Apart from the benefit of cutting your household’s carbon footprint, solar systems can significantly improve your electricity costs and, in some cases, completely eliminate them. Some customers even get paid by the electricity company for the solar energy they generate at home.

PV stands for Photovoltaic, which is the technology that solar panels are made up of to convert sunlight into electricity.

First, the sun shines on the solar panels, which generate electricity from the sun’s radiation. This energy is collected by the panels in the form of DC current electricity, similar to the current used in car batteries. The solar panels are then connected to an inverter that converts the DC electricity to AC, the same current found in your home. For more information on how this works, please visit our solar education section under the learning center tab.

The energy output of a solar system depends on several factors. It is dependent on the size of your system, with larger systems generating more energy. Factors such as weather and climate in your area also affect the amount of energy generated. Areas with fewer cloudy days will generally generate more electricity. For more detailed information regarding your specific circumstances, please contact our team.

In ideal circumstances, a 1.5 kW system will generate approximately 6 kWh per day. Our team uses a principle of multiplying the system size by 4 to estimate the daily energy generation.

For a household using 8,000 kWh of electricity per year or 24 kWh per day, a system size of 5-6 kW is recommended to cover the entire electrical demand. It is also suggested to have a battery system installed to store the sun’s energy for evening load demands. For more detailed information regarding your specific circumstances, please contact our team.

Solar systems are almost maintenance-free. They have no moving parts and require minimal maintenance. The panels need to be kept free from obstructions such as dust and leaves, but the weather’s wind and rain usually take care of this. After installation, you will be given user guides that detail the system’s maintenance needs.

Solar systems continue to work even on cloudy days and in winter. While the amount of sunlight collected by the panels may be reduced, the system will still generate electricity. To counteract reduced sunlight, adding more solar panels and a larger-sized inverter is suggested. For more detailed information regarding your specific circumstances, please contact our team.

The answer depends on the type of system you have or choose to install. Customers with battery-powered systems will receive power from the batteries after the sun goes down. Only when the batteries are depleted will the system switch over to grid-based power. Customers with grid-tied systems do not have batteries and draw power directly from the grid at night.

Once again, this depends on the type of system you have or choose to install. Most grid-tied systems without batteries have a built-in protective feature called “anti-islanding” to prevent electricity generated by your system from flowing back into the grid during a power outage. Systems with batteries that use the grid as backup can still provide power during outages, depending on the type of inverter used. To have power outage protection, it is best to choose an inverter that can detect a power outage and form a separate circuit independent of the grid. For more detailed information on available technologies and your specific circumstances, please contact our team, who are experts in these systems.

There are three main types of residential solar installations commonly used in Australia. The first is the battery-powered system with grid backup, which we recommend for its financial benefits. This system is similar to a self-sufficient off-grid system but utilizes the grid as a backup electricity source. The second type is the off-grid system, which is completely self-sufficient and independent of the grid. These systems are often used in remote areas and rely on energy storage in batteries. The third type is the grid-tied system, which doesn’t have batteries and relies on the grid for electricity supply. For more information on these systems and their benefits, please refer to the packages section on our website or contact our team.

The cost of installing a solar system varies depending on the equipment you choose and the installation location. For more detailed information regarding your specific circumstances, please contact our team.

Solar Heroes offers a variety of system brands to our customers. We do not favor any particular brand or country of origin. We listen to your needs and offer systems that best suit you. In our experience, systems and components manufactured in Asia are very reliable and, in some cases, even more reliable than those from other countries. As technology advances, it is wise to consult with us to discuss the best options available.

We maintain warehouses in every Australian state and stock a wide variety of brands and styles of equipment. We do not insist on a particular brand or type of equipment as we understand that each situation is unique and may require different systems. If we don’t have the equipment you require in our warehouse, we can order it for immediate direct delivery Australia-wide. Rest assured that all equipment used and installed by Solar Heroes is CEC approved and meets Australian standards.

The number of panels installed on your roof depends on the size of the system and the wattage of each panel. As a general guideline, a 3 kW system would typically require 12 panels with a wattage of 250 watts each (12 x 250 = 3000). If 300-watt panels are used, only 10 panels would be required.

Mounting hardware is ordered with the equipment. The type of mounting system used depends on the type of roof and the roof material. For detailed information specific to your circumstances, please contact our team.

Yes, solar panels are recyclable. They contain materials such as glass, aluminum, and semiconductor materials that can be successfully recovered and reused in new solar panels or other products.

