The scope for significant cost savings from using solar energy has led to solar panels becoming a popular option to power homes and businesses in Australia.

When considering installing solar there is a lot to consider, where do you start?

If you’re thinking about installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system for your home or commercial property, here’s some information that will hopefully make your decision that little bit easier!

Where solar began

Energy sourced from the sun has been utilised since as early as the 18th century! Over the years, development in solar technology with panels and inverters has led to high quality solar systems and with technology continually advancing, solar is becoming the norm amongst homeowners list of must haves!

How do solar panels and inverters work?

Energy from the sunlight is captured and transformed into electricity via your solar panels and inverter. This is perfect for homes in the sunny Australian climate!

When installed, the panels will be positioned to point at the sun and away from any shady spots on your roof. Don’t worry – the panels will still generate electricity even when it’s cloudy! The amount of energy tends to be a lot lower than on sunny days, but energy is still generated none the less.

When the sun hits your panels, electrons are captured and are guided on a circuit to form an electrical current. This flow of electrons generates direct (DC) electricity. The inverter than converts this DC electricity to alternating current (AC) resulting it being used to power all the electronics in your home or workplace!

Queensland is really sunny! Can too much energy be generated?

If you generate more power than you consume, this will be sent back to the grid and you will be credited with a feed-in-tariff on your electricity bill. Your feed-in-tariff will depend on where in Queensland you live and your energy provider. Be sure to compare the rates you are offered as they can differ between providers! There is also the option to install a battery system so you can store energy to use when it isn’t sunny, of an evening or really cloudy days for example.

Are there different types of solar panels?

There are three main solar panel options; monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin film.

Monocrystalline panels are slicked up from larger silicon crystals, which give them a uniform dark blue or black colour, looking great on your roof. These panels offer the highest efficiency but do have curved edges meaning some space is left in-between panels.

Polycrystalline panels are made from pouring silicone into models, which means they are less pure than monocrystalline cells. They are slightly less efficient than monocystalline but can be tightly spaced together, meaning they’re not too far behind.

Thin film panels are made from spraying a layer of silicone onto a surface, they are cheap to produce but far less efficient and a lot heavier than the alternatives making them harder to work with.

Cost of solar installation and maintenance

Solar installation doesn’t come cheap, but considering the amount of sunlight we receive in Queensland, in not so many years it will have likely paid for itself!

Installation costs vary depending on the size of the system required to power your home. Generally costs will start around $5,000 for a smaller 3kW system and go up to as much as $15,000 for a 10kW system.  There may be Government incentives or rebates available, which solar installers will be able to advise you of.

Get multiple quotes, ask what everything on the quote means and compare parts used, warranties and aftercare inclusions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

A reputable solar installer will quote you on your installation costs and likely return based on recent electricity bills.

Switching to solar

If you’re ready to find out more about how solar can benefit your home, contact us today. With over 10,000 installs across Queensland, you are in good hands! We use monocrystalline solar panels, which provide the highest energy efficiency and are aesthetically pleasing on your roof.

Send us a copy of your latest energy bill and we can advise you which solar system will best suit your needs, costs involved and approximately how long the system will take to pay for itself.

Don’t delay, contact us today to make the switch to solar and start saving!