Solar for Business Solar Panel (PV) Buyers Guide

By the end of 2020 there were more than 2.66 million Australian homes and businesses with solar rooftops. Victoria accounts for 18.5 per cent of Australia’s installed rooftop solar.

Installing solar has financial benefits

Many businesses want to know if their bill savings will be big enough to justify a solar electricity system.

The clearest answer to this can be found by working out the payback time of a proposed system, which is how long it takes for electricity bill savings to cover the installed system cost, and the annual bill saving, which shows the ongoing financial benefit after the payback period has been reached.

DEECA have a Solar Calculator on the Victorian Energy Compare website.

Today’s grid-connected systems should pay for themselves between seven and nine years in Victoria even without the solar panel rebate, depending on factors such as location, energy retail tariffs and a business’s electricity consumption patterns.

Quality solar panels last at least 25 years, so that initial investment should repay several times over compared with the cost of buying electricity from the grid.

Each system installed helps the environment

Many people are focused on the environmental benefits when choosing to install a solar system. Although solar systems still have an environmental impact through the resources required to produce them, such as lithium used in batteries, they create far less of an environmental impact than electricity generated by fossil fuels.

They also do not create any greenhouse gases when generating or storing electricity, helping businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate change. As a bonus, any solar generation that isn’t used is sent back to the electricity grid and ultimately used by other consumers, reducing their environmental impact, too.

Solar PV checklist: What to consider before buying a system

• Confirm that your system can be connected to the grid
• Learn about solar panel types
• Find out why you need a good inverter
• Do you want a battery system one day?
• Work out how much energy you use
• Think about system size
• Seek out a reputable installer
• Double check any quotation
• Get a good warranty

Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)

Your new system is also eligible for Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). This is effectively a payment made to purchasers of small renewable energy systems for the value of the emissions reduction they create. The quoted price of the system from your installer will have the STC discount included in the final price.

Selling your surplus electricity with Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs)

Any excess electricity generated throughout the day can be sold to the grid through your electricity retailer for a feed-in tariff, which is a fixed rate paid to solar users per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity exported to the grid. Feed-in tariffs vary across states and territories, between retailers, and in some states, even across distribution networks.

Not everyone will be able to feed excess energy into the grid and your local distribution network service provider should inform you if this is the case.

Businesses should consider the tax implications of any revenue received from feed-in tariffs.

It’s a good idea to investigate whether you will be able to feed excess energy into the grid before buying a system. Your solar retailer should discuss any constraints on exporting energy into the grid with you as part of the quote process.

Victoria has minimum tariffs set every financial year by the Essential Services Commission, and electricity retailers must pay these or higher rates. Find out more about Victoria’s feed-in tariffs at the Essential Services Commission website(opens in a new window).

Compare offers from retailers at Victoria’s Energy Compare website(opens in a new window).

How does grid-connected solar work?

Most solar customers choose a mains grid-connected system for the reliability that such a system offers. Your business can draw electricity from the grid when insufficient electricity is being generated by the solar panels.

Any electricity produced by the solar electricity system but not needed by your business at the time it is produced is simply fed into the mains grid, with a feed-in tariff paid to the system owner.

Check with your energy distributor that your premise will be able to feed excess energy into the grid. Grid-connected systems have two main components, the solar panel array on the roof, and a grid-interactive inverter, connecting into your switchboard and electricity meter.

Grid Connection

Approval for grid connection from your Distribution Network Service Provider (DNSP).

The DNSP is the business that owns and operates the electricity network – poles and wires – in your area. They are responsible for the physical connection of your system, and business, to the electricity grid.

The process and technical details for grid connection will vary depending on your specific electricity distributor. Find your electricity distributor on the Electricity Distributor section of Victoria’s Energy website(opens in a new window).

Pre-approval for grid connection

Before you proceed with installing your solar system, you may be required to get pre-approval for grid connection from your Distributor.

Pre-approval ensures that your system will be able to be grid connected once it is installed.

Not everyone will be able to feed excess energy into the grid and your distributor should inform you if this is the case. Your solar retailer should discuss any constraints on exporting energy into the grid with you as part of the quote process.

System size and grid connection

For most small systems (up to 5kW) and in most locations, the process of grid connection is streamlined.

