Going Smart
the business case for
Be it residential or business, at the centre of a well-designed smart energy solution is an expandable value chain that is capable of on-demand energy delivery; and is future proof.
The solution must be robust, agile, and be a self-managing ecosystem that will deliver sustainable energy security at the least cost to business.
Government Rebate & ROI/Payback: With government rebates up to 50% towards a solar installation, together with feed-in tariffs (FIT’s) and renewable energy certificates (REC’s), you can own your smart energy system within 2.5 years and 5.0 years (subject to scope of work)
Best Price Guarantee
Least Cost (LC)
By considering your –
- Current Cost for Grid Energy
- Energy Security
- Back to Grid Surplus Energy Sales [FIT’s]
- Applicable Government Rebate [Energy Gov., Australia]
- Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s) [STC’s & LGC’s]
and matching technology and application of choice from leading renewable energy hardware providers, we and our solutions partners take a holistic and consultative approach to consider your core objectives; and then design, engineer and implement a least cost and value for money HTL SmartEnergy off-grid ecosystems that is right for your current and future demands.
As we source locally, all HTL SmartEnergy solutions are backed by manufactures warranty (as defined by ACCC) and Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
Types of Solar Technology
There are two main types of solar energy technology: [1] Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and [2] Solar Thermal Energy (STE).
Solar PV is the rooftop solar you see on homes, businesses, industrial and at agricultural sites.
Solar Thermal (STE) is a form of energy technologies that involve harnessing solar energy for thermal energy (heat). The technologies comprise flat or parabolic collectors (low, medium and high temperature collectors) concentrating sunlight mainly using mirrors and lenses.
Australia receives thousands of times more solar energy from the sun each year than all fossil fuel use combined. We directly use only about one millionth of this at the moment as commercial energy.
Commercial: In many circumstances, a HTL SmartEnergy micro solar PV solution mounted on building roofs can produce as much electricity as the building consumes. A typical module will generate about 200 kilowatt hours (AC) per square meter per year. A macro solar PV solution will produce as much energy an industrial estate would need.
Residential: A collector area of 25-50m2 is needed to power a reasonably energy-efficient Australian house. Such a house will export more electricity to the grid during the day than it imports at night. A HTL SmartEnergy macro solar PV solutions is ideal for residential building/complex.
How it works
Solar photovoltaic (PV) is an elegant technology which produces electricity from sunlight without moving parts.
In a photovoltaic cell, sunlight detaches electrons from their host silicon atoms. Tiny packets of light energy called photons are captured by electrons, and impart enough energy to kick the electron free of its host atom. Near the upper surface of the cell is a “one way membrane” called a pn-junction. The pn-junction is formed by diffusing tiny quantities of phosphorus to a depth of about one micrometre into a thin wafer of silicon.
When a free electron crosses the pn-junction it cannot easily return, causing a negative voltage to appear on the surface facing the sun (and a positive voltage on the rear surface). The front and rear surfaces can be connected together via an external circuit in order to extract current, voltage and power from the solar cell.
Solar cells are packaged behind glass to form photovoltaic modules, which have typical service lives of 20 to 40 years.
Both, Sola PV and STE produce direct current (“DC”).
Through Power Inverters, or Inverters, the DC is converted into alternating current (“AC”) 240v for use in residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural environments.
Value for Money
The costs and benefits of solar batteries will determine whether or not you should install a solar panel system that includes energy storage. With a standard solar energy system, the economics are fairly easy to understand: if you have high electricity bills, installing solar panels to produce your own power is an investment that will pay off in just a few years.
The Case for Batter Storage
Once you add a solar battery to the mix, the economics become more multi-layered.
How much do solar batteries cost?
Before you can determine if installing a solar battery makes sense, you’ll need to know the price. Like solar, you can think of the costs as both a gross price and a price per relative capacity. Solar batteries range from $5,000 to $20,000+ and from $400 dollars per kilowatt hour (kWh) to $750/kWh. Note that these prices are only for the battery itself, not for the cost of installation or additional supporting equipment as may be required.
Similar to advancements made in solar panels, renewable batteries are also seen technology advancements. These include the replacement of lithium in lithium-ion with a cheaper sodium option to produce sodium-ion batteries. Others include ryden dual carbon, lithium-sulfur, solid-state. As such, the list price of solar batteries is largely driven by [1] technology advancement; [2] materials used in manufacture; and [3] how much power they can give you (hold).
Installing a battery that can operate off-grid typically also costs more than installing a battery designed to operate while connected to the grid.
Similar to how solar panel prices have fallen dramatically in the past few years, experts predict that solar batteries will become less expensive in the years to come as well.
What is Net Metering?
Net meters work by continuously sampling how much electricity is being generated and how much electricity is consumed at your home or business. At each point in time the meter instantaneously reads the generation and consumption of the premises and the meter records both these amounts. The data is then accumulated in the appropriate register over the billing cycle.
The meter is read and the bill is calculated.
Now that high government sponsored feed-in tariff (FIT’s)* have stopped to be available for new customers, it is very likely that a net meter is the best way to meter your electricity after you solar power system has been installed.
