Sunbeam me up, the future is here

Byron Shire Echo
Tuesday 17/7/2007 Page: 14

To wait or not to wait to install solar panels? That is the question. Syd Welling, of Sunbeam Solar Systems, will urge anyone who asks not to wait. The time is right to educate yourself about your energy requirements in your home and/or office and the appropriate solar system to accommodate them. With an increase in the government contribution (each household is now entitled to an $8,000 rebate) and with efficient and reliable grid interactive solar technology available, there is greater incentive than ever to reduce your carbon emissions and eradicate electrical bills for good.

With some households whispering about waiting for new solar cell technology, Welling has a compelling argument, too in-depth for this article, for would-be procrastinators. Syd explains, `The current grid interactive system is reliable, efficient and now more affordable. Think of all the carbon emissions we could be saving as a country while we all sit and wait for another five years for new systems such as sliver cell and other non-silicon based technologies which don't have advantages over the conventional and available system in any case. The grid interactive system is the most efficient use of solar technology.

`Did you know if Australian households switched to solar hot water and renewable energy sources we could reduce Australia's dependency on coal fired power stations by 50% straight up? Unfortunately the powers that be have vested interests in us remaining on the grid day and night.' Syd gets fired up when people question the efficiency of solar power, he says, `There is 1kW (kilowatt) of energy per square metre in sunlight. A solar panel extracts about 15.5%-16.5% of that energy from the sun.

A coal fired power grid is not even 1% efficient.' In a nutshell, the grid uses old sun inefficiently and a solar interactive panel on your roof uses new sun efficiently. Syd continues, `All of the energy that exists on Earth has come from the sun at one point or other. Coal fired power stations use energy from sun that fell on the earth eons ago, growing trees and carboniferous forests, which decayed over eons and eons forming coal. We now dig up that coal with a mining system that is about 50% efficient.

`Out of all the product that comes out of the mine about 30% ends up as recycled waste. So you end up with 70% of the mined product being burned in a process that's only 30% efficient. By the time you get through all the inefficiencies in the process, including those in the power plant to household journey, we get down to the fact that it's a fraction of I% efficient.' Add to that the obvious carbon emissions from the grid system and the fact that the power plant itself consumes an unimaginable amount of water for cooling and lubrication and you have a shocking and simple cycle of power plants inflaming the greenhouse effect, in turn compounding widespread drought worsened further by the water guzzled by the grid, resulting in less water in the natural land cycle to potentially relieve drought via rain.

By comparison, solar cells on the roof directly convert energy from the sun at the point of source into usable energy, comparatively as a dry compost toilet deals with waste at the point of source rather than piping it off elsewhere for someone else to worry about. Syd believes that it is important that consumers begin to focus on systems which offer solutions at the point of use. He believes it is up to us to localise responsibility. By decentralising consumer needs we become responsible for ourselves, taking the power back, so to speak. Syd adds, `When we take the initiative ourselves people in actuality take the lead.

Then it is true leadership. It comes back to individual responsibility - we can't wait for the government to make the changes necessary or anyone else. Besides, the government will only do what big business will do and big business will only do what there is demand to do.' If you are someone who wants to reduce their carbon footprint but perhaps is unsure as to which method is most cost effective and efficient, read on. Buying a hybrid car, for example, would cost $36,000-$44,000 and will save about two tonnes of CO2 per year. By comparison a 1kW grid interactive solar system will cost you $6,000 after the rebate and will save about seven tonnes of CO2 per year. Additionally, while a car depreciates in value, a solar system will only add value to your home, so it is always worth thinking on the bigger, longer term picture.

It is also worth noting that some solar panel manufacturers, although not all, use solar energy to produce their products, making the entire process clean. So by choosing wisely, the energy you will use in your home will have never polluted nor required water, will not produce noise, smoke or carbon emissions and will be free! Talk about peace of mind.

For any unanswered questions about renewables and the coal industry, Syd Welling is a boundless source of facts and fascinations. He will be running an ACE course, Solar Power System for Home and Business, on Saturday August 11, 9.30am - 12.30pm for only $25 for those who are interested in being a part of solutions for climate change. Contact ACE on 6684 3374 or download an enrolment form from www.acemullum.com.

If you want to arrange a consultation and quote with Syd Welling you can contact him on 6679 7228, 0428 320 262 or email sunbeamsolarsys@optusnet.com.au.