Your distributor will advise you of your ‘export limit’; which dictates how much excess solar generation you can feed back into the grid for a feed-in-tariff. These limits should be considered when selecting the size of your system. For systems larger than 5kW, you may be subject to a negotiation process with your distributor for grid connection.

Speak to both your distributor and solar installer first and find out as much information as you can with regards to likely timeframes, information requirements and costs. You may need to engage an energy professional to assist you to negotiate the grid connection process.

System components: panels + inverter

Solar panels

Solar panels are made from many solar cells connected together, with each solar cell producing DC (direct current) electricity when sunlight hits it. Find out more about solar panels in Finding the right solar panels for your system in section four of this guide.

Inverters

A solar inverter is a vital part of a grid-connect solar electricity system as it converts the DC current generated by your solar panels to the 230 volt AC current needed to run your appliances.

A grid-interactive inverter is the most common type of inverter. It requires the mains grid voltage to be present or it will shut down for safety. This means that if there is a power failure, your solar system will shut down and will not supply energy until after the mains grid returns to normal.

Hybrid, or multimode, inverters exist as well, which are designed to work with a battery (if one is installed) and as a grid-interactive inverter as well, allowing you the best of both worlds. Hybrid inverters can feed energy into the grid from either the solar array or the battery bank.

Some hybrid inverters can be installed in such a way that they can isolate themselves from the grid and continue to provide power from solar panels and batteries if the grid is down.

Find out more about inverters in Finding the right inverter for your system in section 5 of this guide.

Below are some of the key issues to consider and discuss with your system installer and distributor.

Technical specifications

The technical and other requirements specified by distributors for grid connection are beyond the requirements imposed by Australian Standards (Such as, AS/NZS 4777 Series and AS/NZS 5033) and those specified by state or territory safety regulators.

Your installer must be aware of these technical specifications for connection to your specific electricity distributor.

The eligibility criteria listed in the ‘Notice to Market’ is in addition to the connection requirements listed by DNSPs/Distributors, national standards, as well as requirements to access other federal/government incentives (such as STCs).

Connection agreement and charges

The process and guidelines for obtaining grid connection vary significantly between distributors.

Distributors are required to negotiate ‘in good faith’ a ‘fair and reasonable’ agreement and charge for connecting your system to the network. In reality, the costs can vary significantly depending on your location, distributor and retailer. Check and clarify these costs, and the process, early and often.

Metering

Grid connection requires an electricity meter that allows recording of bi-directional electricity flow to measure energy going to and coming from the grid. Most Victorian Businesses have Smart Meters, which can do this already. But if your business premise is one of the small number of Victorian locations without a Smart Meter, you will need to upgrade.

Speak to your distributor about the process for this, and whether there will be any cost.

What about batteries?

One way of maximising solar electricity is to store it in a battery for use when you need it, rather than when it is generated.

Battery systems have been around for a long time but have been complex and generally too expensive to consider with grid-connect solar PV systems.

That is changing with the introduction of simpler modular battery systems, which means that you can start with just one battery unit and add more if and when needed.

When buying a solar panel system you should consider whether you want to ensure that it is also battery-capable if you want to upgrade.

Types of solar panels

There are three common types of solar cell:

• monocrystalline
• polycrystalline; and
• thin film.

They are made in different ways and have different performance qualities. If you’re interested in the detail of their different manufacture techniques, performance characteristics, and the pros and cons of each, find out more in Renew magazine’s Solar System Buyers Guide.

Otherwise, the important thing to know is that regardless of the panel type, the specifications of solar panels show their capacity, price, expected lifespan and other performance characteristics that determine what their energy output will be. These specifications are discussed here.

Why is panel wattage and size important?

When buying a solar panel system the main specification to be familiar with is the system size in watts. For example, a 3kW system may be made up of twelve 250 watt panels. This watt specification is known as the rated peak power, which is the maximum power generated by the panel under the manufacturer’s test conditions. But what does panel wattage mean for energy generation?

A larger wattage system will generate more energy in the same installation, but actual energy generation will depend on many factors, such as sunlight hours, clouds, temperature, shading and panel orientation. As a rough rule of thumb, find out the average peak sun hours per day in a particular location to get the average energy generation over a year. For example, a 4kW system in Melbourne with average peak sun hours of around 4.6 should theoretically generate around 14.5 kWh of electricity per day, on average, over a year—more on sunny days and less on cloudy days; more in summer and less in winter.

