Solar Panel Buyers Guide

Solar panels facing true north should be oriented as close to true south as possible since Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. However, if your power consumption peak is in the afternoon and you are in a state where the electricity feed-in tariff incentive rate is less than the market rate, the northwest, west-northwest, or even the west could be optimal. Alternatively, a split array that matches consumption east to west could decrease imports by better matching consumption at the start and end of the day.

Solar panels need to be in full sun for the maximum amount of time each day. Solar panels should not be placed in shaded areas, and they must have a clear line of sight to the sky. When solar panel cells are exposed to sunlight, electric currents convert light into electricity through a process called photovoltaic conversion. Suppose there is insufficient lighting on your roof or it is blocked by objects such as trees. In that case, you’re going to seriously reduce how much power your system can produce because these factors will affect the flow of electricity through the solar panel.

A solar panel’s angle is a crucial factor in determining its effectiveness. In some places, the optimum performance angle over one year–which can be as low as 20° or up to 32° depending on location and weather conditions–can vary significantly from what seems optimal at first glance. For example, Perth has an average tilt of 22 degrees.

The mounting system is key to the success of a solar installation. If you live in an area with severe wind storms, it’s important that your equipment is certified for cyclones and high winds. Make sure to ask about warranty arrangements as well, so that if any damage or malfunction occurs within the first ten years from the purchase date (which would include movement due time), they’ll have coverage under their agreement terms.

As lithium-ion batteries continue to evolve, residential energy storage becomes more affordable and aesthetically pleasing. Energy storage has been largely confined to off-grid applications until the rapid evolution of these types of battery technology revolutionised this industry. As electric storage technology advances, it becomes cheaper, more efficient, precise, and visually pleasing.

Tesla, Sonnen, and Enphase Energy are now the newest players in solar power. These companies have developed a new form of battery storage for homes that you can set and forget! This means more solar households will soon be able to enjoy this eco-friendly technology without breaking their bank account or going through complicated installation procedures.

Tesla Powerwall batteries are modular, meaning that you can add more battery packs as necessary. For most households, though, large storage systems won’t be required considering mains electricity grid power will still be available to act as a backup in an extended heavy cloud event. A power blackout has also become increasingly rare-with most only lasting 1-2 hours at any given time.

“To get government incentives, your system must be installed by an appropriately qualified person.”

As part of its accreditation programme, the Clean Energy Council certifies and assures solar power system designers and installers:

• I have completed the required training.

• Following industry best practices

• Comply with Australian standards

• They regularly update the skills and knowledge they have about solar products.

A new solar system installed by an accredited designer/installer will provide you with a design and specification that considers the type of panel being used, energy efficiency ratings on all panels in use, and orientation when installing them (to get maximum output).

The Clean Energy Council suggests a full system quotation should include dimensions, quantity, size, capacity, and output for the major components, such as:

• Solar panels

• Mounting system

• Solar Inverter

• Additional metering if applicable

• Devices for logging data, if specified

• Travel and transportation requirements

• Other equipment that may be required

• Any trenches that need to be dug?

• A user’s guide for the system.

As part of the final quotation, the following should be included:

• Estimated daily electricity usage in kilowatt-hours

• A production estimate for each year

• Production estimates during the most favourable and least advantageous months

• What the installer and the customer are responsible for, including payment obligations.

• Information about warranties and guarantees, including Australian Consumer Law information

• In whose charge is it to connect the solar panels to the main electricity grid?

• The person in charge of changing the meters

• In the case of solar feed-in tariff incentives, the entity responsible for submitting documentation

• STCs: How will they be handled?

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR SOLAR PANEL INSTALLER

• Do they have accreditation? You want to be sure about your panel installation, so make the company tell you their accreditation number.

• Get an idea of how many systems the company or person installing the system has installed.

• Would they be able to offer performance guarantees along with their standard warranties?

• Are there any testimonials or feedback from previous customers about how the company performed?

• What are the standards of the products they use? Can they meet Australian standards with their products?

ASK YOUR ELECTRICITY RETAILER THESE QUESTIONS

• Am I going to be moved to a Time of Use meter with shoulder, peak, and off-peak rates?

• What will my energy bill be during and after peak times?

• Does becoming a solar customer incur any other fees?

• What are your feed-in tariffs?

• What is your solar retailer’s contribution, above and beyond what the state requires?

• What additional services do you provide for solar customers compared to standard customers?

ASK YOUR POWER SUPPLIER ABOUT THE METER CONNECTION

• What company will replace my meter?

• When I switch to solar energy, what kind of meter will I get?

• What is the cost?

• My meter over will take how long?