25-30 years if maintained. Most panels come with a 25-year performance warranty.
Yes, they still generate power, but typically 10% – 40% efficiency depending on cloud cover.
Yes, homes with solar often sell faster and for more in Australia, especially with rising energy costs.
As an example, a 6.6kW solar system can save a household $1,000 – $2,500 per year depending on energy use and location. Even more can be saved by storing excess energy in a home battery.
The average Aussie home installs 6.6kW – 10kW, but the right size depends on your usage and goals.
This depends on the system size, if you have a battery to make use of the stored solar energy at night and your energy usage. There will also be a connection charge from Ergon each month, depending on which tariff(s) you are connected to.
In QLD the main ones are the STC (Small-scale Technology Certificate) rebates, and the National Battery Rebate.
A credit from Ergon for excess solar you export to the grid. Rates vary and having been reducing over time, making battery storage and self-consumption a better idea.
Rain cleans most dust, but in dusty or coastal areas a professional clean can improve the energy efficiency.
Around $8,000 – $10,000 installed, after rebates.
For high evening usage, rising energy costs, and blackout protection, yes! Payback is about 3 years once battery rebates are taken into consideration.
10 to 15 years.
Hinen, Sigenergy, Tesla, Sungrow and BYD
Hinen Batteries – are Lithium Iron Phosphate cell chemistry, have robust multi-layer protection architecture, have an advanced battery management system with cell-level monitoring, and are the only battery on the market to feature a built-in fire suppression system which delivers rapid response to faults.
Yes. The cheaper home batteries program is available now in Queensland.
Yes. Batteries can be retrofit to most system.
A network of batteries which is the grids defence to keeping the lights on and keeping the high costs of electricity down during events. Electricity surges and spikes are generally caused by sudden large voltage increases in the network from storms and grid failures. Thousands of local home batteries joined in a VPP can provide a fast injection of energy to mange supply and demand.
Small amounts of solar energy stored in your home battery can be used by the grid when required to keep performance consistent.
VPP benefits include: An additional revenue stream, improved battery ROI, backup power for blackouts, grid stability and support, reduced carbon footprint, lower energy bills and effortless management with AI automation.
By joining a Virtual Power Plant you’ll be part of a larger community working towards a sustainable energy goal. Your VPP participation directly contributes to a greener, more resilient local grid which benefits everyone.
A feed-in-tariff is the amount your electricity retailer pays you for any electricity your solar PV system generates that you don’t use and is instead fed back into the grid.
Below are the prices per kWh in each state. Please note that feed-in tariffs change frequently and may be different to the below prices. Feed-in tariff rates vary per state and electricity provider.
Queensland
6 to 12c/kWh
New South Wales
4.6 to 5.5 c/kWh
Australian Capital Territory
6 to 12 c/kWh
Victoria
9.9 to 11.7 c/kWh
South Australia
6 to 13 c/kWh
Western Australia
3 to 10 c/kWh
Northern Territory
8.3 c/kWh
There are several factors that contribute to ensuring solar is suitable for your home. A roof that is solar ready is one that is free of rust, shade and has enough roof space to fit the solar panels
Most solar modules have a product warranty of up to 12 years and have a power output warranty of 25 years. While the output of the solar panel will slightly reduce over time it is expected to still be performing at 80% capacity at year 25.
Grid connected solar systems require very little maintenance, however, it is recommended that you have your panels cleaned once a year to remove dust, bird droppings or any fallen debris.
If you utilise a quality solar installer your roof should not get any damage. The panels have no moving parts, but like all assets we recommend you have your solar system inspected at least every 2 years to ensure all parts are still intact.
Your solar system will still work on cloudy days; however, the production level will be reduced when there is significant amount of clouds. As soon as the sun comes out your system will be working normally. Tier one solar panels will still work in a low-light irradiance environment
You can find more information here.
Absolutely! You can add a Battery Storage System to your existing solar system however the inverter compatibility will determine whether you choose a DC or AC coupled system.
Solar batteries allow you to store your solar energy to use at night and make you less dependent on grid power. Some batteries can protect you against blackouts as the energy stored can be used when grid connected power fails.
The size of your battery system is determined by how much load you want to run at night and the size of your solar system. E.g. the Tesla Powerwall 2 needs 14 KWH’s to charge the battery. We recommend you get at least a 6kW solar system to run your daytime energy usage and to charge the battery.
This depends on how much load your house is using at night time. For example, if you have 10 KWH of battery storage and your home is only using 1 KWH of power an hour the battery will last 10 hours. However, if you are using air-conditioning your load can be easily at 4 KWH’s in which the battery would only last 2.5 hours.
Most Battery Storage Systems come with a 10 year warranty.
We are at a very interesting time in the energy sector and EV take up underpins how rapidly the grid needs to move, along with how much extra solar needs to be installed. <span style="font-weight: bolder; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"
Most solar systems that are still receiving the 44c solar Feed in Tariff (FIT) in Queensland are now 10 – 12 years old.
Most business owners are classified as small (use under 100MWh’s a year) or large (use over 100MWh’s a year).;
If you’re looking to save more on your energy bill, then a solar battery probably seems like the next step on your journey to NetZero.
When starting your NetZero journey, whether that be by installing solar, a battery, energy efficient lighting or upgrading to an electric vehicle, it can be quite the investment for the average Australian family.
With the price of electricity at all-time highs, it is critical that you use your solar system correctly to maximize your savings. Just changing some habits can make some significant benefits.
When you install a solar system on a commercial property, you are generating your own power to use and in turn, you can become your own energy provider by on-selling your power to the ‘grid’ that you do not use. We call this community solar sharing.
For a lot of us understanding the difference between a Product warranty and a Performance warranty on a solar panel can be confusing. It is important to understand the difference and why it is important to select the right solar panel company.
PPAs have been gaining popularity as Australian businesses look for security of supply, a smaller carbon footprint and more affordable electricity prices – but what are they and how can they help your business?