Creating a Revenue Stream: Under net metering, the electricity generated by your system and consumed in your home or business, you pay nothing for this electricity. The excess electricity produced is exported to the grid – and you can earn from the FIT’s exported.
Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Rates
A feed-in tariff is a credit customers are paid for any unused electricity that their solar power system sends back to the power grid. It is usually a set rate per kilowatt hour and paid as a credit on electricity bills.
As the FIT rate varies from one energy retailer to the next… HERM Tech Logic will go-to-market, negotiate and secure the best FIT’s for you.
Renewable Energy Certificates (REC)
A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) is a measurement of renewable energy that can be traded or sold.
HERM Tech Logic, where permissible under the scheme, will create and manage eligible REC’s type for you:
- Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), for systems under 100 kW. This is the scheme that applies to residential Solar PV systems.
- Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRES), for systems above 100 kW.
Future Proofing
Smart home and smart office, including smart warehouse, store, farm, has completely change the way we live and work.
With the explosion of technology protocols, product interoperability is ‘the most critical consideration’ when selecting features, functions and affordability of a smart home/office solution.
Through the right technology ecosystem, owners of smart automation can remotely operate their security system, see and communicate with who is at the front door or gate and provide access, control HVAC (heat, ventilation, air conditioning), control lighting, control blinds and shutters, and programme an entertainment system that reflects your work place and lifestyle within designated areas.
These features and functions can all be monitored, controlled and accessed via a smartphone, tablet or laptop … from anywhere at anytime.
HERM Tech Logic – Cost Benefits Analysis Report
Solar energy is clean, safe and easy to install. The energy captured is immediately available. Maintenance of equipment is low and the life expectancy of equipment is measured in decades, not years. Equipment is modular, so repairs, replacements and up-grades do not require a complete change out.
Based on your current energy consumption, we can provide a detailed energy usage and cost report, together with our CBA into,
- New Off-Grid Energy Solution & Cost
(purchase options: 1. Value solution; 2. Robust solution; and 3. Bespoke solution) - Smart IoT Solutions Cost (optional)
- Back to Grid Surplus Energy Sales [applicable FIT’s]
- Government Incentives [Rebate]
- Solar Certificates [STC’s & LGC’s]
- Break-even Point (ROI)
and make an informed decision...
HERM Group
... the more we build, the more it builds us!
As an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) managed services group, we apply best practice from end-to-end by taking a consultative approach to business assessment and stakeholder engagement (BASE).
And with a full range of tools and the resources at our disposal, we are able to design, engineer, and commission residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural projects to scope; and deliver in-full and on-time (DIFOT) with transparency and accountability… and it all started in –
Vietnam: 1995 – 2010
The history of HERM Group can be traced back to 1995, when John Musster and his partners successfully secured a 15 year contract with the Government of Vietnam to refurbish and upgrade the ailing cinema theatres of Vietnam into state-of-the-art modern cinema complexes. [ Vietnam Project ]
HERM Logic: 2005 –
John established HERM Logic as a dynamic procurement and supply chain (P&SC) managed services (MS) firm providing project management, procurement and supply chain services.
Clients: State and Federal Government Agencies, Serco (AP), Australia Post, Australian Defence Force, Nortel Networks, Oakton Consulting. [ HERM Logic ]
HERM Tech Logic : 2013 –
John Knott and John Musster established HERM Tech Logic to address the demand in smart mobile applications and open mesh solutions.
Today, by combining our technology and commercial know-how of free source solar renewable energy, together with mobile, mesh and internet of things (IoT) smart solutions, HERM Tech Logic offer fully integrated wired and wireless eco-solutions from comparable interoperable smart technologies.
From stand-alone to micro or macro application, we can design and implement the right HTL SmartEnergy automated solution that can be expanded to reflect requirement change… while ensuring your energy security. [ HERM Tech Logic ]
PM4Reno: 2013 – 2015
Following project ‘managed service deliveries’ on the $1B Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, John established PM4Reno as a ‘Building & Construction (B&C) Managed Service’ for residential, commercial and industrial project wanting remedial works, construction management (owners agent) and project management services. [Reference Only]
HERM Built: 2015 –
Within an overarching BIM framework incorporating bespoke cloud (SaaS) technology, advanced project management and delivery techniques, and management system (accountability and transparency) – HERM Built was established as a next generation building and construction (B&C) firm to service, and to deliver residential, commercial and industrial projects to customers wanting comparable competitive fixed-price, value for money outcomes, a stress free environment… in short, a building company that delivers ‘What the Customer Want’. [ HERM Built ]
John C Musster [MBT, UNSW] Managing Director
Smart Energy Solution
The HTL SmartEnergy services engagement starts with an initial contact via the Expression of Interest (EOI) Form.
Following a review of the EoI Form, a follow up phone conversation and site visit, we will provide you with a detailed cost benefit analysis (CBA) and report to make an informed decision about your
– Energy Security;
– Incentives, FIT’s and REC’s; and
– ROI/Payback.
Best Price Guarantee