Clear answers before you choose solar

Solar panels make electricity from daylight. They first produce a type of electricity your appliances cannot use directly, so an inverter changes it into the electricity used around your home. Panels still generate on cloudy days, but the amount changes with sunlight, shade, roof direction and other site conditions. Read the Australian Government’s solar panel guide and inverter guide.

Your home uses the solar electricity being made at that moment first. Extra electricity can charge a battery, if the system has one, or be sent to the grid. When solar is not producing enough, your home draws the balance from the grid. Learn more about battery storage options.

There is no single savings figure for every home. The result changes with how much electricity the system produces, how much you use while the sun is shining, the prices on your electricity plan, shade, weather, maintenance and the installed cost. A feed-in tariff is the credit your retailer pays for extra solar electricity sent to the grid. That credit is often lower than the price you pay to buy electricity, so using your solar power at home can be more valuable than exporting it. Use a recent bill and check the assumptions in any estimate. The Australian Government explains how solar savings are calculated.

There is no standard payback period. It changes with the installed cost, system design, when you use electricity, the prices on your electricity plan, how much power can be sent to the grid, weather, maintenance and future electricity prices. Use the Australian Government-supported SunSPOT solar and battery calculator for an independent estimate, then compare its assumptions with your written quote.

Small-scale technology certificates (STCs) are part of an Australian Government incentive for eligible solar systems. They can reduce the upfront price when the right to create them is assigned to a registered agent. The benefit varies with the system, location and installation date, and the equipment and installation must meet the current rules. Check the Clean Energy Regulator’s current STC guidance.

It depends on the current program rules, your property and your circumstances. Check Solar Victoria’s current programs and eligibility criteria before allowing for a rebate or loan in your budget. Victorian programs are separate from the federal STC incentive, and eligibility for one does not confirm the other.

Compare the exact model numbers, the amount of solar or battery capacity, compatibility with your home and any existing equipment, monitoring, Australian support and the full written warranty. Your quote should also spell out what is included, excluded and assumed. Check that the proposed products are on the current eligibility lists for the federal incentive. Our pre-installation guide gives you more questions to ask before deciding.

Read the full written warranty, not just the number of years in the headline. Check the product, performance and installation terms, what is covered or excluded, who handles a problem and whether support is available in Australia. Your automatic rights under Australian Consumer Law are separate from a manufacturer warranty. Read the ACCC’s solar and battery guidance, and check our exact terms in your written quote.

Not automatically. A standard solar system connected to the grid usually switches off during a blackout for safety. Backup needs a suitable battery and inverter, plus the right switchboard setup, and it may power only selected parts of your home. Tell us which appliances matter during an outage before choosing a design, and read the Australian Government’s battery guidance.

The first step is a free phone consultation. We learn about your home, electricity use and goals, then prepare an estimate after the call. If you want to continue, we arrange a site visit and provide the firm written quote afterwards. Book your free consultation.

Yes. We offer solar maintenance and energy-efficiency consulting. Tell us what equipment you have or what you want to understand about your electricity use, and we can discuss the right next step.

We are based in Tullamarine. Call 03 9935 6355, email info@senaustralia.com or use the contact page. Please contact us before visiting the office.