How To Buy the Best Solar Panel

How to Buy the Best Solar Panel
There are hundreds of options in the market when it comes to choosing a solar panel for your roof space. It’s a chore to choose a brand, we admit, but when you know what characteristics make a quality solar panel and what are the basics that make it the best of all choices, it’s a solid game changer as a customer. We highly encourage you to learn what makes or breaks a solar panel so that you know how to buy the best solar panel.
The following are the factors that you should consider while going for a solar power system for the first time.

Solar Panel Efficiency

The amount of sunlight that solar panels are able to collect and transform into power indicates how efficient they are. The highest solar panel efficiency we have today is 22.6%, which means that only 22.6% of the sun’s energy can actually be transformed by that specific module into useful electricity.
High efficiency is one of the most crucial things to know when purchasing solar panels, if not the most important one.
best solar panel

Tier 1 Solar Panels Brands

I’m pretty sure you’ve come across a title that reads, “Our panels are listed Tier 1” while searching the internet for the optimal solar panel. Anyone would presume this to be a quality indicator at first look, but that is not the case.
A production line for that specific panel with a tier 1 rank is an entity that signifies it is in good financial standing. That’s great for the business, but why should it matter to you? According to the manufacturer and panel model, a solar system comes with a guarantee that lasts between 25 years and 30 years. Would the 30 year panel warranty still prevail if the firm closed within that time frame because it was not financially stable? Nope, I quite don’t think so.
There are anecdotes I can recall in which this did happen, and some companies kept the promise of availing solar panel warranty, and some failed miserably. So, it’s better not to take such a risk.

Solar Panel Warranty

The majority of solar panels have a product warranty that lasts from 25 years to 30 years. Due to the fact that solar panels are not inexpensive, a warranty is a crucial consideration and must have; the higher the number of years, the better. Although there are less expensive options, they are still regarded as being inferior to certain other solar PV.
There are several types of warranties, such as product warranty, performance warranty, parts warranty, etc., make sure you understand and get a good warranty offer.
Additionally, some solar panels have a third-party warranty program. So be sure to thoroughly consider it before you make a purchase. Or you can designate us to handle the task and simplify your life.

Solar Panel Degradation Curve

Imagine you still own the same cell phone you bought five years ago. Yes, you may be using it, but does it still function the same way that it did five years ago? I sincerely doubt that it does. Similar to this example, the efficiency rate of a solar panel closely correlates with how well it performs as it matures. This occurrence is known as degradation. The lower this number is, the better.
Keep in mind that nothing good lasts forever; therefore, every solar panel will eventually deteriorate as time goes on. However, what actually matters—and what you should take into consideration as a key factor—is the rate at which the panel deteriorates.
In simpler words, the degradation of solar panels is bound to happen but at what rate is it happening is what matters. The degradation should happen slowly over the course of several years. Check the performance history of the choices you picked so far, or simply consult a solar expert.

Solar Panel Temperature Coefficient

The temperature coefficient is the percentage by which your panels’ effectiveness falls off when the temperature goes over their ideal level, which is 25 degrees Celsius. A solar panel that is very efficient will have a low temperature coefficient, whereas one that is less efficient will have a greater temperature coefficient.

Australian Presence

Make sure the company you choose has a presence in Australia before you commit. The worst-case scenario can occur suddenly, and the business you select to purchase from may go bankrupt. This is merely a plausible outcome.
how to buy solar panel
What happens if the firm from which you purchased your solar panels, ‘X,’ goes out of business and you need to lodge a warranty claim? Would you hold the installer accountable? They weren’t the true supplier; therefore, it doesn’t work like that. But they can definitely help you with it but remember, certain limitations do exist in extreme events like this.
Additionally, it is vital to know that the panels you are spending so much money on have a real office in your country. This way, you may ask them for assistance or use their services whenever you need them.
Now that you know how to buy the best solar panel, please understand that buying the solar panels is only half the job done. I can’t emphasize enough how crucial it is to supervise and ensure that the installation is done exactly according to the rules because the installation procedure determines the other 50% of the remaining job.
Go with a CEC-approved installer who knows what they are doing and what’s best for your property and your future.

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What Happens to Solar Panels After 25 Years

what happens to solar panels after 25 years

Among all the renewable energy sources, solar panels are the the most accessible one for families all across the globe who are looking to switch to a greener source of energy while decreasing their electric bill.

Solar panels are also becoming less expensive as we speak, making them a perfect candidate for a sustainable energy source for most of us. With easier access, wide availability and government rebates, smart families are switching to solar; however, they last about a maximum of 25 years to 30 years. So, what happens to solar panels after 25 years?

