• Australian manufacture by Australian owned company since 1987
• 250 or 315L Stainless steel tank
• Mid height element for high solar efficiency
• No corrosion system – No anode required
• Frost tested to minus 20C
• High performance full copper collectors
• Marine grade aluminum collector casing
• Intelligent controller & pump
• Electric or gas boost options
• 10 yr warranty on tank & collectors
• Thermotec Solar Hot Water Split System

Superior Solar is proud to offer another choice in solar hot water.

2012 has seen another year of significant numbers solar power and solar hot water installations with many taking advantage of current rebates and incentives. The integration of solar products into households has been very positive with reports of reliability, savings on energy bills and a feeling of contribution to the environment rating the highest amongst customer feedback.

According to the CEC 2011 report

• Solar power now accounts for 2.3% of total clean energy generation and Australians from all walks of life are embracing solar PV, including those from so called mortgage belt and retirement suburbs across the country.

• The energy saved from solar water heating is equivalent to 7.2% of the clean energy generated in Australia.

Please review our summary of the Clean Energy Council’s 2011 report for an up to date synopsis on renewable energy in Australia as of the end of August 2011.

Our office will be closed over the Christmas period from Thursday 22nd December and will reopen on Monday 9th January 2012.

For any hot water emergencies in this period please call  0433 777 980

Renewable Energy Year in Review. A summary from the Clean Energy Council (CEC) 2011 Report

In the year to October 2011, just under 10 per cent of Australia’s electricity came from renewable energy.

Australia’s national Renewable Energy Target will deliver 20% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

The industry is expecting that the Federal Government’s carbon price package will signal the beginning of a new era of policy stability that will secure commitment to major clean energy projects.

Investment in clean energy has eclipsed that of traditional energy over the last three years and this shows no signs of slowing down. Investors have started to see clean energy as a safe and lucrative sector to invest their capital.

Australia’s electricity generators produced over 300 terawatt-hours of electricity in the last year to the end of September 2011. The contribution of renewable energy rose to 9.6 per cent of the total electricity produced during this period, up from 8.7 per cent the year before.

Household clean energy technologies

The growth of solar power was one of the stories of 2011 following a record year in 2010, when 380 MW of solar power was installed. As at the end of August 2011, 1031 MW of solar power was installed across the country, representing more than half a million household systems. This is more than nine times the amount of solar power installed as at the end of 2009 and more than 35 times the total installed just three years ago in 2008.

More than 230,000 of these systems were installed in the eight months from January to August 2011.

Large-scale renewable energy projects

There were modest gains for industrial-scale renewable energy over the last year, repeating the pattern from the year before. A dozen large-scale renewable energy power plants have become operational since October 2010, though most of the 400 MW in new generating capacity came from three wind farms and a hydro upgrade. Although this figure is higher than in 2010, it is still well down on the 993 MW of power that came online in 2009.

Electricity prices in Australia have risen about 30 per cent over the last four years.

 There are several factors behind the recent price rises. By far the largest is the need to replace and upgrade the ageing poles and wires of the national electricity grid, some of which have been in service for more than 40 years. Recent estimates suggest that more than $130 billion will be necessary to upgrade the network over the next decade, growing to $220 billion over 20 years. Research indicates that these network costs will cause price rises of up to 66 per cent in NSW and Queensland by 2015. Similar increases are likely in other states and territories.

Other reasons for power price rises include the increasing cost to generate electricity with both coal and gas along with the increased use of energy-intensive appliances such as air-conditioners and flat-screen televisions, which increase peak demand for electricity and overall costs.

Australian Renewable Energy Snapshot

 The renewable energy generated during the 12 months to the end of September 2011 produced enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 4 million average Australian households.

A summary of Australia’s nine major clean energy technologies

• Bioenergy

8.5% of total clean energy generation

• Geothermal

0.002% of total clean energy generation
One geothermal plant is currently operating and another three projects are under development in Australia.

• Hydroelectricity

67% of total clean energy generation
Hydropower produces enough electricity for 2.8 million average Australian homes.

• Solar PV

2.3% of total clean energy generation
Australians from all walks of life are embracing solar PV, including those from so called mortgage belt and retirement suburbs across the country.

• Large scale solar

The nation’s largest solar photovoltaic plant is a 1.2 MW facility at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.

• Solar hot water

The energy saved from solar water heating is equivalent to 7.2% of the clean energy generated in Australia.

