Do you have questions? We have answers.
Solar power operates by harnessing energy from the sun and converting it into electricity through photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on your property. In Sydney, the generated solar energy is typically utilized directly within your home, offsetting the need to purchase electricity from the grid and consequently reducing your power bill. The savings are not typically itemized on your bill but result in an overall reduction in the total amount owed.
For instance, if your quarterly bill amounts to $800 and you install a solar system, you might see a reduction of around $300 per quarter, resulting in a new bill totaling $500. Additionally, if you produce excess solar energy that isn’t immediately consumed within your home (e.g., during daylight hours when usage is low), it is fed back into the grid. In return, your energy retailer compensates you with a feed-in tariff, typically ranging from 5 to 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
However, it’s crucial to note that while feed-in tariffs offer some compensation for surplus energy, they’re generally lower than the cost of purchasing electricity from the grid. For instance, during peak periods with time-of-use billing, grid electricity prices can exceed 50 cents per kWh. Thus, maximizing self-consumption of solar power within your home is financially advantageous.
Ideally, your feed-in tariff credit should be minimal, indicating that you’re effectively utilizing the solar energy you generate. In the example provided, if your bill decreases to $450, a small credit of $20 or $30 from the feed-in tariff signifies optimal utilization of solar power within your household.
No, in Australia, a solar system without integrated battery storage ceases to function during a blackout. There are two primary reasons for this:
Safety: During a power outage, repair crews are tasked with restoring the grid’s functionality. To ensure their safety, it’s crucial that no power flows from solar systems back into the grid.
Technical: Many household appliances require a steady and consistent flow of electricity to operate effectively. Fluctuations in power supply can potentially damage these appliances. Since solar systems do not provide a steady flow of power, they must be deactivated during blackouts.
For these safety and technical reasons, solar systems are designed to automatically shut down in the event of a blackout, unless they are equipped with battery storage for backup power.
Battery Storage With Blackout Protection:
Solaright recommends the Tesla Powerwall for households seeking blackout protection. During installation, Solaright works with homeowners to designate specific circuits that can be powered by the battery during blackouts. Typically, these circuits include essential items such as modems, lights, small pumps, and garage doors. Appliances with high power consumption, like air conditioners and pool pumps, are typically not backed up during blackouts.
Homeowners also have the option to specify how much battery capacity they want to reserve for blackout situations. For example, choosing to reserve 30% capacity means the Powerwall will never discharge more than 70% of its total capacity, ensuring there’s enough backup power to last through the night. Once daylight returns, the solar system will resume generating power, allowing the Powerwall to recharge from the solar energy produced. For further details on this process, homeowners can reach out to a member of the Solaright team.
While a solar battery isn’t essential for your solar system to function, it offers several advantages that can significantly enhance your energy independence and savings.
Increased Self-Sufficiency: With a solar battery, system designers can tailor your solar setup to cover your energy needs round the clock. This means you can generate more solar power and rely less on the grid, potentially achieving 100% self-sufficiency compared to the typical 30-40% without battery storage.
Complete Elimination of Power Bills: By integrating battery storage, you have the potential to eliminate your power bills entirely, further enhancing your cost savings.
Additional Benefits Beyond Savings: Battery storage provides benefits beyond financial savings, including:
- Blackout Protection: Ensures continuous power supply during grid outages.
- Virtual Power Plants (VPPs): Enables you to sell excess solar power at premium rates compared to standard feed-in tariffs.
- 24/7 Solar Power Usage: Allows your home to run on solar energy day and night.
- Protection Against Future Price Increases: Shields you from rising electricity costs.
- Charging Electric Vehicles: Facilitates charging electric vehicles, reducing reliance on petrol.
- Environmental Benefits: Contributes to reducing reliance on coal and gas for electricity generation.
- Independence and Freedom: Offers the freedom of being less reliant on the traditional power grid.
Additionally, customers often appreciate the intangible benefits of having backup power during extended blackouts, experiencing relief and gratitude for being able to continue with daily life while others struggle without power.
While the cost of a battery varies based on factors such as excess solar power, energy usage, and specific goals, a Tesla Powerwall is priced at approximately $16,000 fully installed. Ultimately, the decision to invest in a battery depends on your individual circumstances, goals, and priorities, with the potential benefits extending beyond financial returns to encompass greater energy independence and peace of mind.
Our workmanship warranty ensures that your solar system installation meets the highest standards of quality and complies with both manufacturer specifications and relevant Australian Standards. It also ensures compliance with the requirements of the energy distributor.
