Solar FAQs
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Here are some of our Solar FAQs. If you can’t find the answer to your question on this page, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on (03) 5243 8364 or visit our contact us page to send us an online enquiry.
We service Geelong, Bellarine, Surf Coast, Colac and Ballarat Regions.
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Solar panels (also called photovoltaic or PV panels) turn sunlight into DC electricity. An inverter then converts it into the same 230-volt AC power your home or business already uses. Your property uses the solar power first, and any extra is sent to the grid. A battery lets you store that extra power and use it in the evening instead.
Solar lowers your power bills, because the electricity your panels make is used in your home instead of bought from the grid, and any extra earns a feed-in credit. It also cuts your reliance on coal and gas power, which reduces carbon emissions. Payback is subject to many factors, but solar on its own typically pays for itself in about 5 to 7 years. Adding a battery lets you use more of your own solar at night and can keep the power on in a blackout.
Solar power is stored in a home battery. During the day your panels power the house first, and any extra charges the battery instead of going to the grid for a low feed-in tariff. In the evening and overnight, the battery runs your home before you draw from the grid, and many batteries also give blackout backup. We install Sigenergy SigenStor, Tesla Powerwall 3, GoodWe and Fronius Reserva, and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate comes off the price up front. See our solar batteries page.
A grid-connected solar system has four main parts: the solar panels, an inverter that turns their DC power into 230-volt AC power for your home, mounting rails to suit your roof (tin, tile or flat), and the cabling and isolating switches that keep it safe. Many new systems use a hybrid inverter, which can also run a battery now or later. Your switchboard needs a circuit breaker for the solar, and some older switchboards need upgrading.
Yes. Most existing solar systems can have a battery added. If your current inverter can’t charge a battery, we fit an AC-coupled battery that works alongside it, or replace the old inverter with a hybrid inverter that runs both. We install Sigenergy SigenStor, Tesla Powerwall 3, GoodWe and Fronius Reserva. Added batteries qualify for the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate, and we take it off the price up front. Adding a battery usually takes 1 to 2 days. See our solar and battery price guide for current costs.
It depends on how much power you use, when you use it, your roof space and your distributor’s export limits. A 6.6 kW system is a common starting point for Geelong homes, and a larger system often makes sense if you plan to add a battery or an electric vehicle. We look at your power bills and your roof during a free consultation and recommend the right size. Call (03) 5243 8364 to book.
Most homes are suitable. Panels can go on tin, tile or flat roofs, and roofs facing north, east or west can all work well. Shading is the main thing that reduces output, and optimisers or micro-inverters can limit its effect. A free site inspection will tell you for certain whether your roof suits solar and where the panels will perform best.
Often, yes. The shed roof must be strong enough to carry the panels, and the cable from your house to the shed must be large enough to carry the solar power within the voltage-rise limits in the Australian Standards. If the existing cable is too small, it will need upgrading. We check the shed’s structure and wiring during the site inspection.
The biggest factors are the size of the system, which way the panels face, their tilt, any shading, and the quality of the panels and inverter. Location matters too: around Geelong, each 1 kW of panels produces roughly 3.5 to 4 kWh a day on average across the year, more in summer and less in winter. Heat and dirt on the panels reduce output a little. A good design gets the most out of your particular roof.
North-facing panels produce the most power over a whole day. East or west-facing panels typically make about 10 to 15 percent less in total, but they spread production into the morning or late afternoon. Because power you use yourself is worth more than power you export, that can suit households that use more power early or late in the day. We design the layout around your roof and when you use power.
Yes, in most cases. East and west-facing panels make less power in total than north-facing ones, but they produce more in the morning and late afternoon, when many households actually use it. With feed-in tariffs now low, using your own solar is worth more than exporting it, so an east-west layout often works well. A battery can also store afternoon power for the evening.