• Marine energy

0.003% of total clean energy generation

• Wind energy

22% of total clean energy generation

• Energy efficiency

Water heating is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from Australian homes, with heating and cooling together representing the greatest proportion of household energy use.
Whitegoods such as refrigerators and freezers are major contributors to household energy use, consuming 34 per cent of all energy used by household appliances.
73% of people wanted more information on how to save energy in their households.

Download the full Clean Energy Australia Report 2011 (This a zipped file due to the file size. Download then right click and select extract all)

The demand for managing energy consumption is being driven mostly by the escalating electricity costs and the a sense of doing the right thing for the planet. This new home in Springfield is not quite  completely off the grid but certainly comes close. This home owners goal was for minimal emissions and as energy efficient a home as possible.

Some of the  unique energy savings features are as follows:

• 3+kw solar system installation using Q Cells CIGs thin film solar panels
• Solar hot water system with gas booster
• Ducted fireplace for internal heating
• Reverse brick veneer (cladding on the outside and brick inside)

For the first time homes in more dappled light environments can enjoy the high efficiencies from their solar panels previously only afforded to those in full sun positions.

The Q- Cell CIGs Thin Film panel comfortably works in dappled light as the partly shaded panel keeps working rather than shutting down.

• Q Cells offer the world’s best efficiencies for thin film modules of up to 13.4% (compared to 6% for other thin film products)
• Sleek black aesthetic design
• Good low light performance
• Reliable made in Germany quality
• 10 year product and 25 year output warranty

Learn more about the Q Cells CIG thin film solar panels

The benefits from a solar power system can be substantial if your electricity use is highest as the power is being generated through the day.

Solar power is generated when the sun is shining through the day. For the majority of commercial premises this is exactly when the demand for electricity is highest.

For business this can be a significant step to future proof your electricity expenditure and a positive commitment towards a clean energy future.

Avoca Valley B & B wanted a system to match their electricity needs whilst demonstrating a return on investment over a reasonable period of time.

By calculating their energy usage in peak, shoulder and off peak periods at current electricity rates we were able to design a system that matched their energy demand, saving them approximately $1200 per year with a complete return on investment in under 10 years.

As the cost of electricity increases the ROI is attained in a shorter period of time.

The solar installation was completed in a single day by a team of accredited solar designers and electricians enabling them to maximise their savings immediately.

To discuss a solar solution for your business please talk to our team today.

Avoca Valley B & B

Avoca Valley Bed and Breakfast is situated in the Avoca Beach hinterland on the Central Coast of NSW.   This romantic coastal accommodation has been purpose built as a bed and breakfast and designed to capture the natural light, views and beauty of the central coast environment. Centrally located just 4kms to Avoca Beach, a short drive to the bustling cafes and restaurants at Terrigal Beach, and just 10 minutes from Copacabana, MacMasters Beach and Pretty Beach, Avoca Valley Bed and Breakfast is the perfect spot to base yourselves for your Central Coast getaway.

For more information please review Avoca Valley Boutique B & B

Q Cells Solar Park Ammerland

Q‐Cells delivers 200,000 CIGS thin‐film Q.SMART modules for Solarpark Ammerland

With a capacity of 20.8 MWp, Ammerland is the world’s largest solar power plant using CIGS thin‐film technology and was constructed in the record time of just eight‐and‐a‐half weeks.

The plant was installed on an area of 57ha in Wiefelstede, in the Ammerland district, and has a total capacity of over 20.8 MWp. Solarpark Ammerland will cover the electricity needs of more than 6000 households and save about 11,800 tons of CO2 emissions annually by producing climate‐friendly solar energy.

Review the full press release Q Cells Solar Park Ammerland

Q-Cells Builds Superlative Photovoltaic Power Plant

Brandenburg-Briest solar park is Europe’s largest photovoltaic generating plant at 91 megawatts (MW)
Completion planned in record time of eight weeks by 2011 year end

Q-Cells SE, one of the leading photovoltaic companies in the world, is building Europe’s largest solar park and continuing its 2011 success story in the large-scale
photovoltaic applications business. The solar park being built in Brandenburg-Briest will have a capacity of 91 MW. A total of around 22,500 households will be supplied with renewable energy from the solar park, avoiding CO2 emissions of approximately 50,000 tons per year. 

Review the full press release Q Cells Solar Power Plant

“As Europe’s largest solar park, this project is a clear proof of Q-Cells’ performance ability”, said Nedim Cen, CEO of Q-Cells SE.