While having solar panels on an angle may increase efficiency, studies show that the gain in efficiency is small compared to the cost of installing angled brackets. With the affordability of panels, it is more advantageous to install additional panels on flat surfaces to compensate for the minimal difference in efficiency.

Solar Heroes has a network of installation specialists throughout Australia who are ready to handle your installation requirements. For more details, please contact our team.

The time required to install and start producing energy depends on the type of system and whether any meter changes are needed. It can range from 1 week to 8 weeks. The actual installation of the equipment typically takes a few hours, but additional time may be needed for account changes or meter updates by utility providers. For more detailed information regarding your specific circumstances, please contact our team.

Solar panels are designed to withstand exposure to extreme weather conditions, including rain and hail. In fact, solar panels are often more resistant to hail and heavy weather than many roof tiles. Rest assured that the panels we install are built to withstand such conditions.

As a general rule, solar system warranties are divided into different categories:

25 years for panel efficiency
7 years for workmanship
10 years for the mounting kit
10 years for the inverter
10 years for batteries
At Solar Heroes, we provide excellent after-sales service, and if you encounter any issues with your system, please contact us, and our staff will assist you in resolving them promptly.

Once you decide to proceed with a solar system installation, our expert team will guide you through the following process:

Discussion and Consultation: Our team will have a detailed discussion with you to understand your needs and preferences. We will provide expert advice and help you find the best solution for your requirements.

Property Inspection: We will organize an inspection of your property where the solar system will be installed. This allows us to assess the feasibility of the installation and make any necessary recommendations.

Quotation: Based on the consultation and inspection, we will provide you with a comprehensive quotation that includes all relevant installation costs and system details. This quotation will be sent to you for approval.

Deposit and Scheduling: Once you approve the quotation, you will be required to transfer the deposit to secure the equipment and schedule the installation. This deposit ensures the availability of the necessary components and resources for your installation.

Balance Payment: The remaining balance for the installation will need to be transferred 24 hours prior to the scheduled installation date. This ensures a smooth and timely completion of the installation process.

Government Inspection and Meter Changeover (if applicable): If your system is to be connected with the electricity grid, there will be an inspection conducted by an independent government assessor. We will handle the organization and coordination of this inspection. Additionally, if required, we will liaise with the electricity distributor regarding any changeover of the electrical meter.

Throughout the process, our team will be available to address any queries or concerns you may have. We strive to make the installation process seamless and efficient for our customers.

To learn about our store’s policy on shipping, returns, and cancellations, please visit the following link: Shipping, Returns & Cancellation Policy. This page contains comprehensive information regarding our policies regarding shipping, product returns, and order cancellations. Please refer to the link for specific details and guidelines.

Solar-powered electricity is not limited to standalone houses. Solar Heroes offers systems that can be integrated into multi-dwelling buildings.

We recommend that owners of apartments or units who are interested in setting up a solar system reach out to the body corporate of their buildings to discuss the possibility. Alternatively, you can ask us to directly communicate with the members of the body corporate.

The Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme was implemented by the Australian Government in August 2009. Its aim is to ensure that 20 percent of Australia’s electricity supply comes from renewable sources by 2020.

STC stands for Small-scale Technology Certificates. They function as an electronic form of currency and are tradable like shares. When you install a solar system, the value of the STCs is used to significantly reduce the upfront cost of the system.

The number of STC certificates applied to your system depends on its size and the estimated energy generation, which varies depending on your location.

You have the option to trade STCs yourself by registering with the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) to receive a spot rate on the market. However, many customers choose to let us handle the STCs. In this case, we purchase the certificates from you and apply a credit on your system upfront. For more detailed information based on your circumstances, please contact our team.

This is not entirely accurate. STCs are traded on a spot market, similar to the stock exchange, and the price fluctuates based on supply and demand. Historically, the price per STC has ranged between $10 and $39. Additionally, STCs can be traded in the ‘clearing house’ where sellers wait three months to be paid a fixed rate of $40 per STC. However, the spot market usually offers a cheaper price than $40. For current STC pricing and more information specific to your circumstances, please contact our team.

No, moving premises requires a new connection application for the solar PV system at your new address, and you will lose your 44 cent tariff agreement.