Almost 95% of solar panel are recyclable. That means when solar panels reach an end of life, they can be recycled! Dumping ‘dead’ solar panels in landfill have been completely banned by the Victorian government because any sort of electronic waste is banned.

However, there are far fewer recycling facilities across the country present, making it difficult to recycle at the moment. The good news is multiple initiatives are on the way for establishing recycling facilities in Australia.

At the moment, Lotus energy is the most active in this field, and they already got started with recycling in the past year.solar panel lifespan

Why Recycle?

Australia is expected to produce one million tonnes of waste (solar panels) by 2047; according to Macquarie University, this amount is likely to rise as more families upgrade their systems rapidly. To help photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight into energy, solar panels are mandated to include hazardous substances (if disposed of incorrectly) like lead. These chemicals may seep out when old and damaged panels are dumped, creating dangerous conditions.

That makes it crystal clear, if not dealt with correctly, it can be a task to dispose of outdated panels. So, it makes total sense for panels to be recycled and not just left to be a massive pile of e-waste when the first wave of solar panel dumping starts.

What Other Options are Available Other Than Recycling

Instead of recycling, there are many ways a solar panel can be disposed of. There are many services available that take care of your electronic waste, such as solar panels, and take measurements for proper disposal. Because dumping them in landfills is illegal, many local councils can be tipped off.

Other than that, you can also reuse the panels and make it a part of your camping essentials. Even after solar panels reach its official end of time, they can still produce some electricity if used in bright sunlight and cleaned properly.

Also, there are many offshore facilities for recycling solar panels. You can contact the relevant government departments or the IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), or your initial installer to talk about your solar replacement options.

renewable energy

How To Make My Solar Panels Last Longer?

To get the most out of your solar panels, you must taking precautionary measures from day 1. You know what they say, precaution is better than cure! In these measures, you can take the installation process itself as the first task. Make sure you go with a team of professionals who knows what they are doing. Please note, they must be approved by the CEC (Clean Energy Council).

The entire rooftop solar system has to be of high quality for it to be long-lasting. Also, check the government rebates, the components used have to be CEC-approved.

Make sure you clean your solar panels at least twice a year, so that excess amount of dirt and debris don’t accumulate on them, creating a barrier for proper sunlight to shine. This is deemed as a shading issue, which lowers the efficiency of solar panels by almost 50%.

So, what happens to solar panels after 25 years is they go through a proper recycling and disposal channel and get a second life. Unfortunately, the unavailability of such facilities results in the panels being dumped unethically. To prevent such occurrences, the Australian government is soon to take measurements in the upcoming years.

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Are Solar Panels Recyclable | The 2022 Update

Are Solar Panels Recyclable

In the past decade, people have gravitated towards renewable energy sources the most than at any other time. Among all of the sources, solar panels on a residential scale were welcomed the most. However, when the world seemed to have geared up for renewable energy sources like solar panels, the long-term management of such a change was given little to no thought.

Solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 years to 30 years at max. What happens to all these solar panels after they reach the end of the line? Are solar panels recyclable? To answer it simply, yes, they are recyclable for the most part. On average, 90%- 95% of the photovoltaic cells which are made of silicon are recyclable. But the question remains are they getting recycled even if how easy it is to do so? That is something to work on as soon as we can.

How are Solar PV Panels Recycled?

Let’s take a look at the basic solar model made of silicon. There are essentially two types of solar panels; monocrystalline solar panels and polycrystalline solar panels. Both of the types have an equal ability to get recycled as it’s the way the silicon is laid out that decides the type of solar panels. Other than these two, a separate kind of solar panel is present, which is a thin film solar panel. Thin film solar panels are not made of silicon; rather, they use one of the following-
  • Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)
  • Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)
  • Copper Indium Selenide (CIGS)
This type of solar panel is rarely used for residential purposes as they don’t offer efficiency while the cost soars up pretty high. Usually, thin film solar is used in a commercial setting because of their other advantages, like they use fewer materials to get produced, they deal with shading issues, and low light conditions pretty well. However, still, the prices are not conducive to the outcomes.
can solar panels be recycled in australia
For those reasons, we will be limiting today’s discussion to silicon-made solar panels only.
In essence of it, a solar panel is a glass-trapped silicon module that is framed in aluminium. The wires are made of silver and copper. All of which are recyclable using different methods.
The first step to recycling is disassembling the solar panels. The frames, glass, silicone body, and wires get disassembled. Separately they get recycled in large quantities. The entire process does take a lot of big machinery, and the process itself gets a bit expensive, but the price that we will pay without recycling is greater in the long run.
95% of the glass body gets reused after disassembly, and 100% of the metal gets reused. In this case, the thermal processing takes about heat sources that are 500 degrees Celsius to melt down. The silicon is also heated to break it down to its cellular level to make it reusable.
Don’t think that all of this process takes any manual labor, especially the disassembly; rather, there are many detectors and high-level machinery used in such cases.