For example, it’s common for solar systems in Victoria to generate more than twice as much in December as July.

Some solar panel manufacturers and retailers have solar output calculators on their websites to help you work out how much energy a proposed system might generate.

When to use larger wattage panels and smaller wattage panels

Using panels with a larger wattage means that fewer panels need to be installed. This simplifies installation, making it faster and cheaper. However, panels of any size can be used for any type of system. For odd-shaped roofs a larger number of smaller panels may enable more generating capacity than fewer larger panels, but the final.

Advice on panel quality and selection

Quality counts at the cell level but the overall manufacturing of panels is also crucial. If assembly systems are substandard, some issues can arise that may shorten the life of solar panels or cause increased degradation over time.

One such issue with crystalline cells is that of microcracks—tiny cracks in the cells that can enlarge over time with thermal cycling (as the panels heat up and cool down each day) or with poor handling practices.

Microcracks have the potential to reduce the current generating capacity of any cells affected, and hence the overall output capacity of the panel.

How can you really tell which panels have been manufactured to the highest standards?

Some solar businesses may refer the ‘tier system’. For example, they may say that their panels are Tier 1, 2 or 3. The tier system relates to the reputation of the manufacturer and solar industry analysts assign panel manufacturers into one of three groups, with the big long-standing manufacturers with a good reputation for quality and performance in Tier 1, and smaller, newer manufacturers in Tiers 2 and 3.

The Clean Energy Council maintains a list of all solar modules (panels) and inverters that meet Australian Standards for use in the design and installation of solar PV systems. This is a more reliable indicator of good quality panels.

To be eligible for rebates, including the Solar for Business rebate, panels sold in Australia must have Clean Energy Council approval, demonstrating that they have been tested and meet Australian and international standards.

Panel efficiency

Panel efficiency is a measure of the output of the panel in relation to its collection area. Currently, panel efficiencies are in the range of around 4% to 22%, with most being in the 14% to 18% range. If you have limited roof space, panels with higher efficiency will mean you can fit more generation capacity than you could with lower efficiency panels. Of course, higher efficiency panels will generally cost more, too.

Panel efficiency is largely dependent on the technology used, though, and isn’t necessarily an indicator of quality.

Power tolerance

If a panel has a power rating of 250 watts with a tolerance rating of + or - 5% then this means that the actual panel wattage could be 5% more or 5% less than 250 watts. Higher quality panels tend to be underrated and so have a positive power tolerance rating, for example ‘+5%’.

Testing and consumer feedback

There are a number of other testing and certification systems that can help identify higher quality panels. The Clean Energy Council’s Approved Solar Modules list indicates which panels also meet these higher standards:

• VDE Quality Testing and IEC 62941 Certification are two quality standards for solar PV module durability that meet a higher level than the International Standard
• IEC 62804 Certification is an international standard for crystalline solar PV modules’ durability against degradation caused by high voltages
• IEC 61701 Certification is an international standard for resistance against salt mist corrosion for solar modules installed in coastal areas.

The Clean Energy Regulator also has a solar module validation scheme for solar installers to check that the panels they are installing are genuine, and on the approved solar modules list. Ask your installer whether they are participating in the Solar Panel Validation (SPV) Initiative.

The Desert Knowledge Solar Centre has tested numerous solar panels and the results are published on their website. Based in Alice Springs, the DK Solar Centre has around 37 individual solar arrays of various brands and models being continuously tested. Read the data at the Desert Knowledge Solar Centre website.

Another source of information on panel quality is from those who own them. Solar system owners like to write reviews on their systems, both good and bad, so look around in the popular forums for owner experiences. One of the most popular Australian forums is Whirlpool Green Tech.

If I’m planning to get batteries down the track, which panels should I get?

The solar panels used in systems with batteries are no different to those used in systems without batteries. Systems with batteries usually have a different inverter and when adding a battery to an existing system it’s not uncommon to replace the inverter, however it’s not always necessary. Alternatively, you can add a second inverter, and some battery systems come with them included.

For more information, see Finding the right inverter for your system.