In Geelong, panels tilted at roughly 30 to 35 degrees produce the most power across a full year. Flatter panels produce more in summer and less in winter, and steeper panels do the reverse. Most homes simply mount the panels at the existing roof pitch, as the difference is usually small. Tilt frames are mainly used on flat roofs.
Monocrystalline. Almost every quality panel sold in Australia today is monocrystalline, and polycrystalline panels have largely disappeared from the market. Modern mono panels reach efficiencies above 21% and handle heat better, so you get more power from the same roof space. The real choice now is between panel brands and cell technologies such as half-cut or N-type, and the manufacturer’s quality and warranty matter most. We use Tier-1 panels, including REC, which named us its Victorian Partner of the Year for 2022 to 2025.
For a Velocity Solar install in Geelong, a 6.6 kW system typically costs about $9,400, including GST and after the federal solar rebate (STCs) (as of October 2026). If you qualify for the Solar Victoria rebate, you could pay up to $1,400 less. Your price depends on your roof, the number of storeys, your switchboard and the equipment you choose. Our solar and battery price guide shows what our own customers actually paid, by system size. For an exact figure, book a free site inspection on (03) 5243 8364.
Yes. The main things that add cost are a tile or very steep roof, a two-storey home that needs extra access equipment, panels spread across several roof faces, an old switchboard that needs upgrading, tilt frames on a flat roof, and a long cable run to the inverter or battery. A free site inspection picks these up before you commit, so they are in your quote rather than a surprise later. Our price guide explains what affects the price in more detail.
Micro inverters sit under each panel and convert its power to household AC power on the roof, so shade on one panel doesn’t drag down the rest. A string inverter is one wall-mounted unit that converts power from all the panels together. Most string inverters are now hybrid inverters, which can also run a battery. String and hybrid inverters cost less and make adding a battery simpler, so they are the usual choice for solar and battery systems. Micro inverters can suit complex or heavily shaded roofs. We recommend the right type after a site inspection.
Not as a government incentive. In Victoria, your electricity retailer pays a feed-in tariff for solar power you send to the grid, and the Essential Services Commission sets a minimum rate each year. That minimum has fallen sharply in recent years, and some retailers pay a little more, so check your retailer’s current rate. The old premium government feed-in schemes closed to new customers years ago. Because exporting pays so little, the real value of solar now comes from using your own power, or storing it in a battery for the evening.
A feed-in tariff is the credit your retailer gives you for solar power you don’t use and send back to the grid. Rates have fallen a long way, from over 60 cents per kWh under early schemes to very low rates today. Every kWh you use yourself is worth far more than one you export, because you avoid buying it at the full retail price. So feed-in tariffs are now a small bonus, not the main reason to go solar. A battery lets you store daytime solar for the evening instead of exporting it cheaply.
Rarely. With today’s low feed-in tariffs, most households won’t earn more from exports than they spend on power and daily supply charges. Some people on old premium schemes still receive credits, but those schemes are closed to new customers. What solar and a battery can do is cut your bill substantially by covering much of your own use. If your account does go into credit, your retailer usually carries it forward or can refund it on request. How much you save is subject to many factors such as usage, tariff and system size.
Yes (as of October 2026). Solar systems still earn federal small-scale technology certificates (STCs). A 2026 install is credited with 5 years of output, dropping by a year each 1 January. Eligible Victorian households can also get up to $1,400 off solar panels from Solar Victoria. Batteries get the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate: 6.8 STCs per usable kWh until 31 December 2026, then 5.7 from 1 January 2027 and 5.2 from 1 July 2027. It pays 100% for the first 14 kWh, 60% for 14 to 28 kWh and 15% for 28 to 50 kWh. We take the federal rebates off your price up front. The Victorian battery rebate closed in 2025.
Quality solar panels should last 25 years or more, and many premium panels now carry 25-year warranties. Inverters typically last 10 to 15 years, and home batteries usually carry warranties of around 10 years. Cheap panels and inverters are the ones most likely to fail early, so the brand matters more than the price. We use Tier-1 panels and leading inverters and batteries, and our own crews install every system, which gives the equipment the best chance of reaching its full life.