Are Solar Panels Recyclable in Australia?

On today’s date, there aren’t many full-fledged facilities for solar panel recycling in Australia. However, last year a solar recycling facility did start operating in Melbourne’s north which has been confirmed by their video footage posted on a social media platform. They work in conjunction with Lotus energy, the first company to take such steps in Australia.
The point to be noted here is not 100% of the panel is recyclable in Australia at the moment; still, it has to be sourced from different off-shore facilities. Only about 17% of the recycling is done in Australia, which includes recycling of the metal frame and the junction box. The rest of the body is yet to be managed, but it is also a fact that in Victoria, this type of waste is considered electronic waste and is completely banned from landfill.
how solar panel recycled
In the future, it has been projected that a national working group will conduct a COAG Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) to evaluate industry-led and co-regulatory solutions for solar panels, as well as the ensuing regulatory and economic implications. A national working committee will advise the federal, state, and territorial governments on the best management strategy.
Check out this end of life management steps to be taken by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) here.
So, are solar panels recyclable is not the question that is puzzling but when and how efficiently it can be achieved in our country is the current concern. The government is working on several projects and rebate schemes to make solar energy accessible to the mass. The next big thing to figure out is recycling, for which the authority is already constructing prospective plans for the near future.

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How Long do Lithium Solar Batteries Last

how long do lithium solar batteries last
Solar batteries are the most valuable and rewarding addition to your solar setup. Among many kinds of solar batteries available in the market, like lead-acid and flow batteries, Lithium-ion batteries are considered to be the superior choice. The return on investment in Li-ion batteries is promising, which is why many solar battery companies and EV companies are gravitating towards it.
Now the question is, how long do lithium solar batteries last? Generally, Li-ion batteries are capable of providing you with sufficient backup for 5 to 15 years, depending on the brand, build, and how you have been treating the battery. So, it’s safe to assume once you invest in high-quality solar batteries, you can expect them to be by your side for a minimum of 10 to 12 years on average.
If you are wondering about battery backup in case of a power outage or a blackout of several days, then there are many attributes to take into account in this instance. How big the battery is and what you plan to run using the battery is what will shape the figure in hours of battery backup.

Brief Discussion on How Li-ion Batteries Work

For your ease of understanding, let us discuss the battery on a cellular level in its simplest form. So, in its simplest form, Li-ion battery, the anode (negative side) is made out of graphite, and the cathode (positive side) is made of lithium metal oxide, which is the essence of this battery. Both the anode and cathode are submerged in an electrolyte which in this case is lithium salt. Also, there is a separator in between, which helps in the exchange of electrons.
how long do solar batteries last
While the entire system is up and running, positive ions of lithium flow through the electrolyte to the negative side of the system to the anode to form a bond with the carbon of that side. While this is happening, an electron gets released in the cathode side as a reaction to what’s happening as a whole. So, the lithium metal oxide is now a lithium-ion, metal oxide, and a stray electron. This is what happens at the cellular level when you are charging the lithium cell.
Now let’s see what happens when you discharge electricity from it, AKA using the battery. At this stage, the electron flows in the opposite direction, which is basically what electricity is. A load is connected at this point of discharge, and the flow of electrons keeps the battery working.
Li-ion batteries are generally considered better despite being a tad more expensive than others because they are-
  • Smaller in size
  • Easy to maintain
  • Has a greater DOD (Depth of Discharge)
  • Offers more generic cycles to go through
  • Has a longer lifespan
  • Capable of fast charging

How Long Do Lithium Battery Last in a Blackout – Solar Battery Backup

On average, every Australian household that opts for a solar battery goes for no less than a 10kW battery backup option, which can provide your family with sufficient electricity for an entire day during a power outage. Here is a breakdown of the exact kilowatt-hour usage of a lithium solar battery if used strategically throughout a 24 hours span. Click here.
But if you opt for a battery even bigger, you can go for longer without a grid connection. Off grid homes are the epitome of an example of how a battery backup, along with solar panels, works in synchronization to run a household without any utility grid connection. The battery is charging as you use it or not to form a seamless flow of electricity in such cases.

