Home Solar PV System

[meoramri]

Anyone out there have a home solar PV system installed and generating electricity?

I just got my approval for the installation on my roof.

[takashi78]

Why need approval?

[dpkong]

this is interesting. approval required from who?

[Laktos Kid]

from home minister ? 

[meoramri]

Ministry of Science and technology. In effect, I an applying for a 21 year Independent Power Producer licence from the authorities with a back-to-back power purchase agreement with TNB for the same period (purchase price of RM1.23 per KwH).

 

[dpkong]

this is interesting.

is this approval required for any PV installation or only if you intend to connect it to the main grid and sell back surplus power? i think it's most unlikely you would have surplus power unless there is a really large array of panels?

do you get a better kWh rate from TNB? pardon me but i'm not familiar with TNB rates.

what is the expected cost to set this up? so far, i have only looked at simpler setup with panels, batteries and small inverters. i would think your setup would be much more complicated.

[Alvin-8880]

I read the ad on news paper & intend to apply but my friend told me all being snapped up before printing ! How u get it & mind to share the "how to"? Thx.

[meoramri]

dpkong: the guidelines for PV generation in Malaysia is that any power generated get fed directly into the grid, hence the need for the IPP licence. In effect this is not not a set-off mechanism with your own power usage. There will actually be 2 power meter, one that calculated the power going into the grid and another to calculate power taken for household use.

The current rate maximum rate for household use is RM0.46 per kWh. However, TNB will buy at RM1.23 kWh.

The cost is pricey at about RM111k (all in) but it is estimated that conservatively, the PV can generate returns of RM1.4k per month. I.e. an IRR of 14+%. Payback is about 7 years.

However, I see it more like buying a guaranteed rental for 21 years. Beats buying a house for rental purposes (where can you get a place for RM111k anyway?!? and get instant guaranteed rental of RM1+K per month).

Alvin-8880: I was in the same boat as you as I tried to get one for the last 6 years. This is the 12th tender that the Ministry of Energy has opened. What you can do is to register you interest with the designated contractor. When the tender opens up again, they can immediately put in your application.

[am_sober]

The current rate maximum rate for household use is RM0.46 per kWh. However, TNB will buy at RM1.23 kWh.

The cost is pricey at about RM111k (all in) but it is estimated that conservatively, the PV can generate returns of RM1.4k per month. I.e. an IRR of 14+%. Payback is about 7 years.

However, I see it more like buying a guaranteed rental for 21 years. Beats buying a house for rental purposes (where can you get a place for RM111k anyway?!? and get instant guaranteed rental of RM1+K per month).

Awesome info~
tq~ ^^

[RubenWinfree]

Anyone out there have a home solar PV system installed and generating electricity?

I just got my approval for the installation on my roof.

Hello friend have you got the solar power system for your home? I know thread is bit old but I would love to get similar system so can you help me out.

[RubenWinfree]

Anyone out there have a home solar panel system installed and generating electricity?

I just got my approval for the installation on my roof.

Hello friend have you got the solar power system for your home? I know thread is bit old but I would love to get similar system so can you help me out.

[chrisyen]

thats the problem in Malaysia.... everything quota!
if you wanna encourage ppl go green... shd go all out instead of having quota to discourage ppl who wanna go green!

i also study this since 6-7 years ago.
everytime we called and visited the dept. , the answer -  u r too late  

anyway,


Meoramri - do you get the 50% subsidy for the installtion?

[meoramri]

Just some latest pictures and info about the solar panel project for my house.



Delivery of the 39 Sanyo solar panels was done relatively fast. These HIT modules measuring approximately 80 cm wide by 160 cm long and weighing in at 15 kg a piece is currently the top range of solar panels available for consumers.



(Above) the aluminum brackets. (Below) The power rating for each panel. At a rate of 210w, with 39 panels, maximum power generated with optimum solar radiation is approximately 8.2 kwh.





A picture of my roof with all 39 panels solar panels assembled.



Here you can see one of the electrical engineers configuring the wiring and fuses for the system.



Above is the heart of the system, the transformer-less inverter (the blue box) and the accompanying fuse boxes.

Energy flows into the grid, money flows into my pocket!



My solar power project went on-stream on 26 November 2012. It was an exciting day as I can finally see the benefit of renewable energy working firsthand. The inspection by the staff of the electricity company went smoothly and after putting in all the security locks on the meter (to minimise the possibility of tempering), the power was switched on. In a small part, I am now helping the environment.

Below is the meter installed prior to switching on.



Above is the converter, the heart of the whole solar power generating system. This is the machine that converts the DC generated by the solar panels to AC and harmonised the frequency of the AC to the national grid. If you can see from the display panel in the picture below, the system was generating the first KwH into the national grid (reading 0.851 KwH).

Quite proud about this achievement. Faced a lot of problems with regards to bureaucracy as well as the negotiations on the Power Purchase Agreement. On hindsight, it was worth it.