Read more about Q Cells CIGS Thin Film solar panels

 Swapping to a solar hot water system means up to 80% of your hot water will be heated by the sun saving you money and significantly reducing your carbon footprint. This can be equivalent to taking a small car off the road for a year.

Simply purchase your new solar hot water system between 1st November and 31st December 2011 to receive this offer.

This offer is valid in conjunction with Superior Solar’s customer discount of $300 valid until the end of November. 

Kick start 2012 early with a brand new solar hot water system today.

• $200 gift card from Thermotec
• $300 Superior Solar customer discount
• Savings start from $300 per year on your energy bill

Download the Thermotec Solar Hot Water Redemption Form here to view full conditions.

Click here for full product information on the Thermotec solar hot water system

Conergy launches the latest technology in string inverters & offers a premium package with an unbeatable 10 year comprehensive warranty

The new Conergy inverters can adjust quickly to the changing radiation conditions by continuously adapting to the optimum working point. So-called MPP tracking (Maximum Power Point Tracking) is particularly important, as it allows optimum yields to be obtained as cloud conditions change. Conergy inverters currently offer the fastest MPP tracking on the market. The inverter is the brains behind your solar power system and hence has a significant impact on the efficiency of your complete system.

Benefits of Conergy IPG inverters

• Maximum performance due to high efficiency levels
• Rapid MPP tracking for the optimum working point
• Easy installation
• Attractive design
• Convenient operation

Conergy IPG S series inverter

These intelligent inverters are designed for small to medium sized systems and have received two industry awards for their efficiency.

Conergy Complete Premuim Solar Power System: All from one source.

Conergy is the only solar company worldwide that produces all the necessary components for a premium solar installation in-house.  Because of this only Conergy can deliver the benefits that result from matching its system technology perfectly; optimising the interfaces between the individual components and reducing inefficiencies. The resulting high performance system has components all from a single source.

The system components are installed as a combined system, delivering higher yields and enables faster, simpler and more cost-effective assembly.

The Conergy Complete Premium Solar Power System includes

• Conergy PowerPlus solar modules
• Conergy mounting systems
• Conergy IPG inverters

When you purchase the Conergy Complete Premium Solar Power System you will receive a 10 year comprehensive warranty giving you absolute peace of mind with your investment.

Did you know that the current Australian Standard requires all new hot water systems to deliver water at a maximum of 50 degrees to Bathrooms?

Often people comment that after having a new hot water system installed, whether it be Solar, Gas, Electric or a Heat Pump, that it doesn’t appear to be quite as hot as their old system. The reason for this is that a few years ago the Australian Standard was updated to state that all water delivered to bathrooms must not exceed 50 degrees. You may ask so why isn’t it as hot in my kitchen? The reason for this is that all your hot water pipes are connected and it is quite difficult and expensive to isolate only the bathrooms to 50 degrees so the outlet of you new hot water system is restricted to 50 degrees by a tempering valve to all hot water outlets in your house.

So is this a problem? Not at all, the average person will not be able to hold their hand under 50 degree water, if you can’t hold your hand under the hot tap once it is hot then the temperature is definitely hot enough. If you are concerned before buying a new hot water system try mixing hot and cold on your existing system with a thermometer to 50 degrees and see what you think.

Your home will be safer as the risk of people, young or old receiving serious burns is significantly reduced.  

Electric hot water systems use at least three times the greenhouse gases produced by other more efficient technologies such as solar or gas hot water systems.

The Australian Government in partnership with state and territory governments is working to phase-out electric hot water systems.

This phase out will result in the reduction of greenhouse gases by about 78.7 million tonnes over twenty years from 2010-2030.

South Australia and Queensland have already commenced Stage 1 in of the phase-out in 2010 with energy intensive  electric water heaters no longer be able to be installed in:

• any new detached, terrace or town house
• any existing detached, terrace or town house where there is access to piped natural gas, except where an exemption applies

During 2012, electric water heaters will no longer be able to be installed in:

• any existing detached, terrace or town house.

The phase-out will apply in all states and territories except Tasmania.

Full details can be found on the Dept Climate Change & Energy Efficiency and on the Phase out of Greenhouse Intensive Hot Water Systems Fact Sheet

The average lifespan of an electric hot water system is 8 – 12 years and each year they consume a huge 30% of your household energy. Think about the annual saving from your power bill on top of current rebates when considering a replacement. The Federal Rebate of $1000 is still available and right now Superior Solar is offering its customers a further $300 (equal to the old state rebate) off a solar hot water system but only until the end of September.

Dont wait to pay full price for solar hot water!

Switch your home to solar today.