Recent developments in panel design

A variant on crystalline cells are PERCs (passivated emitter and rear cell). Already in use in some modules, these are designed for higher efficiency by reducing recombination in the cell (where electrical charges recombine before they have a chance to be used); however, this currently comes at a price premium.

Another recent development is the ‘half-cell’ or ‘half-cut cell’ panel. Instead of 60 large cells for example, the panel may have those 60 cells cut in half to form 120 cells half the size. This means that the connections between the cells are carrying half the current, reducing resistive losses by a factor of four. Not only do half-cut cell panels produce greater output than full cell panels, they also have better shade tolerance as they have twice the number of cell strings, so a smaller area is affected if just one cell is shaded. Click here(opens in a new window) to find out more.

But every one of the two million solar systems already installed in Australia includes at least one inverter, which can be thought of as the heart of the system—if it’s not working, your solar generation is wasted.

In a nutshell, an inverter takes electricity from a power source that produces ‘DC’ electricity, such as solar panels or a battery system, and converts it into mains-equivalent 230 volt ‘AC’ electricity ready for use in your house.

AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current) are two different forms of electricity. Mains electricity is AC and PowerPoints and light fittings utilise AC electricity, but many small appliances convert it to DC before using it.

Why you need a good inverter

It is important to have a good inverter. In grid-connect systems, an inverter failure means your solar panels are doing nothing until the inverter is repaired or replaced. Still, it’s worth remembering that even the best inverter is unlikely to last as long as the rest of your system. Solar panels should last more than 25 years, but inverters are not generally expected to last much more than 10 or 15 years. You can expect to replace your inverter at least once over the life of your solar PV system.

Which inverter for your needs?

Grid-interactive inverter

Most currently installed grid-connected solar PV systems use a grid-interactive inverter. A grid-interactive inverter converts the energy from solar panels into mains power and feeds it into the house’s electrical wiring. The panels are connected to the inverter as a series of connected strings with each panel feeding into the one following it, much like fairy lights. If one panel suffers reduced output, such as by shading, it can affect all panels in that string. As indicated by the name grid-interactive, these inverters can export energy into the grid, and require a grid connection (or an equivalent 230 volt AC supply) to operate; if the grid goes down (i.e. a blackout) then they stop operating.

Microinverter

Another type of grid-interactive inverter is the microinverter, which is designed to be mounted on the back of a solar panel to make the panel itself a grid-interactive module. These are ideal for those who want to start small and increase their system over time, or for systems where the array may be partially shaded. In a solar system using microinverters, each panel is independent of the others and not affected if other panels are shaded.

Hybrid inverter

When a system also includes energy storage (batteries) it gets a little more complex, as the inverter needs to deal with charging and discharging the battery in addition to generation (solar panels) and the grid.

Systems with batteries often use a more complex type of inverter called a hybrid inverter, which can feed energy into the grid from either the solar array or the battery bank.

Many hybrid inverters can also power a property from the batteries and solar during a power failure, in effect becoming a large UPS (uninterruptible power supply). They can also charge the batteries from the grid.

This makes many hybrid inverters true bi-directional devices, and many, if not most, can handle all of the energy flows in an energy system. Some can even divert the excess solar energy to a particular load, such as a water heater, replacing the need for a separate device, known as a solar diverter, for this purpose.

However, hybrid inverters are not essential for solar PV systems with batteries. Batteries can be used with standard grid-interactive inverters or with microinverters, usually by adding an extra inverter, or by using a battery with a built-in inverter.

These types of setups, though, don’t necessarily have all the extra features of hybrid inverter-based systems.

Get the right advice

Remember to seek out independent advice to plan your system. The Victorian Government also has a range of programs and initiatives to help businesses plan for their energy needs. Visit the Victorian Energy Saver website for more details.

Work out how much energy you use

Your electricity use is recorded on electricity bills measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Look for a figure that gives average daily usage, and review as many bills as you can to see how this figure varies throughout the year.

Your Smart Meter records your electricity usage every half hour, and this data can give you a much more detailed view of your electricity usage, including how it varies at different times of day and on different days of the week. You can download a spreadsheet of your Smart Meter data from your electricity distributor – however unless you know how to use spreadsheet software (such as Microsoft Excel) to understand what the data can reveal, it may not be useful to you. Fortunately, all the Victorian electricity distributors have online portals that you can log in to and see detailed information about your electricity usage displayed in an easy to understand form.