Solar systems in Australia are subject to inspection by the Clean Energy Council, revealing that approximately 25% of installations in recent years have had defects. This underscores the importance of selecting a reputable solar installer to ensure a professional installation by experienced technicians, whether you opt for an Enphase system, SolarEdge, or a standard string inverter.
When comparing quotes from different solar companies, it’s crucial to inquire about who holds responsibility for the workmanship guarantee. Some larger companies offering “cheap solar” may subcontract the installation, making it challenging to claim on the workmanship guarantee if issues arise.
By choosing a trusted solar provider like us, you can have confidence in the quality and reliability of your solar installation, backed by our comprehensive workmanship guarantee.
Yes, there are government rebates and incentives available for eligible households looking to install solar systems. These incentives are primarily based on the size of the solar panel array and are provided in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs).
STCs are generated when a renewable energy system such as a solar PV system is installed. The number of STCs depends on the predicted energy generation capacity of the system, with larger systems generating more STCs. Essentially, one STC is created for every megawatt-hour of production capacity of the system, multiplied by the number of years the system is expected to generate energy (typically around 15 years for home solar systems).
However, it’s important to note that this incentive program is being phased out gradually until 2030, with the number of certificates your system is eligible for decreasing each year.
The price of STCs is determined by supply and demand in the market, with STCs bought by Liable Parties such as electricity retailers and surrendered at the end of each quarter. While there is a fixed price of $40 for STCs set by the Federal Government, the actual market price may vary depending on supply and demand dynamics. Currently, there is a surplus of STCs in the market, resulting in market prices below $40.
Overall, the availability and value of rebates for solar installations can fluctuate based on market conditions and government policies, so it’s advisable to consult with a reputable solar provider to understand the current incentives available for your specific situation.
The feed-in tariff is relevant for households without battery storage systems. It represents the price your selected energy retailer pays for any surplus electricity generated by your solar panels, which is then recorded as a credit on your power bill.
In New South Wales (NSW), solar power is directed into your home as it’s produced, and your household consumes this energy first before drawing power from the grid. Consequently, every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of solar power utilized within your home directly reduces the amount you would otherwise spend on your power bill, constituting the primary financial benefit of solar power.
Any excess solar power not consumed within your home is sold to your electricity retailer at an agreed-upon rate, which is typically between 5 and 10 cents per kWh. Although feed-in tariffs can fluctuate, they generally remain above 5 cents per kWh. In the past, they have even reached over 20 cents per kWh. While the exact rate may vary, the principle remains consistent: surplus solar energy contributes to your bill credits, further offsetting your overall energy costs.
Thanks to advancements in technology, particularly with micro-inverter technology like that offered by Enphase Energy, shading is no longer a significant concern as it may have been in the past.
Modern solar systems equipped with micro-inverters can efficiently manage shaded areas. Even during sunset, panels that remain in bright sunlight can continue to generate power until the end of the day, a capability unique to this technology. This contrasts with traditional systems where shading could severely impact overall system performance.
For more detailed insights into the benefits of an Enphase Solar System, you can refer to our dedicated post highlighting the 10 key advantages of this technology.
- Solar Panels: These are the visible components of a solar system and are responsible for capturing sunlight and converting it into direct current (DC) electricity.
Inverters: Inverters play a crucial role in the solar system by converting the DC power generated by the solar panels into alternating current (AC) power, which is compatible with household electrical systems.
Balance of System (BOS): The BOS encompasses all other components necessary for the functioning of the solar system. This includes:
- Mounting Rails: Provide structural support for the solar panels and ensure proper installation on the roof or other surfaces.
- Cabling: Facilitates the transmission of electricity between the solar panels, inverters, and electrical system.
- Switches and Circuit Breakers: These components help manage the flow of electricity within the system and ensure safety.
Installation: Installation is a critical aspect of a solar system and involves more than just placing panels on the roof and connecting wires. Proper installation requires careful planning, precise positioning of components, and adherence to safety standards to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the system.
Once you’ve signed the necessary paperwork with Solaright, we promptly initiate the grid application process with the relevant energy distributor. For systems up to 5kWs, this is typically a straightforward procedure, while larger systems may require additional processing time. Upon receiving approval from the energy distributor, our installation coordinator will reach out to you to schedule your installation date.
Installation dates are usually available Monday to Friday, contingent upon weather conditions. Our goal is to have your system installed within 2-4 weeks from the approval date, barring any requested delays. However, in adherence to our safety policy, we refrain from installing solar systems during rainy weather. If inclement weather necessitates rescheduling, we’ll promptly arrange a new installation date.
We highly recommend having someone available at home on the day of installation, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your scheduling preferences.