Solar panels are very reliable and rarely fail. When they do, the cause is usually moisture getting in or a poorly fitted connector between panels. Inverters contain far more electronics, so they are the part most likely to need repair or replacement during a system’s life. Choosing a reputable inverter brand and a careful installer makes the biggest difference. Mounting rails rarely cause trouble when installed correctly, though homes near the coast need corrosion-resistant fittings. Our own crews install every system, and our service team handles faults and warranty claims.
In most cases, yes. Payback is subject to many factors such as usage, tariff and system size, but as a guide solar pays for itself in about 5 to 7 years, a battery in about 10, and solar plus a battery in 6 to 8 (as of October 2026). Quality panels now often carry 25-year warranties, and good inverters and batteries usually carry around 10 years. So a well-chosen system should pay for itself within its warranty period. We give you a realistic estimate for your home before you buy.
Solar panels are built to handle hail. Panels are tested to withstand 25 mm hailstones at about 80 km/h, and their tempered glass is very strong. Very large hail or a direct hit from a cricket ball can still break a panel, and storm damage is usually a home insurance matter, so check your policy covers your solar. If a panel is cracked, don’t touch it or hose it, as it can still carry live power; have an electrician check it.
Usually, yes. The common options are adding a battery, adding more panels with a second inverter, or replacing an old inverter with a larger hybrid inverter that can take extra panels and a battery. If your system is old, new parts may need to meet current standards, and sometimes a fresh system alongside the old one makes more sense. Your distributor’s export limits can also affect how much you can add. If you think you might expand later, tell us at the design stage and we can size the inverter and switchboard to make it easier.
No. Solar panels still produce power on cloudy and rainy days, just much less than in full sun. On a heavily overcast day a typical home system will usually still cover background use like the fridge, standby devices and lighting, but not big loads such as a spa or heater. Panels work best in full sun, and the sunny months more than make up for grey days across the year. A battery helps by storing power from the sunnier hours for use when production drops.
Usually within 1 to 2 years. Studies have found a solar panel makes back the energy used to manufacture it in roughly that time, and less in sunny places like Australia. Manufacturing has become more efficient over the past decade, which keeps shortening this. Because quality panels last 25 years or more, a panel generates many times the energy that went into making it. Panel recycling is also improving in Australia, which reduces the environmental cost at the end of a panel’s life.
Yes. Every kWh your panels produce is a kWh that doesn’t have to come from the grid, and Victoria’s grid still relies heavily on brown coal, one of the most emissions-intensive fuels. As a rough guide, a typical 6.6 kW system in Geelong avoids several tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, roughly what a typical car produces in a year or more. The exact figure depends on how much your system produces and how quickly Victoria’s grid adds renewables. Adding a battery lets you use more of your own clean power.
Only when they need it. Rain keeps most tilted panels reasonably clean, so cleaning is worthwhile when you can see a build-up of dirt, bird droppings or lichen, or your output has dropped. Coastal homes may need cleaning more often, because salt spray builds up on the glass. We can check and clean your panels as part of a solar system service.
Yes, a little. We recommend a service every 1 to 2 years: a safety check of the wiring, isolators and switchboard, an inspection of the panels and mounting rails, and a check that the inverter and any battery are working as they should. Homes near the coast may need more frequent checks, because salt can corrode fittings. Our team does more than 200 maintenance jobs a year, including on systems whose installer has closed; see solar system maintenance.
Not on its own. A standard grid-connected solar system must switch off during a blackout, by law, so it can’t send power into lines that workers may be repairing. To keep power on during an outage you need a battery with backup. Batteries such as Sigenergy SigenStor and Tesla Powerwall 3 can switch to backup automatically, keep selected circuits or the whole home running, and keep recharging from your solar. What stays on depends on the battery and how it is wired, so we design the backup around what you want covered.
