Thesis
Assessing the impacts of feed in tariffs and metering configuration (gross or net), on the payback period for an average solar PV system in metropolitan Melbourne
Masters by Coursework, Murdoch University
2009
Abstract
With an increasing customer focus on renewable energy and the perceived benefits from widespread solar photovoltaic (PV) generation there has been a rapid increase in the number of solar PV system installed across Australia during 2008 and 2009. Debate has continued regarding the most effective configuration of a Feed in Tariff with both gross and net metering identified as the most effective depending on the goals of the scheme. The Victorian Government have proposed a net Feed in Tariff set at $0.60 per kWh to meet the goals outlined by the Premier, John Brumby. In this dissertation, the metering data obtained from over 125 existing Solar PV customers is analysed and the payback periods for a PV system is calculated at a range of Feed in Tariffs based on the modelling developed for the Victorian Government. The existing models are extended to include a range of Feed in Tariffs and, secondly, data assumptions from the models are tested using actual customer data from PV sites to calculate a range of payback periods at different tariff and metering configurations. The results show that the proposed $0.60per kWh net Feed in Tariff will be the most effective to meet the goals defined for the scheme, but this result is achieved despite inaccurate data assumptions. The metering configuration and Feed in Tariff value have significant impacts on the payback periods and variations in a customer’s energy usage profile will have large impacts on the payback periods. It is also identified from the customer data that solar PV will have a minimal impact on reducing peak load demands across the energy network.
Details
- Title
- Assessing the impacts of feed in tariffs and metering configuration (gross or net), on the payback period for an average solar PV system in metropolitan Melbourne
- Authors/Creators
- Darren Bailey
- Contributors
- Trevor Pryor (Supervisor)Martina Calais (Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Masters by Coursework
- Identifiers
- 991005541839207891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Engineering and Energy
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis
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