Factors that Influence Solar Battery Lifespan – Dod

solar battery lifespan
Every battery on the market has a Dod (Depth of Discharge) percentage that the manufacturer advises. Dod is the maximum amount of solar battery that can be used before it has to be recharged. The more Dod, the longer you can go without charging the battery. If your 10kW solar battery, for instance, has a 95% Dod, you may consume around 9.5kW of the electricity before plugging it back in.
You can use the entire battery at once, but you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions to keep it in excellent condition and extend its lifespan. Otherwise, this costly investment won’t provide the greatest results possible.
More and more individuals are converting to home batteries as technology improves because they are capable of storing excess energy that is produced by fully green sources like solar panels, hydropower, and wind. Being self-sufficient with a home battery is the best approach to eliminating your carbon footprint and becoming totally energy-independent.
By selecting the get help tab down below, you can schedule a free consultation appointment with one of our solar professionals to learn more about your energy usage pattern and how you can also become energy independent.

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Costs and Considerations for Solar- Solar for Beginners

Costs and Considerations for Solar
One of the core incentives that drive the shift to renewable energy is the financial aspect of it and how one can significantly reduce their energy bill with solar. So, that’s two terrific goals met with one move, which is going solar!
We want to help you transition. Before you make the decision to go green with solar, there are so many things to think through. But for starters, the first thought is most probably how much is it going to cost and will that be worth it? We understand your concerns, and for that reason, here is a brief discussion on costs and considerations for solar.
solar cost in australia

Solar Consultation – Get the Perfect Quote

There are a lot of solar installers who are eager to serve you. Not each and every one of the quotes offered by them will be the best fit for you; thus, sift through your options. Get to the CEC (Clean Energy Council) website and search through the list of approved installers. Find the ones nearest to you and compare some of the quotes. Ask the following questions to figure out the best one-
  • What is the cost breakdown of the quote given to me?
  • What is your industry experience and track record?
  • What warranties am I getting, including the products and your warranty as installers?
  • Any post-installation services if needed?
  • Who do I talk to if I face any issues after installation?
  • If replacements or repairing are needed, who is going the bear that cost?
  • How long will the installation take?
  • Am I getting the benefits of federal and state rebates?
These are just the basics, and there will be more questions throughout the entire process as you go by. However, there is no alternative to good research. As this is an investment, we suggest you do tons of research beforehand and then dive in to go with a solar installer. Only then can you ask the right questions.
You can follow our regular blogs to get a good grasp of the entire process piece by piece here.

Know Your Solar System – How Does Solar Energy Work

Knowing the basics of how the solar system works will always work in your favor during the installation process and decision-making as a whole. The solar system is a package that consists of solar panels, solar inverters, and sometimes solar batteries as well.
Silicon, one of the most prevalent elements on earth, is used to make PV systems. Different silicon kinds and alignments are used to create various types of solar panels – Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. The monocrystalline solar panel, which is produced using silicon ingots rather than silicon pieces assembled into a panel like the polycrystalline ones, is the most widely used and better form of solar panel.
A solar inverter is then attached to the solar panels, converting the DC (Direct Current) power produced by the panels into AC (Alternating Current), a type of energy that can be used in your home.
solar for beginners
Your daily activities require the generated electricity, while the excess power is returned to the utility grid. In exchange for your contribution to the grid’s energy, you receive power credits that you may utilize at any time of day. A grid-tied system can always acquire electricity from the grid, just like it always did, if you don’t have enough credits or generated electricity to power your home.
The difference is that today, as opposed to in the past, you pay far less for the electricity you borrow from the grid. It’s a whole other ball game for those who have solar batteries. In that case, you can ditch the grid entirely and live on your solar system completely. Of course, in that case, you will need to have an equally excellent solar system that is not going to be cheap. But hey, you are never going to have to pay a single dime for your power bill while living a carbon-free life.

What is the Basic Cost of Solar?

The initial cost of solar depends on so many external variables if you are looking for a figure in total. But, if you are looking for prices of the panels only, $3000 is a good starting price for a quality solar panel; however, as we said before, it depends on a lot more.
For example, a bigger house requires more power, thus more solar panels to provide for the needs. A bigger family with more members to cater to will also have a greater demand for power. What about the future? Are you going to expand your family? Do you have any changes planned for the future? Let’s say in 5 years; your life can change for the better and drastically. Would the system that you are choosing right now be able to keep up with you then? Solar panels generally have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. That is a long time, and to get the most out of your system, you have to take these little things into consideration.
As industry experts, we know the challenges of installing solar and how to work through those as we have been doing this for a good ten years. If you would like to know how you can enjoy the benefits of solar minus the hurdles, claim a free consultation session with us today.

