Help me decide high FIT or Discount power

[Full Range]

I’m in a bit if a quandary at the moment 

My old system was 1.2 KW and my FIT was 44 cents 

As I upgraded my system that FIT @44 cents ends 

The new system is a 20 x 330w panels = 6.6 Kw - connected to a 5 Kw inverter 

New Solar system  was installed just over a week ago and the FIT offered by my current retailers is ( Origin ) 

0.09 cents FIT at standard NO discount for grid power 

0.06 cents FIT if I choose plans with discount 
 

Just a guide of my energy use 

Summer is 12 to 14 kw per day — Winter is 7 to 9 kw per day ( I know it’s not a lot but that’s my contribution to a greener planet ) 
The new system produces on average 20 Kw during winter and I don’t know about summer but if I was to guess it would be 35Kw 

My aim is to reduce my electricity bill to Zero and fingers crossed get a credit 

I’m trying to do the math and it’s neither here or there 

So I’m asking the group to give me a heads up on the best option or a best retailer for QLD 

 

[Marc]

Maths is not my strongest area so tend to go on gut a lot of the time. 
In real world figures, our household consumes around $10-$12 a day from the grid.
Feeding back to the grid gets us at best around $2 a day for slightly less kWh than what we consume.

The FIT for me, is not worth it. Maybe if I did the sums it would be but at the of the day I get more satisfaction making better use of my solar generation rather than giving it back. I've now installed a smart charger allowing me to divert only surplus into my EV, and shortly I'll add another diversion to switch the pool heat pump on rather than feed back into grid (and only when EV is already fully charged).

I guess none of that answers your question, but perhaps adds another angle for you. Electric hot water, underfloor heating, pool pumps, EVs, etc, can all make good use of that surplus if you don't want to feed it back at those super low FIT rates.

[Full Range]

All retailers charge daily supply charge and a Solar meter charge - then charge for the electricity ones household uses 

My thinking is - If my system can run the house during the day and export the excess 

The FIT dollar return can pay the recurring charges and a little of the night use electricity - then my bill will get very low or zero 

I am leaning towards a discounted electricity with a slightly less FIT 

Im now in the process of filtering out power retailers - that also have an LPG gas component for our cooking needs

Although I would love to have battery storage - For our household it does not make sense for our low use and return for outlay 

Maybe I should look into a hybrid car next year. Can a hybrid car be charged from the solar system ? Older models could not, so need to check if new models have the option for plugin battery charging 

Edited August 6, 2020 by Full Range

[Marc]

1 hour ago, Full Range said:

Can a hybrid car be charged from the solar system ? Older models could not, so need to check if new models have the option for plugin battery charging 

Absolutely. Or full electric given the range of models and lower entry prices expected over the next 12 months.

[IXXI]

Hi Full Range,

You will be wanting a PHEV (Plug in hybrid electric vehicle) if you want a hybrid that, as the name suggests, plugs in. There aren't a whole lot to choose from at the moment, but more are on the way. This gives you a much cheaper buy in point at this time to get a taste of electric mobility. Off the top of my head, Mitsubishi, Volvo and Hyundai all have PHEV offerings. Think there are some older BMW's, Mercs and Audis that offer the tech too. You will save a heap over an all battery EV, but that will come at the cost of all electric range.

[koputai]

I wouldn't be touching Mitsubishi with a barge pole at the moment, it's possible they will drop out of Australia totally.

 

IMO hybrids were a necessary step, but totally useless now. Go fully electric if you can find one you like with the range you need, or just get a turbo diesel if you are travelling very long distances.

With a hybrid, you are lugging around a whole lot of extra weight and complexity that you're not using.

 

Cheers,

Jason.

 

[Full Range]

3 minutes ago, koputai said:

I wouldn't be touching Mitsubishi with a barge pole at the moment, it's possible they will drop out of Australia totally.

Yes I read that they ( Mitsubishi)  have Dropped UK and Europe 
 

[Marc]

What's the argument for hybrid over full-electric at the moment? Just the lower cost of buying in/ownership compared to electric?

[Full Range]

1 hour ago, Marc said:

What's the argument for hybrid over full-electric at the moment? Just the lower cost of buying in/ownership compared to electric?

I would say yes to your comment and add distance traveled 

We have a big wide land and not uncommon to travel long distances for basic commuting 

Electric motors in general have an extremely high efficiency rate and depending on load it’s efficiency ranges from 78% to 92% 

And I think you will agree it’s very very good 

For the near future - 

Once the stored battery energy reaches 75% +  in terms of distance traveled over fossil fuel, then we will see a decline in internal combustion engines ( for general commuting) 

Engineers also need to work out how to overcome load carrying capacity for trade vehicles and towing 

With electric vehicles just as with fossil fuel, the greater the load the more juice it needs 

As an engineer I can’t see why tried and tested simple ideas are not utilised more 

For instance - why don’t they design and use all spinning components in a vehicle and incorporate a small charging motor or several charging motors to replenish the battery 

 

In a hybrid vehicle- I personally prefer all electric drive 

My theory is that the smaller CC internal combustion engine revs higher so in theory one can install more than one tiny charge engine under the bonnet for very fast charging duties 

 

[Marc]

Great insight, thanks @Full Range