GI Energy has been providing individual consumers and commercial businesses alike with clean and affordable solar energy solutions for over 5 years in Cairns and surrounding areas. This solar power Cairns report can show you how solar can have a positive impact your electricity bill, as well as the environment.
We’ve put together information showing how solar energy is positively impacting Cairns residents and how it can potentially help you.
Solar power Cairns 2017: 1,653 homes installed
The growth rate for solar power in Cairns is around 15.2% on the previous year which is stronger than the average state growth of 12%. There’s a total of 12,553 roof top solar systems installed across the entire Cairns Regional area.
The 2016 census reported a total of 68,756 dewllings in Cairns. For this report, we had to exclude post codes 4860 and 4871 as they had a portion of non-Cairns population that blurred the results. This informtion reports on 66,713 dwellings and reveals that 20.4% of dewellings in Cairns have solar installed.
Solar rebates and financial incentives
Some people think the golden days of solar are over due to smaller feed-in tariffs (FITs), however that could not be further from the truth. When the 44c FIT was available, typical system size was around 1.5kW – 3kW and typical system cost was around $8,000 – $12,000+. Although FIT’s are now 8c-16c, system prices are now $5,000 – $9,000 for a 6.6kW system. This is because panel prices have fallen over 80% in the past 7 years.
Purchase rebates are still very strong. A 6.6kW still has a purchase rebate of around $4,300. Without that, a $7,000 system would be costing you over $11,000! These rebates drop on the 1st of Jan each year and as recently as June 2018 there have been news articles about the government potentially winding up the purchase rebate Australia wide.
In addition to the long standing rebates, the Queensland Government released an interest free loan of up to $4,500 for homeowners receiving Family Tax Benefit Part B. If you would like full details for this family loan we’ve put together a great article to help families understand the government loans. These loans will immediately reduce your monthly expenses and give you 7 years to pay off your system.
Two generally available Loans and Battery rebates are coming later this year. If you’d like to be kept up to date with these loans register by going to the bottom of this page and using the QLD solar loan updates form.
It’s a great time to be investigating solar power Cairns residents, even if you wouldn’t normally be able to afford it. Rebates & incentives are strong at the moment but the ACCC is calling for the end of solar subsidies by around 2020:
2018 News articles
Australian Financial Review – 11 July 2018 – ACCC urges end to solar subsidies.
The Conversation – 13 July 2018 – ACCC “Solar subsidies should be cut”
With current strong solar incentives, low panel prices allowing bigger systems and a looming subsidy cut from the ACCC, it may be the best timing you’ll ever have to install solar. Investigate solar power Cairns residents! Don’t let put it off any longer.
How will a solar system help your electricity bill?
Solar saves you more if you are using more. Therefore if you have a higher bill, you have more potential to save. Take a look at these two scenarios. The first scenario assuming a couple and the second scenario assuming a family of 5.
We will compare the same installation of a 6.27kW residential solar power system that will typically generate an annual average of 27.2kWh a day. We will also assume a cost of $7,087 to install a system that is expected to last 10yrs (warranty period) – and potentially up to 25 years (Cheaper systems have a typical lifespan of 5-10 years or less).
In both scenarios, we will give 3 savings result.
- The low result assumes everyone leaves the house by 7 am and returns by 5pm (35% of household daily use is covered by solar)
- The average result assumes that there are people at home during the day (50% of household daily use is covered by solar)
- The high result assumes the residents are aware of strategies to maximise their solar savings (65% of household daily use is covered by solar)
In both scenarios, even the low result is extremely beneficial. Cairns residents are lucky to have a very high percentage of clear sunny days to take advantage of a rooftop solar system.
As an added bonus, the solar panels can add market value to your home. The initial start-up and set-up costs then become an investment rather than a burden, and the costs can be quickly recouped as the benefits add up.
GI Energy remotely monitors many of our clients solar systems with onlne software. We also invite our clients to send us electricity bills to compare projected and actual savings. In addition to this we are bound by the Clean Energy Councils code of conduct and are accountable to our clients for the savings projections presented at the time of purchase.
We have invested heavily in building software that can project acheivable savings figures from solar for your specific situation.
If you would like to have your electricity bill reviewed against a specific solar system, we can give you a quick report like the examples above. Many of our previous customers didn’t appreciate the value of solar until they had seen exactly how it could apply to them.
Contact us now and we can provide a detailed quote and savings report so that you can see what solar can mean for you.
Are you ready to learn more about solar power Cairns?
GI Energy has been installing solar systems in Cairns for the past 5 years.
We have recently signed on to the Clean Energy Councils ‘Approved Solar Retailer’ code of conduct. Of around 4,000 solar businesses in Australia, there are only around 70 solar businesses adhering to the CEC Code of conduct. It is the only code that is accountable to the ACCC, which means when you install a system with GI Energy you have an underpinned guarantee of quality, value and service.
We have a wide range of cost-effective, technologically advanced systems for both residential and commercial customers. Call GI Energy today to learn more about developing your own energy reduction strategy or to book a consultation with one of our team members.
GI Energy offers you fair prices for quality systems, strong local support, local history, integrity and experience. Take a look at some of our more recent solar installations in Cairns.
QLD Govt Loans for families on FTB Part B & upcoming battery loans
Did you know that the QLD govt has just released a new solar incentive in June 2018? There are two battery incentives coming later this year as well. You can read about it here or register with the form below and we’ll contact you with information and updates. If you want to apply sooner rather than later, just use our contact form and we can get things started for you.
The QLD Government has taken steps to ensure consumers are protected with these loans by partnering with only CEC Accredited Solar Retailers. GI Energy has compared over 70 solar packages under the QLD Government loan incentive and has identified the best savings potential for families in Cairns. Contact us or register now for more information.
Did you know that GI Energy is installing the very first solar system in Cairns under the new Queensland Government loans in August/September 2018? We have a strong history and future commitment to ensure our clients are treated with the higest respect and service.
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