There are some assumptions that I need to make you aware of when using certain valuation methods, including the Discounted Cash Flow Method, to calculate the value of a solar power installation once ten years have already passed. Explaining and outlining these assumptions may go some way to support my on-the-surface outrageous conclusion that, for many households, the value of a solar power installation may be worth more ten years from now than it is on the date of purchase and installation, even when considering the loss in energy efficiency that occurs over time.
Category: Energy
Solar Power From the Actual Experts
I must confess I am just about the furthest thing from an actual engineer – while I have a great deal of curiosity about the nature of solar power and its possible impact on household energy consumption at a micro level, on certain technical matters I will be a small kid with armbands swimming in the deep end.
What do we do when we are potentially out of our depth? We consult a real world expert. So for that reason, this week we speak to Martin King and Bryn Bennett of Degree Limited, who specialise in the installation of all things heating and cooling.
Why It Helps to Start Planning a Year In Advance When It Comes to Solar Power
In last week’s article I wrote about the need to calculate your own power consumption before investing in any solar power proposal. This week I want to talk about how extending the timeline for your data set well in advance can help you to improve the data accuracy of your energy saving calculations.
Continue reading “Why It Helps to Start Planning a Year In Advance When It Comes to Solar Power”
Why It’s Important to Calculate Your Own Power Consumption Before Buying Solar Power
In a past article I talked about how the main environmental benefit of installing solar power systems in New Zealand is that it reduces demand on the grid during periods of peak consumption. This time I’m going to look at the flip side of that equation – if you want to receive the maximum economic benefit from your solar power installation, you need to begin with a clear understanding of your own home or business actually uses power.
Evaluating the Arguments Against Solar Power in NZ: Too Much Green Energy Already Comes Off the Grid
One of the main arguments made against solar power in New Zealand is that the New Zealand electric supply already derives primarily from renewable energy sources anyway. Because of this, introducing home- or business-based solar power generation systems will do relatively little to improve the eco-sustainability of the business or household.
Today I’m going to take a look at some of the reasons why this is not the case, and that even with a power supply network derived primarily from renewable sources, there is still a lot to be gained from solar installations.
Continue reading “Evaluating the Arguments Against Solar Power in NZ: Too Much Green Energy Already Comes Off the Grid”
Doing the Math on Solar Power in New Zealand: An Introduction
The problem with solar power is, all too many people are looking for quick fix calculators that will tell them at a glance whether solar is affordable for them or not.
The reality is, return on investment calculations for solar power will depend upon your home or business’s specific circumstances.
This reductive thinking often leads people to overestimate the benefits of solar, or even, and perhaps worse, miss some of the critical benefits that would have made solar power worthwhile.
Continue reading “Doing the Math on Solar Power in New Zealand: An Introduction”
How Much Extra Energy Supply Will the Electric Fleet Require from NZ?
The phasing in of the electric fleet could be a momentous occasion for New Zealand, enabling us to switch from fuel consumption to electric vehicles powered primarily by renewable energy. But the process also comes with a series of economic effects, most notably the need to construct additional sources to power this fleet. In this article we look at what the electric fleet could require from NZ in terms of additional power sources.
Continue reading “How Much Extra Energy Supply Will the Electric Fleet Require from NZ?”
How Will the Electric Fleet Affect the NZ Government’s Excise Tax Collection?
Switching from gas to renewable electricity sources to power cars could have one major unintended side effect, by way of reducing the NZ Government’s revenues from excise tax.
Continue reading “How Will the Electric Fleet Affect the NZ Government’s Excise Tax Collection?”
How Day & Night ICPs Allow for Strategic Power Use
The dry winter has resulted in low levels of hydroelectric energy generation, forcing NZ to rely more on other energy sources, in turn forcing the wholesale price of energy through the roof. The full effect of this will be felt over the next few months as energy retailers start to pass on their additional costs to households and businesses.
Continue reading “How Day & Night ICPs Allow for Strategic Power Use”