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How Long Do Solar Batteries Last | Solar Battery Lifespan

How Long Do Solar Batteries Last
Due to the advancements of recent government rebates and many energy-saving projects, adapting to the renewable energy lifestyle is becoming the new normal. In that train of thought comes the idea of getting solar batteries. Solar batteries are the single most awesome addition to your rooftop solar that can double the benefits of having solar overnight!
Now that I have made it clear that getting solar batteries is something you should be considering, there are other attributes of a battery that you should know. Not all solar batteries will serve you equally, and even getting solar batteries now will not make sense for every household. So, before making the commitment getting to know about them should be your no.1 priority.

How Solar Batteries Work

When the sunlight hits the silicone-made solar panels, they start making electricity from direct sunlight and pass that through a solar inverter to transform the generated electricity into a usable form. Strictly technically speaking, there is no true end or pause of the electricity generation of PV panels until they hit their expiry date, which is like 25 years and 30 for some brands.
solar battery australia
Without solar batteries, the additional electricity generated by the panels will be exported to the grid, against which you will get Feed-in-tariff. Fit rates are generally not very charming. In that case, solar batteries are added to the solar system. They store that surplus of power for you to use when the peak demand hours charge a lot to import power from the grid. Saves you a lot of money in comparison to what you will make through Fit.
Getting batteries also aligns with the government’s recently developed Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS), to be inaugurated on 1st November. PDRS focuses on reducing energy usage at the peak hours of the day by incentivizing the installation of efficient gadgets and more. You can do your part by using energy-efficient gadgets and relying on battery units as opposed to the utility grid for a change. This change saves you money and saves mother nature in the long run, too; it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

How Long Do Solar Batteries Last

After purchase, a high-quality solar battery system should provide you with support for the next 15 years. However, there are batteries on the market that have an 8-to-10-year lifespan but are less expensive. To be honest, there is no reason to settle if you are considering investing in solar batteries in the first place. Because it is an investment, if you combine it with a high-quality solar system, clearly, it can give you free energy for as long as it lasts.
There are also many types of solar batteries which serve you at different capacities and run for a different number of years. The most popular types of solar batteries are lithium-ion batteries and led acid batteries.

Lithium-Ion Battery

lithium-ion battery technology is preferred by battery companies because of its greater DoD (Depth of Discharge), dependability, capacity to store more energy for a longer period of time, and smaller size. However, lithium-ion batteries are more costly than lead-acid batteries owing to their advantages.

Lead-Acid Battery

Since they have been available for so long, lead-acid batteries—which employ the same technology as the majority of automobile batteries—have been extensively used as in-home energy storage units for off the grid power choices. Although they are still available on the market at reasonable costs, their popularity is dwindling because of their poor DoD and short lifetime.

Solar Battery Cost- Would This Break My Bank?

Each kWh of solar battery storage used to cost between $3000 and $3600 for the battery alone, without including installation fees. For each kWh of solar battery storage, you may currently expect to pay between $1200 and $1400. Prices have dropped by almost 52%, and things can only get better from here.
Does this mean solar batteries are now affordable? Not really, but the benefits of having a battery backup system more than outweigh the expense.
However, just like any other category, there are also luxury brands of solar batteries. But in this aspect, these brands tend to provide and outdo the competitors in many cases which come, you guessed it, at a price. For example, Tesla batteries. Tesla’s solar battery cost can easily defeat others in the category in terms of being expensive.
Additionally, there are several key factors to consider to make when purchasing solar batteries, including the battery’s kind, compatibility with your solar panel system, brand, and installation company.
Most of them will have an impact on the price range.

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When Does the Solar Rebate End in Victoria | Full Guide 2023

When does the solar rebate end in victoria

Energy experts are confident that the extended solar incentives program launched by the federal government and the state government would accelerate radical departure from gas as it strives to cut carbon emissions in half by the end of the decade. Along with the government rebate, which comes in the form of certificates, there is also a solar rebate in Victoria in place known as the solar homes program for the resident of Victoria.  

The Federal Australian Government solar rebate is set to end by the year 2030. That brings us to the topic, when does the solar rebate end in Victoria? The straight forward answer to this question is, it hasn’t been decided yet. However, the government website does release the rebate amounts allocated for solar, batteries, solar hot water and business every second Wednesday of each month.

Victorian Solar Rebate- What Exactly is Available?

