Choosing a solar system
Get informed to make the best choice when selecting your home solar system.
Make an informed choice
Investing in a solar system can help save you money on your electricity bills and add value to your home. But like any other big purchase, you should always do your research before rushing to buy a solar system.
A range of technical factors will determine the set-up to best suit your home. It may be beneficial to get the opinion of a qualified professional before you spend any money. You should always look at the different rebates, incentives and schemes that you may qualify for, which can help you to save more.
This page provides an overview of things to think about when considering a solar system for your home.
Solar system size
The amount of electricity your home uses, and the time of day you use it, will be one of the main factors in determining the size of solar system (and battery) that you need. The size of your home’s roof, as well as it’s orientation, location and structural condition, also play a big role.
A solar retailer or an accredited installer can help you understand your power needs.
Solar panel quality
Solar panel manufacturers are ranked into 3 tiers, with Tier 1 being is the highest and Tier 3 the lowest.
These tier rankings are determined by factors like the manufacturer's financial status, experience, the scale of manufacture and level of automation. While the manufacturer themselves is ranked, the tier system does not measure the quality of the solar panels they produce, since each manufacturer may produce a range of different types of solar panels. Therefore, it is strongly advisable that you should research the particular model of solar panel you’re interested in.
Higher-quality solar panels will maintain their rated output for a longer period. To ensure good quality solar panels:
Check that they’re listed with the Clean Energy Council’s approved modules
Check the panel warranty
Look for manufacturers and products with positive reviews, as well as businesses with Australian-based technical support
Inverters
Solar panels generate direct current (DC) electricity. Your home appliances use alternating current (AC) electricity. Inverters convert DC electricity into AC electricity.
String inverters are the most commonly used inverter. They connect all your solar panels together, to a single inverter that is installed on a nearby wall. Some systems use a series of microinverters. Microinverters are all installed on your roof and each one is dedicated to its own individual solar panel.
A solar retailer or an accredited installer can help you understand which inverter is best for your solar system. Before you buy an inverter, be sure to check that it is on the Clean Energy Councill's list of approved inverters.
Batteries
If your home doesn’t have a battery and your solar system generates more power than your home uses, the extra electricity will be exported into the grid. Your retailer will generally pay you a rate for the electricity your system contributes to the grid, but there may be limits to the amount you can export.
A battery can store your excess solar-generated energy and reduce your need to buy electricity from your retailer. It can also supply your home electricity during outages and ultimately, lower your electricity bills.
A solar battery can help lower your electricity bill by:
- Reducing the amount of electricity you buy from your retailer
- Taking advantage of time-of-use tariffs
- Reducing electricity demand during expensive peak times
- Letting you participate in a virtual power plant (VPP)
A battery only makes sense if your solar system makes more electricity than your home needs. If you have a smaller system that doesn’t produce any extra electricity, there’s no need for you to install a battery.
If you’re unsure about whether or not to install a battery, speak with an accredited solar installer or visit New Energy Tech to find an approved battery supplier.
Smart meters
As part of national reforms, NSW homes and small businesses will switch to smart meters by 2030. It’s a key step in modernising the electricity grid, making energy use more efficient and giving people more choice and control over their energy use.
If you don’t already have a smart meter, you will need one to have a solar system installed.
Smart meters show you exactly how much power your solar system is generating and how much electricity your home is using. This information makes it easier to understand your electricity bills and manage your electricity use more efficiently.
Solar rebates and incentives
Before you start spending money on a new solar system, you should check to see if you are eligible for any solar rebates that could help lower the price to buy and install your solar and/or battery system.
You can find a list of current rebates, grants and incentives at:
Electricity retailers
You can buy most rooftop solar and/or battery system systems from a solar retailer. The solar retailer then subcontracts an accredited installer to install and set up your system.
Retailers will each have their own options for electricity usage charges and solar feed-in tariff rates.
Do your own research at Energy Made Easy to determine which electricity retailer will give you the best rate for your situation.
Solar installers
Accredited installers are trained and certified to ensure your system meets all relevant Australian standards, as well as industry best practice. When you buy a rooftop solar and/or battery system from an accredited solar installer, they will sell you the system and take care of the installation themselves.
Just like when you’re looking for solar panels, it is strongly advisable to do your research when you’re considering which solar installer to use. You should also aim to get at least three quotes.
Before seeking a quote, be sure to ask for the installer's Solar Accreditation Australia accreditation number and check their accreditation status.
Warranties and insurance
A warranty is an assurance your rooftop solar or battery system will work for the duration of the warranty period. If there is a fault or issue during that time, a warranty may cover the cost of repair or replacement.
A product warranty (manufacturer’s warranty) covers faulty products and is the most important solar panel warranty to consider. For most solar panels, the product warranty is between 10 and 15 years. Newer, high-quality panels should be reliable for at least 20 years. In some instances, manufacturers are now offering product warranties that extend beyond 25 years.
Generally, your inverters will need to be replaced before the solar panels. Most kinds of inverters tend to have a warranty for up to 10 years. Micro inverters attached to a panel can have warranties for up to 25 years.
When your retailer or installer provides you with information about how the solar system works and its expected performance, make sure that they provide you with information about your system’s warranties as well. They should cover warranty limitations and exceptions, information that details how to make a claim and details on responsibility for associated expenses.
There are always warranty exceptions, such as weather-related damage, or damage caused by you. Since warranties don’t tend to cover things like hail damage, you could choose to add further protection by taking out insurance on your solar system.
