GCQesq,
People have gone off grid sucessfully but I am not sure how
good it actually is, especially financially.

Anyway, read this;
http://tinyurl.com/y86l6keo

Anyone who thinks batteries are the answer must consider these points;
Batteries do not generate power
They are a heavy user of power
Study of element table shows we have the best already in use
Any improvement is going to be marginal

We are destined to have blackouts, more power generation can not be
installed in time to avoid it.
Politicians have no idea of the scale of the problem.
I wonder how many of them have ever been in a power station.

This is coming to a head now. When there are a couple of power cuts and it is realised how the renewables are fake expect the following. The media and then the politicians will turn on you but both are too stupid to get out of their own way. The greens will bob under the swamp as they have done after causing our bushfires. Politicians will go the foreign route and the Japs, Chines or Germans will make a killing building the coal fired power stations we blew up! Wait and see!

ALTRAV, I apologise for misinterpreting you earlier comment about going off-grid. I don’t advocate it either because of the wasted electricity generated that is not used. It’s far better to be on grid and get paid the FiT of up to 16c kWh.

Consumers will not be using more than they generate is the use the grid as a virtual battery by producing at least three times more than they use. This is what I do. My earnings from my exported electricity are enuff to pay, not only, for my electricity use when the sun don’t shine, but I also for my LPG gas that I use for hot water. I am a living proof that your opinion is quite wrong on this matter.

You are also wrong about the the 5Kw PV system limit. The limit was increased in NSW, halfway through 2017, to 10kW per phase. You are also quite wrong when you stated, "Only at times when the house is dormant will there be a positive flow on effect into the grid”. At the summer peak, my 7kW system was producing 45kWh. I was using 5kWh so 40kWh was being exported.

No power company gets exported electricity for free. Once again you are wrong, very wrong. Frankly. ALTRAV, you really need to review your information sources. They are false in the extreme. But I digress.

I expect to have to replace my inverter about halfway through my system’s life of 25 years. That is factored into the financial calculations I have made and I still manage a 25% return on my investment of 25 years, contrary to your opinion. You stated, "Now if everyone had SP's and allowed to run, say, a 10K system, then OK.” Well, that is the case as I type. So go for it, old boy and reap the rewards!!

Your statement, "Personally I favour a 10K system and EVERYONE goes off the grid.” contradicts your early clarification that you do "not advocate going off-grid”. Could you please clarify which of those two statements are your real opinion?

Furthermore, ALTRAV, you claim about yourself, "I look at the viability and reliability factor, and if you cared to read my post rather than presume a pre-determined outcome you would have read the part where the current technology is not viable, irrespective of your opinions and links.” I can only presume that these are your opinions because you haven’t provided any supporting links, articles or research. Until you do, I will treat what you post as such.

You further claim, "From a technical stand point. Wind is a joke, a most inefficient folly on a grand scale.” Where is the evidence to support your opinion?

Once again, you have provided no support for your claim that, "the footprint of these mediums will be many times greater than the area they are supposed to supply power to”. Where is the evidence for that. Please provide it or I can’t take what you post as valid or worth considering.

"That stupid con job of a futile excersize in SA is pathetic when it can only supply power to a handful homes for a matter of minutes.” shows a lack of understanding of the role of that battery. Please read this to disabuse yourself of your errant opinions: https://reneweconomy.com.au/faster-smarter-grid-operator-hails-performance-tesla-big-battery/

No more excuses for not being informed, ALTRAV. :-)

Bazz, thanx for your reply. :-)

Going off-grid is the best way to go in new, country sites, where the cost of grid connection is too expensive. It’s far better that households stay on-grid to share the love of their excess electricity generation.

BTW, the link you gave me failed. :-(

Regarding ‘big batteries’, I disagree with you there. The Tesla battery in SA has been a huge success, exceeding its expectations in the role for which it was designed and installed. Please have a read of this article: https://reneweconomy.com.au/faster-smarter-grid-operator-hails-performance-tesla-big-battery/

You may be right about more blackouts being unavoidable. Sadly, this is the result of inept energy policy in federal space for over a decade. I agree with your comment about our pollies. Hopeless at best, dangerous at worse. :-)

GJESQ, I have said all I need to say on this topic. As my comments are based on historical facts and articles, they are there for all to see. As you have a clear mindset on this topic, I suggest if you wish confirmation of my comments, they are available even for you to see. And BTW, my comments on the SA battery folly is also a matter of record as every idiot was quick to endorse a system which gave a 'handfull' of houses power for 40 mins or so. Big deal. As I said, long way to go. And so it is that 'we cannot afford a renewables only power supply', just yet. My comments about off-grid has to do with facilitating a greedy and selfish power company. My point is that consumers will be paying for everything from the installation to the on-going service, maintenance and repairs to their SP's. The power company pays nothing, gets the power for free and on-sells it to consumers, even SP households. The bastards had that planned from the start. That is why I am for off-grid, (ok, MAIN grid) power distribution, so these mongrels cannot profit at our expense. Sweet deal if you can get it. I wonder if I would be allowed to start a power company?