So, under the solar homes program, there are several rebates for different needs of the house that ultimately contributes to lowering your electric bills and decreasing your carbon footprint. Which are-

  • Solar panel (PV) rebate – Current rebate value is a maximum of $1400
  • Solar for rentals rebate – Current rebate value is a maximum of $1400
  • Solar battery rebate – Current rebate value is $2950
  • Solar hot water rebate – Current rebate value is $1000
  • Solar for business rebate- Current rebate value is $3500

NB- the aforementioned amounts are subject to change. To be informed on the subject at all times, please follow the government website or get in touch with us.

solar rebate vic

The Nitty-gritty of The Solar Homes Program- VIC Solar Rebate

The Victorian government is providing with this phenomenal opportunity for your household to take full advantage of solar. Wondering if you can embrace both the federal (STC solar rebate) and the state rebate at the same time to double the benefits? You absolutely can. But keep this mind that you can only grab one incentive from the solar homes program.

Not just the $1400 PV rebate, you can also claim an equal amount in the form of an interest-free loan. This loan shall be paid off in the span of 4 years. That means if your solar system costs around $2800, initially, you will have to pay $0 upfront cost.

You cannot just claim the monetary benefits and the interest-free loan directly from the government. You will have to make a deal with a government-approved installer like us, who will claim the rebate by going through all the official processes on your behalf and adjusting the amount from the cost of installation.

In this context, there can be many situations one could be facing. Those who are homeowners and those who are not; those who already have a rooftop solar system and those who don’t; those who are looking forward to installing a home solar battery, all of these situations require different actions.

Firstly, the ones who do not have a PV system. In this case, the government rebate on solar, the rebate comes in a straightforward manner. Upon meeting all the eligibility criteria, you can claim the solar rebate, which will be calculated on the basis of your system size and cost, amounting to $1400 max. Along with this, you are also free to claim the $1400 interest-free loan. If you already have a PV system, it has to be 5kW or greater to claim one of the incentives from the solar homes program. Under-construction houses are eligible to claim the PV rebate upon meeting the criteria.

That is general business when it comes to installing solar panels.

There are also incentives for installing the solar battery, but when you have already claimed another rebate under the solar homes program, the battery rebate will not be available.

Houses that are connected to the grid can only claim the Vic solar battery rebate, not the off grid houses, unfortunately. Also, the homes which are under construction are also not eligible to claim the battery rebate amounting to $2950 max.

Keep in mind that you will have to apply for pre-approval from the Distributed Network Service Provider (DNSP) before adding solar batteries, as they will be grid connected to be qualified under the VIC rebate program.

How Does the Process go of Claiming the VIC Solar Rebate – Step by Step

authorised installer

The process is not that complicated. But you must appoint a government-approved retailer and also use all the approved components (solar panel, battery, inverter) to claim the rebate. Here is how the process goes from start to finish-

Step 1: You have to get in touch with an authorised solar retailer and get a quote from them.

Step 2: Upload the received quote in the Solar VIC portal.

Step 3: Check your eligibility to receive the solar rebate.

Step 4: You will receive confirmation from them after a while. Be patient in this step and avoid any monetary deals until you receive the final confirmation from the government.

Step 5: If you are proven to be eligible, you will receive a unique eligibility number and a QR code.

Step 6: Provide the QR and code to the installer to scan, and they can proceed with the installation.

Am I Eligible?

Here are some general eligibility criteria to receive the VIC solar rebate-

  • Your combined taxable household income shall not surpass $180,000 per annum
  • The property on which the system will be installed must not be valued at more than 3 million AUD
  • No rebates/incentives were received prior to this one under the solar homes program
  • Only those who have installed solar before 1st November 2009 can apply for VIC solar rebate to install or expand the existing system
  • Required documents – proof of income, proof of property ownership, council rates notice etc.

You can be eligible for both the federal and state rebate at the same time. There are several online STC certificate calculator online to get a rough idea too. However, if you want to know specifics we can help.   

In conclusion, the entire process of claiming the VIC solar rebate might look challenging; however, with the help of experts in the industry, you can rest easy. Go solar and grab this amazing opportunity that our government is rewarding us with before it’s too late.

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Other Benefits of Solar

Other Benefits of Solar

What are other Solar Benefits?

Anytime you can make your own electricity, that’s energy that you don’t have to purchase from your local utility your winning!
As electricity costs continue to increase, especially with longer and hotter summers predicted as our climate continues to warm, making the switch to solar is the best way to lock in decades of predictable energy savings. Go even further and add a battery for extra security when the grid goes down.
off grid solar
If you’re considering solar for your home or business, don’t just stop with the monetary savings as your main source of motivation. It’s also important to consider the following four eco-friendly advantages:

Going solar will reduce greenhouse gas and CO2emissions

Going solar will reduce greenhouse gas and CO2emissions
The average Australian home consumes on average 19 kWh of electricity per day. Even a modestly-sized solar energy system can easily reduce that number by 80% while many can even approach 100%. Even at these levels, the environmental impact of solar is substantial.

