• Apply now

Lowering energy usage provides customers greater control over their energy costs. Buying appliances that are energy efficient can cost more upfront, but will lead to long term saving.
To help Queensland households improve their energy efficiency, $20 million has been committed for rebates on approved energy efficient appliances under the Affordable Energy Plan.
Customers can save up to $50 a year by using an energy efficient refrigerator or washing machine. An energy efficient air conditioner could save up to $100 a year.
Rebates availableRebates will apply to purchases on or after 1 January 2018 for the following household appliances:

• $200 for a 4 star or higher energy rated washing machine
• $250 for a 4 star or higher energy rated refrigerator
• $300 for a 4 star or higher energy rated air conditioner.

Limited to 1 rebate application per household.
The scheme will end when the funding is exhausted, so payment of a rebate is not guaranteed.
Eligibility criteriaIt’s important to determine the best appliance for your needs.
The following information regarding energy efficient appliance rebate eligibility is provided as a guide only and does not entitle you to a rebate. We will check your eligibility for a rebate as part of the application process. Please read the rebate terms and conditions (PDF) to determine your eligibility before applying. 
To be eligible for a rebate, the appliance must:

• have a minimum 4 star energy rating
• be new and purchased on or after 1 January 2018 (you must provide a copy of the tax invoice or receipt for the purchase of the approved appliance showing you have paid in full)
• be for the purposes of domestic/residential use in a Queensland residence.

For air conditioners, the minimum 4 star energy rating relates to cooling. Free-standing, portable air conditioners and evaporative coolers do not qualify for the rebate.
Read the full list of eligible 4 star or higher appliances:

• eligible washing machines (PDF)
• eligible refrigerators (PDF)
• eligible air conditioners (PDF) 

Applying for the rebateApplications for the rebate are now open.

• Apply now

Before you apply, make sure you have:

• read and understood the terms and conditions (PDF) to determine if you are eligible
• your national metering identifier (NMI) – found on your electricity bill (unless your household does not have its own retail electricity account or you don’t have electricity connected on the premises)
• the appliance make and model number
• your bank details, so we can pay you the rebate
• a clear scan or photo of your tax invoice/receipt from your retailer/installer to upload.

You have 30 days from the date of purchase to submit your application in full.
Note: If you purchased your appliance on or after 1 January 2018 and before applications opened, you have 30 days from the date applications opened to submit your application in full - apply by 20 March 2018.
Further information

• Read the terms and conditions (PDF) for the rebate.
• Read our frequently asked questions.
• Find out everything you need to know to start saving on your energy bills.
• Learn more about energy star ratings and energy efficient appliances.
• Find out about buying energy efficient appliances in the Australian Government guide to buying energy efficient appliances.

Contact usFor energy enquiries phone 13 43 87 or email energysave@dnrme.qld.gov.au 
Positive Payback for householdsPositive Payback lets you earn rewards by using energy saving technologies and switching to economy tariffs for air conditioners, pool pumps and hot water systems.

Licence

Last updated:
 
16 February 2018

Lowering your energy usage and considering off-peak options are two of the cheapest and easiest ways to reduce your electricity bill.
Lowering usage also reduces the need for more infrastructure development (e.g. poles and wires) which will help electricity costs for everyone over the long term.
Using less energy also means less pollution and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, so not only will you save money on your energy bills, you will also be helping to save the environment.
This guide has several suggestions for reducing energy costs around your home and business.
How to save

• The Your Energy Savings site shows how to save energy, understand your bill and reduce your environmental impact.
• The Energy Made Easy site lets you compare the best value tariffs for your home. It offers tips for when you are looking at switching retailers.
• Find out more about Energex’s and Ergon Energy’s demand management programs, which not only save you money but also help the networks meet peak demand load in Queensland
• Ergon's household energy use calculator helps identify the highest energy using areas of your home and gives tips for how to better manage energy use.
• Check out our energy efficiency guide (PDF, 1.7MB): everything you need to know to start saving on your energy bills

For business

• The EcoBiz program helps with benchmarking and adopting sustainable practices for your business.
• See also our guide for energy efficiency for farmers and irrigators.

To find out more please go to the QLD Government Website for Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy

 https://www.dews.qld.gov.au/electricity/saving

If you're like most households these days, looking at ways to decrease your energy costs, then the Government is offering incentives under the "Affordable Energy Plan" 

Affordable Energy Plan: making electricity more affordable

From 1 January 2018, more than $300 million of initiatives will make electricity more affordable for residential and business customers. Under the plan, electricity prices for typical household and small business customers will remain below inflation on average over the next 2 years.
Follow the links below to find out more about the rebates on offer and other plan initiatives.

Help for households

$50 per year electricity rebate
Over the next 2 years, $200 million from the dividends of government-owned corporations are being returned to Queensland households in the form of a $50 per year electricity rebate. Find out more.

