Faqs

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]