17 comments on Australia to build world's largest solar energy plant: PM
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17 comments on Australia to build world's largest solar energy plant: PM
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GAIA Host Collective
I only found out from reading a plumbing industry magazine last week that in Australia from next year, new houses can only have gas, solar or heat pump hot water systems. Further, from 2012 replacements of existing systems will also have these requirements.
So off peak water heating except for boosting SHWS will diminish in the future.
Bad luck when the gas runs short, eh?
Between peaking and our desperation to export everything we dig up from Australian soil, that day may not be so far away...
And WTF do they think powers a heat pump??? Electricity of course!
;-)
I predict a rapid back flip on these design rules. My back-of-envelope calculation says that SHW with an electric boost (even including possible Carbon Taxes, or compulsory Greenpower, and given the likely trajectory of reticulated gas prices after 2012) will still be the most cost-effective setup for a new house over a 20-year life-cycle for the gear.
I wouldn't rely on that line of argument - our gas supplies are good for 70 odd years...
http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/4618
Which is, quite frankly, a bit ridiculous. Your house doesn't care a whit from whence the electrons came, only that they are there. An alternative would be to connect electric hot water to a certain tarrif, and reqire that the electrons supplying that tarrif come from renewable sources.
So, if your EHW goes pop, you then have to shell out for an entirely new system?!
So, if your EHW goes pop, you then have to shell out for an entirely new system?!
Most failures of hot water system is the tank developing a leak which means replacement. However, if an element or a thermostat fails then I am sure you would be able to get replacements.
The replacement costs may not be so bad - currently in Sydney companies are advertising solar HWS for $350 after rebates which is cheaper than a conventional HWS!
Lets think systematically.
Evey solar hot water system installed (electric hot water booster or no) also reduces the strength of the baseload power arguemnt.
Those cheap tariffs are there for a reason.
We heat our hot water using electicity at night why?
Not because we have no choice.