Add an electric vehicle (EV)

EV charger
It’s pretty obvious that driving an electric car means fewer if any, visits to the petrol station. Opting for an EV also means offsetting 100% of a traditional car’s harmful C02 emissions. But what many people don’t realize is that if you charge that EV from a non-solar home, all you’re doing is moving the energy cost from the petrol station to your monthly energy bill. A properly designed solar energy system will power your home AND your car while!

Solar reduces water pollution

Solar reduces water pollution
This one is a little less obvious, but certainly one of the biggest environmental advantages of solar. While all manufacturing processes require some water, including those used to make solar panels, the total amount of water needed to generate solar electricity is dramatically less than more traditional electricity sources. Older technologies such as nuclear, natural gas, coal, and hydroelectric facilities, all require massive amounts of water.
With solar energy, there’s almost no risk to local water resources, nor does their operation strain local supplies by competing with agriculture, drinking systems, and other vital water needs.

Solar reduces strain on nonrenewable resources

Solar reduces strain on nonrenewable resources
The global population will continue to grow, but our Earth only has a nonrenewable amount of oil, coal, and natural gas to give up. The sun is Earth’s most abundant energy source, producing a staggering 173,000 terawatts of solar energy every second! That’s more than 10,000 times the world’s total combined energy use and it’s available again and again. In contrast, fossil fuels are dirty and totally non-renewable. At some point, they will simply be gone. Going solar is the best way to hedge against the reality of dwindling resources.

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When Does the Government Solar Rebate End | Update 2022

When Does the Government Solar Rebate End
Under the federal government’s Renewable Energy Target (RET), there are separate schemes to facilitate the solar rebate in order to encourage  consumers into getting a solar panel system. There are federal as well as state incentives in place to encourage the green energy source usage in people’s lives. This way, Australia can transition into becoming one of the leading countries to emit less and less Green House Gases (GHG) in the upcoming years. The government does not plan on continuing the scheme forever. So, when does the government solar rebate end? All the schemes under the RET will be put to an end by the year 2030. So, as time passes, your chances of claiming the rebate reduce bit by bit.
government solar rebate
There are many aspects of the rebate and adjacent facts about it. Under the RET, there are mainly two schemes that provide small-scale solar owners and large-scale solar owners with a financial incentive that helps keep the prices down.
Keep on reading to know more about the government rebate.

Renewable Energy Target

Australia’s federal government established the Renewable Energy Target (RET) in 2008. Two programs under the RET make it easier for owners of small- and large-scale systems to get Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) and Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), respectively.
These certificates each represent a megawatt-hour of power that was conserved via the use of renewable energy sources. Prices for LGCs and STCs are determined by supply and demand for the certificates rather than by any one body.

What is STC?

STCs are available to households and small enterprises who have or need solar panel systems with a capacity of 100KW or less. Additionally, the yearly electrical products cannot be no more than 250kW. Within a year of installation, certificates must be generated.
Keep in mind that STCs may only be produced by installers who have been certified by the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Additionally, all three components—panels, inverter, and battery—must be included on the CEC list of permitted parts. They won’t be qualified for the program if they don’t.
solar rebate
With this plan in place, the Australian government is attempting to shift some of the burdens away from non-renewable energy sources, which is the main culprit behind increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Deeming Period

In the year 2030, the government intends to abolish the initiative. The financial incentives or the STCs formation permit rate gradually but certainly decrease with each passing year. The deeming period denotes this timeline.
Essentially, it’s the number that tells you how many years are left before the government rebates end, and it’s used to calculate the number of certificates (STCs) to be generated by the approved installers. Simply put, on that premise, a preliminary estimate of STC is produced.
The first calculation of the number of certificates that may be produced is done by adding the estimated amount of MWh of energy that can be obtained from renewable sources up until the year 2030.
But this figure is impacted by the diminishing deeming period, so the earlier one installs an energy-saving technology, the greater the financial incentives one may receive, and vice versa.
small scale technology certificate

State Solar Rebate

Apart from the federal solar incentives, there are also state solar rebates for specific states that make the transition to the greener source even smoother.
The Victorian government is offering up to a $1400 rebate for PV installation to its residents. With that, there is also an option to claim an interest-free loan of the same amount if the residents are proven to be eligible for such a scheme. A set number of rebates are allocated with each release, and currently, there are 9705 numbers of rebates waiting to be claimed by Victorian residents.
Know more about the Victorian state solar rebate here.
There is also a state rebate scheme going on for the residents of NSW. This initiative offers free 3kWh solar energy systems to low-income homes in a few NSW areas. If you reside in one of the Central Coast, North Coast, South Sydney, Shoalhaven Illawarra, or South Coast low-income household rebate regions, you may be eligible for a free solar system from the NSW government.
However, keep in mind that in order to use the scheme, people must own their property and be content enough to give up their low-income household rebate for 10 years.
Know more about the NSW state solar rebate here.