Often, yes. Your distributor (Powercor in the Geelong area) limits how much power you can send to the grid, but you can usually install more panels than that and have the inverter cap your exports. The extra solar still powers your home, and a battery can store it instead of it going to waste. The distributor’s approval sets the final limits, and we handle that application for you.
Solar power uses photovoltaic (PV) panels to turn sunlight into electricity that can run your whole home. Solar hot water uses roof collectors, either flat panels or glass tubes, to heat water directly, and does nothing else. Many homes now heat their water with a heat pump hot water system running on their own solar power instead.
About 12 panels (as of October 2026). Most home solar panels are now around 400 to 450 watts, so a 5 kW system needs roughly 11 to 13 panels, and a popular 6.6 kW system needs about 15 to 17. Older 250-watt panels needed 20 for 5 kW. The exact count depends on the panel model, your roof space and your distributor’s limits. Many homes now choose 6.6 kW or more, because the extra panels add little to the cost.
Most home solar panels today measure roughly 1.7 to 1.8 metres long by about 1.1 metres wide and weigh around 20 to 25 kg (as of October 2026). Panels have grown as their wattage has increased, so older 250-watt panels were noticeably smaller, at about 1.65 by 1 metre. Exact sizes vary by brand and model, so we check your roof layout, structure and the panel’s specification sheet when designing your system.
Often not. Solar usually needs only one or two spaces in your switchboard for a new circuit breaker. Older switchboards with ceramic fuses, no safety switches or no spare room may need upgrading to meet current rules, and adding a battery can need extra space too. We check your switchboard at the site inspection and tell you before you go ahead if an upgrade is needed.
The inverter must be installed to the manufacturer’s instructions and Australian Standards. The best spot is shaded and well ventilated, such as a garage wall or a wall out of the afternoon sun, because heat makes inverters work harder and lose efficiency. Most inverters and batteries are weatherproof and can go outside, but batteries have their own rules, for example not in living areas or under stairs. We recommend the best spot for your home at the site inspection.
First, check the inverter screen or app for an error message, and check that the solar circuit breaker in your switchboard is switched on. If the inverter shows an error or no lights, or your power bill shows little or no solar export, the system needs a fault find. Don’t open the inverter or touch the panel wiring, as it carries high voltage. Our team fixes faulty systems, including ones we did not install; see solar system maintenance or call (03) 5243 8364.
Check your paperwork first. You should have your system documents, a Certificate of Electrical Safety, and warranties for the panels, inverter, any battery and the mounting rails. Warranties are given by the manufacturer, so they usually still apply even if your installer has closed. Many quality panels now carry 25-year warranties, while inverters and batteries are usually around 10 years. Australian Consumer Law also protects you if a product fails sooner than it reasonably should. If you are stuck, our service team can help with the claim.
Start with the company that installed your system, as they hold your records. If they no longer trade or can’t help, contact the manufacturer. Warranties sit with the manufacturer, not the installer, so your cover usually remains even if the installer has closed. Many solar installers from the early years have since shut down, and that is where we can help: Velocity Solar assists owners of systems we did not install, though a service fee may apply. If you still get nowhere, Consumer Affairs Victoria can help with your complaint.
We find the fault, explain what needs fixing and get your system running again as quickly as we can. We handle the warranty paperwork with the manufacturer and source replacement parts or inverters when needed. We also help owners whose installer has closed, and our own electricians do the work, not subcontractors. Call (03) 5243 8364 or see solar system maintenance.
Yes. Our service team handles the claim for you. We diagnose the fault, complete the warranty paperwork with the manufacturer and arrange the replacement part or unit. To speed things up, have your inverter or battery model and serial numbers, your system size and any error codes ready when you call. We have been installing and servicing systems since 2011, and our own qualified electricians, not subcontractors, do the repair work. Call (03) 5243 8364 or use our contact form to start a claim.