Energy efficient appliance rebate

Rebates of up to $300 for eligible energy-efficient appliances ($20 million). Find out more.
Rooftop solar loans and rebatesTo drive the continued uptake of solar, we have allocated $21 million over 3 years in no-interest loans and rebates for Queenslanders purchasing rooftop solar and battery systems. Find out more.
Solar for rental propertiesOften tenants aren’t able to benefit from solar because landlords have little incentive to invest in it. A $4 million trial with up to 1,000 houses will provide incentives for landlords to install solar for their rental tenants.

Extra assistance for regional Queensland customers

EasyPay Rewards for regional Queensland

A rebate for regional households ($75) and small businesses ($120) that register for direct debit and monthly eBilling ($15 million over 3 years). Find out more.

Energy Savvy Families

This program provides digital meters to eligible low-income families in regional Queensland to help them gain a greater understanding of when and how they use their electricity. We are investing a further $4 million to extend the program to a further 4,000 low-income households. Find out more.

Removal of non-reversion policy

Up until recently, regional customers who left Ergon Energy for another electricity retailer were not able to return to Ergon. We are removing this policy for small business customers and households. These customers will be able to return to Ergon if they wish, and take up the EasyPay Rewards plan. Find out more.

Business support

Business Energy Savers Program

This $20 million program will benefit agricultural customers and large businesses by expanding existing energy audit programs and funding for energy efficiency upgrades. Find out more.

You can find this information on their website
 https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/energy/initiatives/affordable-energy-plan

​It might be great to harvest free electricity from your own rooftop power plant but if you want it to work properly you have to look after it. A few simple checks and some housecleaning now and then may be all that’s needed to keep a system running efficiently.
In 2012 solar consultancy SunWiz looked at data from 8,000 PV systems connected to NSW network AusGrid and found the average small-scale system was performing nearly 19% below capacity, with around 18% of systems performing 20% below expectations and 7% about 40% below expectations.
That was six years ago and here’s hoping things have improved since then, but system owners shouldn’t be complacent about their investment. Maintenance of a solar PV system is about so much more than cleaning the modules.
“System maintenance is crucial to the ongoing optimised performance of the system – if you want it to go well, you’ve got to look after it,” says Solar Analytics technical sales account manager Brett Bidwell.
The basics of maintenance include looking at the performance of the inverter and going over the solar array structure, the cabling and assessing whether anything has contributed to the system performing properly. The causes are not always related to sloppy installation standards or cheap equipment.
“Over the years I’ve seen ants, termites, possums, cockatoos, rats – you name it I’ve seen it destroy a solar power system,” says Bidwell. “Cows, horses, sheep – the whole lot. I’ve seen bats roosting under arrays, all sorts of things.”
Many variables that are completely unforeseen and unpredictable may impact the performance of a system, Bidwell says, so owners should understand why an annual inspection by a qualified solar installer – even it is to clean the panels – will be a good way to spot and fix issues that could become serious if left to fester. “There are opportunities there for maintenance to be discussed [with owners] very early on in the piece, even before the purchase of the system,” he says, emphasising that solar sales companies and installation companies should clearly explain the benefits of maintenance to their clients.

Team effort
Installers are working all hours to get systems on rooftops, with record numbers of Small-scale Technology Certificates created last year and hopefully the same again this year, so how can they be expected to find the time to go around maintaining the 1.6 million systems already in place? Simple, says Bidwell – employ more people.
For a start, installers who have contractual commitments to maintain systems should manage schedules and staff especially for the purpose. “Suddenly you’ve got a crew running around doing regular maintenance,” he says. “Quite often the return on investment of those types of funding approaches is completely dependent on the optimised performance of the system, so that if it works better you get paid more.”
Any good commercial and industrial solar system agreement should include a clause about operations and maintenance, Bidwell says. “It’s not an option. If it’s not there, you’re dealing with the wrong people.”
At the Clean Energy Council, technical and compliance officer Luke Pickles says it’s not really incumbent on the installer to carry out maintenance – it’s up to customers to request it. “The problem is there’s a cost associated with doing maintenance and people normally buy a solar system with the purpose of saving money, so there’s a disconnect in that respect,” Pickles says. “But some companies that sell a system may include a maintenance visit as part of the sale price.”

Update on 44c FiT rule changes
On 15 February 2018, the Queensland Parliament re-introduced a Bill to change the Electricity Act 1994 (Qld). This Bill provides the industry with clearer rules about adding PV panels, generating systems and/or energy storage devices (such as batteries), to PV systems that already qualify for the 44 cents/kWh Feed-in Tariff (44c FiT) without forfeiting this premium tariff.
If the Bill is passed in its current format, 15 February 2018 will be the date that the changes come into effect rather than the previously advised date of 15 June 2017.
Therefore, if a customer with a PV system that qualifies for the 44c FiT does any of the following after 15 February 2018, they may forfeit eligibility for the 44c FiT (subject to some transitional provisions described later in this Update):

• add extra panels to create a total array kW capacity that exceeds the rated AC power capacity (kW) of the existing inverter/s,
• add an energy storage system (such as a battery) that can discharge at the same time as the PV system (other than during a network outage) or export to our supply network, or
• add another generating system to the same tariff that can operate at the same time as the PV system (other than during a network outage) or export to our supply network.

