SOLAR PANELS

There are two reasons to go solar – financial and environmental. When you install a solar power system, you save money on your electricity bills and prevent yourself from future rate increases. The amount you can save depends on your electricity bill amount, the size of your solar system and how much power you consume yourself.  Overall going solar is a wise investment no matter where you live in Sydney. New South Wales has one of the higher solar irradiation rates in the world, meaning sunlight hours. For example, with a home in Frankfurt, Germany, a home in Crows Nest, Sydney would see double the amount of sun on their roof.  So it is not a surprise that Australia also has one of the highest solar penetration rates in the world. Between 2007 and 2021 more than 3 million solar power systems have been fitted in Australia and this is constantly increasing. By utilising the sun’s free energy, you help reduce Co2 emissions and utilise the PV from a solar system to reduce other energy requirements in the house such as heating water and room heating. The good news for residential and commercial solar is that the Australian Government has included solar power systems as technologies that are eligible for incentives to help you make the switch to renewable energy. These are known as Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs), and they are linked to Australia’s Renewable Energy Target scheme, which means you can receive aid (a type of rebate) in purchasing a system.

When sunlight strikes a solar panel’s PV cells, electrons are knocked loose and move around. These free electrons can be captured and directed in the same direction as they move around a circuit. This flow of electrons in the same direction creates an electric current. A flow of electrons is created, and direct current (DC) electricity is produced by connecting many PV cells in a panel and wiring a number of panels together in a string (called an array). The greater the number of panels in an array, the more electricity is produced.

We currently use 240 volt alternating current (AC) electricity in our homes and businesses. As a result, a box called an inverter, which is usually no bigger than a shopping basket, is used to convert the solar system’s direct current (DC) to the AC electricity so that it can be used in your home. Even a cloudy day can generate some solar power, albeit much less than a sunny day. Shade can be reduced with more advanced panels which have an optimiser added and a compatible inverter, so make sure to discuss this with your solar installer, if shade is an issue on your roof. While you cannot control the shade cast by clouds, you should place your panels in an area free of shadows cast by other objects such as trees and buildings.  If this is not possible, Solarpro can recommend technology to manage this issue. Also, you may be able to split your solar panels across different parts of your roof that face different directions. For the best results, this type of setup will necessitate the use of an inverter that can accept multiple inputs.

There are three main factors that we recommend you pay attention to when purchasing solar panels. These are quality, warranty, and the brand behind them.  Solarpro conducts extensive research not just on the panels themselves but also on the stability of the manufacturing company.

A simple way to get a feel for the quality of any good or service is to look at past and current customer experiences and feedback on the product. This can be accomplished by conducting an online search on forums and websites such as Facebook, Google, solar quotes etc. In looking for a company to install your solar array we recommend using a local company.  Not just because we are one! We are approached by people who had their solar power systems installed by National companies and then find it very difficult to get the companies to come back when things need to be checked. While the solar power system initially might be cheaper, in the long run the financial return will be a lot less if the system is frequently not achieving the expected output or does not last as long as anticipated. If in your research you can’t find any information about the brand as well as product, it’s likely that the importer has not got a strong footprint in Australia. In that case, it may be best to avoid. Secondly, check to see what are the warranties that cover your system. Stay away from companies pushing terms such as Tier 1- and 25-year performance warranties. Tier 1 is not a reflection of panel quality, and the performance warranty is notoriously hard to claim. Look at the Product Warranty, and who is the company that backs it. You will want a warranty that covers the entire cost of removing, transporting, replacing, and reinstalling any defective panels within a specified time frame. Businesses that are unwilling to make this commitment are most likely not self – assured in their own product, which means you should not be either.  All the panels recommended by Solarpro meet these criteria.

Solar panels themselves cannot typically be repaired. A solar panel is a homogenous, fully sealed unit, other than a minor defect, maybe on the plug, which could be fixed by replacing the plug, there is not much else available to get access to, to fix.  All other parts are laminated together, therefore if a solar panel had an issue, it would need a full replacement panel. Every solar panel has minor differences, even if it’s in the same batch of the same brand.  If a solar panel has to be replaced it is an advantage to have an optimised SolarEdge system where the panels operate independently and any differences e.g., voltage mismatch won’t impact the overall performance of the solar system. This is not the case with string system inverters.