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Can I Add a Battery to My Solar System

Can I Add a Battery to My Solar System
With a vast majority of the population opting to go solar to retaliate against the increasing power bills and grabbing the opportunity of declining solar battery prices, it’s safe to say we are heading in the right direction. Many of us already have rooftop solar, and in an attempt to get the most out of the solar system, adding a solar battery should be on top of our priority list. Kudos to you, as you are already thinking about it, judging from the fact you are here in the first place.
So, the topic of discussion is, can I add a battery to my solar system if I wish to? The short and simple answer to that is yes, yes, you can. However, there are some things that you need to double-check before you think about it. Although solar battery prices are indeed falling, they can’t just be labeled as something cheap, not yet.
Before we jump to that, it’s essential to know the basics of how solar battery works.
adding solar battery with panels

How Solar Battery Works?

There are two types of solar battery storage systems to consider when on the topic. One is AC coupled, and the other is DC coupled solar battery.
In an AC-coupled system, solar panels produce DC power, which is then converted into AC electricity via a solar inverter. Your house appliances may then get this AC power, or it may go to another inverter, which will convert it back to DC so that it may be stored in a battery system. Any power that is stored in a battery system for AC-coupled systems must be reversed three times before it can be used back in the house.
On the other hand-
A DC-coupled system means that there is no inversion of solar power from DC to AC and back before the electricity is stored in the battery. Instead, DC solar electricity flows from solar panels to a charge controller that immediately feeds into a battery system. Any solar-generated electricity will only undergo one inversion (from DC to AC), either when it travels from batteries to your home’s electrical system or out to the power grid. With a DC-coupled system, your house is inevitably dependent on the battery for its primary source of energy if not connected to the grid.
Besides that, built-wise, there once again are several types of batteries available in the market. For instance, nickel-cadmium batteries, flow batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and lead-acid batteries. Because of their low cost, lead acid batteries are by far the most common option among all of these battery kinds. However, they need regular maintenance and are vulnerable to damage if not handled carefully. Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, are also growing in popularity lately.
Now that you are familiar with the basics of solar batteries, here is a list of things to check before you can add a battery to your solar system-

Existing Solar Inverter Compatibility

As discussed above, there are two types of solar battery storage systems which work in two different ways. Just like the batteries, there are different types of inverters that do the energy conversion of solar-generated DC electricity differently.
Your existing solar inverter can be a hybrid inverter or a standard inverter. In case you have a standard inverter, you are going to have to go through a bit more trouble. I will explain everything; bear with me.
DC VS AC coupled solar battery
You see, a standard inverter is only capable of converting DC to AC for the house to use. So, when you have a standard inverter, there are about two ways you can go by. The first option is to get rid of this system and add a charge controller, which can regulate the solar energy into going to the battery first, and tie it with a battery inverter that will supply electricity to your house. Needless to say, this is quite the expensive route to take as charge controllers that are able to take such a huge load are not cheap.
The second route to take, in case you have a standard inverter, is to opt for an AC-coupled system. This way, your system remains the same; it just gets an addition of a hybrid inverter with batteries. In this scenario, when the grid is down, the hybrid inverter steps up to keep the entire thing up and going. Without the hybrid inverter, your solar system will shut down if the grid goes down, but with the addition of the hybrid inverter, the sine waves produced by it trigger the standard inverter to keep on generating electricity, which then gets stored in the battery bank. Also used in the house.
Then comes the situation where you have a hybrid inverter. In this case, adding the battery bank will be a breeze as this one is equipped to convert both ways. Thus, saving you the hassle of getting to figure out the whole thing once again.
However, there still remains the question of how much load the inverter is able to handle and so many other things. For all these calculations and figuring out, I believe it’s best to just leave things to the professionals.

Budget

With a minimum value, you can get yourself a working battery or an amazing one. You have to figure out what your needs are and take into consideration your area, your future demands, etc.; with the calculation of everything, you have to map out a budget for the solar battery. There are many companies, including us, who can sort you out a financial plan; also, there are government rebates to help you become energy independent.

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