Customers who receive the 44 cent and 66 cent rates installed their systems when these rates were available and are eligible to keep them until July 1, 2028. To maintain these rates, customers must adhere to strict guidelines, such as consistently paying their bills, not modifying or upgrading their system, and not transferring the agreement to other premises or names. In other words, they cannot move or transfer the billing into someone else’s name.

Australia is renowned for its sunny climate, yet we often underutilize our abundant sunlight. Sunlight is a natural and clean energy resource, and once you cover the initial cost of installing a solar system, all the electricity generated by your solar system is completely free. With a lifespan of over 25 years, imagine the significant reduction in your household running costs over this time.

There is no standard answer to this question as it depends on various factors, such as the size of the system, the kilowatts produced by the system, and the amount of power consumed by your house during daylight hours. For more detailed information tailored to your specific circumstances, please contact our team.

Yes, by reducing Australia’s dependence on coal-generated electricity, we not only decrease CO² emissions but also alleviate the strain on water resources required for power generation. Currently, 130 billion liters of drinking water are used solely for coal-based electricity generation. Additionally, widespread adoption of solar panel systems would reduce stress on the electricity grid, minimizing the occurrence of blackouts during peak electricity usage periods.

Absolutely. Installing a solar system increases the value of your property by at least the net cost of the system. It becomes an asset that adds value to your home and appreciates alongside it. Any upfront costs you incur will be recouped when you sell the property. In the meantime, you benefit from free, clean, and green electricity.

Depending on the size of your system, investing in solar could reduce your family’s carbon footprint by up to 6.9 tonnes per year. To put it into perspective, one tonne of carbon covers an area of 10m x 10m in the atmosphere, representing a significant reduction in pollution.

The energy required to produce solar PV panels will be offset within 2-4 years, depending on your climate zone and the level of sunshine, by the clean energy that the panels will generate.

Considering solar panels are warranted to perform for 25 years, you can enjoy at least 21 years of free, clean energy from your solar system.

If you upgrade your inverter to a larger capacity, you will no longer be eligible for the 44 cent tariff. Any increase in inverter capacity requires you to submit a new network connection application based on the current tariff.

You can decrease the capacity of your inverter at any time without affecting your eligibility for the 44 cent tariff. However, you must adhere to the technical requirements specified by your electricity distributor when making any changes to your system. It’s important to ensure that your system remains compliant with the relevant Australian Standards.

No, if you initially obtained approval from your distributor for a 5-kilowatt inverter but installed a smaller 3-kilowatt inverter, you must inform your distributor before the installation to update the inverter details. The updated inverter capacity (3 kilowatts) will become your approved capacity. If you later decide to upgrade the inverter to 5 kilowatts, you will need to submit a new application for the premises and will receive the tariff available at that time for your total household solar PV output.

It’s important not to install a larger inverter than the one approved by your distributor.

Yes, you can add more panels to your system without affecting your eligibility to continue receiving the 44 cent rate. However, it is essential to ensure that your system remains compliant with the relevant Australian Standards. Notify your electricity distributor of your intention to add panels to your system.

Yes, the Solar Bonus Scheme allows for like-for-like replacement of components if a component requires replacement, without affecting your eligibility for the 44 cent tariff.

The Solar Bonus Scheme allows for like-for-like replacement of components if a component needs replacement. However, increasing the inverter capacity will impact your eligibility for the 44 cent tariff. If an inverter of the same size as your original one is not available, you must install a smaller inverter to remain eligible for the 44 cent tariff. Ensure that your system remains compliant with the relevant Australian Standards.

Adding battery systems to your solar power setup allows you to further maximize your electricity bill savings. By storing excess power generated by your solar system, you can use it at night or during cloudy periods instead of relying on the grid. In a hybrid setup with grid connection, batteries provide backup power in case of a shortfall in stored power.

Yes, if your inverter has an islanding feature, it will continuously monitor the availability of grid electricity. In the event of an outage, the inverter will disconnect from the grid and supply your home solely with electricity from the battery. The duration of backup power depends on factors such as the size of your battery bank, the stored energy at the time of the outage, and your electricity consumption during the outage. Make sure to request islanding or blackout protection when purchasing your battery system.

Lithium battery banks used in solar systems can last for 20 years or more when properly set up and operated.

The latest battery technology is compact and does not require significant space. It can be as small as a microwave or as large as a full-size hot water tank, depending on the size of the battery bank you choose.

We offer various types of battery systems, but we recommend using lithium batteries, which utilize the same technology found in laptops and mobile phones.