Most solar panels measure approximately 1.7 meters in height and 1 meter in width. For installations on flat roofs, it’s advisable to allocate a minimum of 2 meters per row to accommodate additional shading from the panels after they are tilted.
Given that modern solar panels typically have a wattage of around 265W or higher, it’s recommended to allocate 4 panels per kilowatt (kW) of desired system capacity. For example, a 4kW system would require 2 rows of 8 panels each. This arrangement allows for approximately 1.7 meters for each row, plus a buffer, and a total length of 8 meters.
The panels in each row are installed flush and are just under a meter wide, so allocating one meter per panel provides an accurate estimate of space requirements. While our Solar Experts can create proposed panel diagrams using aerial maps, please note that these estimates may not be exact to the centimeter due to variations in roof pitch. If your roof space appears to be a tight fit, we can send an installer out before the installation day to confirm the measurements and ensure everything fits correctly.
We utilize custom mounting kits tailored to the specific type of roof you have. For tile roofs, our mounting brackets are designed to fit between the rows of tiles, securely attaching to the frame of your roof without the need to break or remove any tiles. When it comes to colorbond roofing, we replace the existing screws with robust stainless screws to ensure a firm mount to the roof frame. Typically, only one penetration through the roofing is required to run the DC cable, which is thoroughly waterproofed and comes with a guarantee.
For Kliplok roofing, we avoid penetrating the roofing to preserve your warranty. Instead, we use specialized clips that grip the ridge of the Kliplok, ensuring the panels are securely held in place.
Following the mounting process, we install two rails per row of panels, onto which the panels are then mounted. This setup allows the panels to sit slightly off your roof, optimizing airflow and minimizing potential heat retention.
In New South Wales (NSW), there is an exemption for solar PV systems with a capacity of less than 10 kW, provided they do not alter the roofline and are not installed on a Heritage-listed building or within a Heritage area. However, it’s essential to verify with your local Council regarding any specific regulations in your area, as we cannot guarantee compliance with local rules. Nevertheless, it is exceptionally uncommon for a residential solar system to necessitate Council Approval.
Rest assured, we take responsibility for any damage caused during the installation of your solar system and will promptly repair it. However, it’s important to note that if your roof tiles are particularly old, there is a possibility that some may sustain damage as installers walk across the roof during the installation process. In such cases, we kindly request that you provide us with spare tiles if needed.
If you have concerns about the age or condition of your roof, we encourage you to discuss them with us before the installation begins. This allows us to address any potential issues proactively and ensure a smooth installation process. Your satisfaction and the integrity of your property are our top priorities.
Solar systems require minimal maintenance due to their passive nature, with faults being rare occurrences. However, they may accumulate dust, bird droppings, and other debris over time. Fortunately, rain typically washes away most of this debris. In periods of extended dry weather, it’s advisable to safely spray your solar panels with a hose from the ground to remove any build-up. We do not recommend manually cleaning panels by hand, especially by climbing onto the roof, as it can be both time-consuming and hazardous. If you regularly clean your gutters and can safely access your roof, spraying your panels may be a viable option.
A significant portion of our installed systems are equipped with Enphase Micro Inverters or SolarEdge DC optimizers, which offer panel-level monitoring via internet connectivity. If any panel or micro inverter underperforms, our Technical Team receives an alert, allowing for prompt service checks and providing you with additional support.
While some solar installers may charge yearly service fees for system maintenance, we believe it’s unnecessary, especially with advanced monitoring capabilities provided by Enphase and SolarEdge systems. There’s no need to pay for services you don’t require, particularly when you have access to comprehensive monitoring technology.
- Seek Advice: Start by reaching out to several solar installers to gather advice and information. Pay attention to how willing they are to listen to your needs and concerns. Be cautious of companies that employ aggressive sales tactics.
- Compare Prices: Once you have a clearer understanding of the type of solar system you require, you can begin comparing prices from different installers. Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always be the best in terms of quality and service.
- Research Reputation: Take the time to research the history and reputation of each installer, particularly regarding their after-sales support. A quick Google search can provide valuable insights, especially if a company has undergone name changes or if there are negative reviews from previous customers.
- Check Credentials: Ensure that the installer is accredited by relevant industry bodies and holds the necessary licenses and certifications. This helps guarantee that they meet professional standards and adhere to industry best practices.
- Seek Recommendations: Ask friends, family, or colleagues who have installed solar systems for recommendations. Personal referrals can offer valuable insights into the quality of service provided by different installers.
- Evaluate Experience: Consider the installer’s level of experience and expertise in the solar industry. A company with a long track record and a portfolio of successful installations may offer greater reliability and peace of mind.
By following these steps and conducting thorough research, you can make an informed decision when selecting a solar installer for your home or business.