More details are available on the Queensland Government’s Solar Bonus Scheme website.

Array upgrades
Until the Bill is passed, if we receive an application for an array upgrade on a 44c FiT-eligible PV system that will create a total array capacity exceeding the rated AC power capacity of the existing inverter/s, our Solar Team will contact the applicant to confirm their intent. The applicant can then choose to:

• proceed, knowing the customer’s 44c FiT will be forfeited, although the 44c FiT will only be removed once the Bill has passed,
• resubmit an application for an increase in array capacity that will not cause the total array capacity to exceed the inverter capacity, or
• withdraw their application.

Please note, once the Bill is passed, an application for an array upgrade will be processed by our Solar Team under the changed rules.
Remember that under the energy legislation and our connection contracts, you must obtain our consent before making modifications to a generating system (including, but not limited to, increasing array or inverter capacity and changing export limitation settings). This consent can be requested by lodging a network connection application through our Electrical Partners Portal.
If a customer entered into a contract to purchase additional panels that take the total array capacity above the inverter capacity before 15 February 2018, those panels can still be installed without forfeiting the 44c FiT if:

• the installation occurs within a reasonable timeframe,
• the customer financially committed to purchase the panels before 15 February 2018, and
• evidence of that financial commitment is provided to our Solar Team on request.

If we discover any other array over-sizing after that date, the 44c FiT will be forfeited.

Panel replacements
We understand that one or more panels in an array may need replacement under warranty. These rule changes have implications for the customer’s 44c FiT eligibility where the array with failed panels is already the same or a higher capacity as the connected inverter(s). We also understand that the existing panel wattage cannot always be matched exactly due to discontinued panel models, leaving only higher-wattage panels available.
We have worked with the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy to provide the following guidance:

• The installer must make every effort to match the wattage of the new panels with the wattage of the original panels, whether replacing one panel or the entire array.
• Where the wattage can’t be exactly matched, an increase in wattage of up to 5% across the entire array is allowable without impacting the customer's eligibility for the 44c FiT.
• If a high proportion of panels in an array need to be replaced, it may be necessary to reduce the number of panels to keep the increase to the total array capacity within the 5% allowance.
• Any increase in the total array capacity up to and including 5% will not require our consent.
• Any increase in the total array capacity over 5% will require our consent (meaning a new network connection application must be lodged) and will jeopardise the customer’s eligibility for the 44c FiT.

Please note, even if a system is no on the 44c FiT, if any panel replacement or addition of panels will result in a new array capacity exceeding 5% of the original array capacity, our consent will be required (so a new network connection application must be lodged). This will minimise the likelihood of us identifying higher-than-normal export and contacting the customer to question this.

Battery energy storage systems
The changed rules are designed to allow customers on the 44c FiT to install a battery system if they wish, without forfeiting the 44c FiT. However, it is important to note that the system cannot be programmed in such a way that could result in the battery discharging while the PV system is operating or more electricity being exported than would otherwise be possible.
Applicants should attach a schematic diagram to any application to add batteries to a 44c FiT-eligible PV system, including a description of the battery charging/discharging mode, demonstrating compliance with these requirements. Applications to add a battery system to a 44c FiT-eligible PV system are being processed on the understanding that the programming will comply with the changed rules.
Please note we use automated meter data filters to identify sudden increases in exported electricity volumes. If we investigate and identify a battery system that is not compliant, the 44c FiT will be forfeited. The installer may also be referred to the Clean Energy Council.

Additional generating systems
The Bill clarifies, rather than changes, the current policy about adding additional generating systems to 44c FiT-eligible PV systems. If any type of generating system is added to the same tariff circuit and operates at the same time as the qualifying PV system (except during a network outage) or is able to export to the grid, eligibility for the 44c FiT will be forfeited.

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Contact Details 

420 Finders St,
Townsville, Qld 4810
1300 553 924 (7am - 6.30pm, Mon to Fri)
solarteam@ergon.com.au

About Solar Industry Update

This newsletter will keep you informed about what's happening in the solar industry and any changes to compliance, rulings and legislation.

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More than 50 per cent of Australia’s coal fleet will be over 40 years old by 2030, and the Australian electricity grid – along with these ageing fossil fuelled power stations – are increasingly vulnerable to worsening extreme weather events.
If we are to reach zero carbon pollution well before 2050 in order to effectively tackle climate change, we need to increase our reliance on renewable energy. But did you know Australia could reach 50 per cent renewables by 2030 – without significant new energy storage?
The Climate Council’s latest report on renewable energy and battery storage in Australia points out a range of factors that have helped us reach the cusp of a future where energy production is sustainable – and reliable.
The Fully Charged: Renewables and Storage Powering Australia report reveals over 20,000 new household lituim-ion batteries – used for renewable energy storage – were installed in 2017. That’s up from 6,750 in the previous year. Over the last eight years, the cost of lithium-ion batteries fell by 80 per cent. By 2025, the cost will halve again.

Read the full article here ​www.businessinsider.com.au/australia-renewable-energy-2018-2