Above is the November 2013 report from TNB. That month got paid RM1034. In total, generated 10,675 kwh for 1 years since installation. That's RM14,338.66 per year @ 14% IRR.

@chrisyen, there is no longer any subsidy for the installation since 2010. Nevertheless, it is this financially viable even without subsidy.

Regards, Meor

[JeepWH]

Thats very nice, but I heard from a contractor that the maintainence for the panels also cost a lot. I did enquire with him once and he said i had to sign a (rather pricey) maintainence contract with him. Do you have a maintainence contract?

[meoramri]

Thats very nice, but I heard from a contractor that the maintainence for the panels also cost a lot. I did enquire with him once and he said i had to sign a (rather pricey) maintainence contract with him. Do you have a maintainence contract?

I don't think you have been given the whole story. The panels have no maintenance schedule component at all. In fact there is no moving parts at all. The panel are under warranty by the manufacturer to last for 20 years. The only 'servicing' required is every 5 years, a cleaner goes up to clean the glass with soap and water (in fact, the stuff is so hardy, a water jet is sufficient to do the job). My installer didn't even suggest I get that with him as well as the angle of the solar panel makes it self cleaning with the help of the rain.

[chrisyen]

meoramri,

your persistance well paid off!

congrats ! you deserve to feel proud !

[meoramri]

meoramri,

your persistance well paid off!

congrats ! you deserve to feel proud !

thank you 

[@tsw@]

Definitely interested now, previously was offered the system but I felt that it was a scam and did not follow up on it.

Thank you for the first hand description of your experience.

[sidestreaker]

Thanks Meoramri, you're an enabler this time. I've just shared this with my wife and we feel this is something worth planning ahead to.

Good to have someone to experience it first hand and sharing it with us here. Well done!

[JeepWH]

Thats very nice, but I heard from a contractor that the maintainence for the panels also cost a lot. I did enquire with him once and he said i had to sign a (rather pricey) maintainence contract with him. Do you have a maintainence contract?

I don't think you have been given the whole story. The panels have no maintenance schedule component at all. In fact there is no moving parts at all. The panel are under warranty by the manufacturer to last for 20 years. The only 'servicing' required is every 5 years, a cleaner goes up to clean the glass with soap and water (in fact, the stuff is so hardy, a water jet is sufficient to do the job). My installer didn't even suggest I get that with him as well as the angle of the solar panel makes it self cleaning with the help of the rain.

Thanks Meoramri, I beleive the contractor was trying to con my dad of his money, he said that the electrical contacts had to be changed and something else. I'll look for another contractor and enquire. Thanks so much for enlightening me, will pass on the info to dad.

BTW, how big is the area covered by the panels on your roof?

[meoramri]

@ Yap WH - not sure about the actual surface area. My house is a semi-D and it cover most of the top with 39 panels

@ sidestreaker - good luck!

[dpkong]

Thats very nice, but I heard from a contractor that the maintainence for the panels also cost a lot. I did enquire with him once and he said i had to sign a (rather pricey) maintainence contract with him. Do you have a maintainence contract?

I don't think you have been given the whole story. The panels have no maintenance schedule component at all. In fact there is no moving parts at all. The panel are under warranty by the manufacturer to last for 20 years. The only 'servicing' required is every 5 years, a cleaner goes up to clean the glass with soap and water (in fact, the stuff is so hardy, a water jet is sufficient to do the job). My installer didn't even suggest I get that with him as well as the angle of the solar panel makes it self cleaning with the help of the rain.

Thanks Meoramri, I beleive the contractor was trying to con my dad of his money, he said that the electrical contacts had to be changed and something else. I'll look for another contractor and enquire. Thanks so much for enlightening me, will pass on the info to dad.

BTW, how big is the area covered by the panels on your roof?

I don't have personal experience with solar panels but have talked with local specialists before.

1. You do need to clean the panels about once a year to maintain efficiency. Usually dust and dirt will accumulate on the surface and you cannot depend on rain to clean it off. If you can DIY, that would save cost but access to the roof of a 2-storey building is risky.

2. Terminals at the solar panels to be regularly checked for corrosion and screws checked/tightened. Cables should also be inspected for wear and tear.

3. For systems where batteries are installed, then it is crucial to check and torque up terminals regularly. Systems like meor here don't use a battery.


Sadly, SESCo (or SEB now) do not have this IPP offer. We can install PV systems and whatever we generate will offset usage. Excess is not credited back into the account so at best we would have a zero amount on the bill.


 

[JeepWH]

Oh I see, thanks dpkong. Will check out with other contractors.

[bew9394]

I also hav install  a panel 58k first month bill got bac 585about 12.2percent return.soits not bad way to. Get some money bac from tab. It will pay off in 7years but the outlay is high

[chrisyen]

I also hav install  a panel 58k first month bill got bac 585about 12.2percent return.soits not bad way to. Get some money bac from tab. It will pay off in 7years but the outlay is high

7 yrs pay back time is good investment