The distributor is the company that owns the poles and wires in your street and transports the electricity to your premises. This is the business you call to report faults and emergencies and is different to your electricity retailers who sends you your bills.

To find out which distribution network you are in, you can look on the back of your electricity bill or go to the Electricity Distributors section of Victoria’s Energy website(opens in a new window).

The four Victorian distribution network web portals are:

• CitiPower and Powercor
• United Energy
• Jemena
• Ausnet Services

Energy advice businesses may also use your smart meter data to give you advice about your usage, or to help you plan a solar PV system.

It’s worth also reviewing your gas bills. If your gas use is high then, over time, inefficient gas appliances can be replaced with modern electric ones to make the best use of your solar electricity system, but this means your electricity consumption will be higher.

The bigger is better approach

Modelling by non-profit organisation Renew shows that a larger system can have a shorter payback time, which is the number of years until bill savings recoup the installation cost.

Things can change with changes in government policies, FiTs and STC prices (the federal rebate for solar’s contribution to the RET), so evaluate quotes at the time of purchase to estimate your payback period and determine the best system size for your situation.

To get an idea of average solar system costs by size, go to the Solar Choice Commercial Price Index(opens in a new window).

Constraints on big solar systems

If bigger is better, how big should you go? Roof space is an obvious factor. Most people have budget constraints and have to prioritise their spending. Don’t ignore other investments that may pay off even quicker, such as insulation, gap sealing, window shading, LED lights and efficient appliances.

Electricity distributors may limit the size of solar systems connected into their grid. If you’ve got a normal residential single-phase connection, solar systems up to 5 kW in size are usually no problem, however, going larger often requires extra paperwork or may not be allowed. Confirm the process for larger systems for commercial premises with your distributor. The limit is based on the inverter capacity, not the total capacity of the solar array – this is one reason it has become more common to oversize the solar array by up to 33 per cent above the inverter capacity (a 6.6 kW solar array on a 5 kW inverter).

Your distributor may also limit the amount of excess energy that can be fed back into the grid for the feed-in-tariff. This could affect the payback period and the total value you get from the system, so again, verify this with your distributor before you proceed. Refer to “Grid-connected solar explained” on page 14 for more information.

Siting considerations

The company you engage for your solar purchase should do an on-site analysis to ensure your site is suitable for solar panels. The following advice will help you get the most out of your solar installation.

Which direction?

Ideally a solar site is a north-facing roof or ground space that is not shaded during the day. Panels may also be mounted on other roof areas and can face northeast or northwest or even completely east or west. However, the more the panels face away from north, the less solar energy they capture and the less electricity they can produce. For panels on an east or west facing roof with a 20° pitch, average daily generation will decrease by up to 15 per cent.

Maximising total system generation is not always the key consideration. Some businesses may instead want to generate more when they are more likely to be using it, to maximise self-consumption of their system. In this case, arrays facing east and west may be preferable – generating less overall, and less in the middle of the day, but more in the morning and late afternoon/early evening. Other businesses may wish to maximise feed-in-tariff (FiT) revenue by facing some panels north, but others west or north-west to take advantage of time-varying FiTs. Talk to your installer about the different options.

Where the array consists of panels facing in more than one direction, the array should be electrically split so that each section of the array only consists of panels all facing the same way. In these cases it is usually best to use an inverter with two independent solar array inputs (most modern inverters have this) so that each array section operates independently, without being affected by the other. Using microinverters (explained in Finding the right inverter), which make each panel independent from the others, is another solution. DC optimisers (devices that attach to individual panels to improve their output) could be another option in certain situations – ask your installer.

Minimal shading

It is important that the panels are not shaded much during the day throughout most of the year, especially in summer. Because of the way panels are connected in ‘strings’ (one after the other in series, like fairy lights), if one panel has a shadow across it, its output is reduced and the output of all the other panels in the same string will be reduced by the same amount. If partial shading is unavoidable, the system installer should allow for this, by designing the system so that the shaded panels have the least effect on the rest of the system. This can be done in a similar way to managing arrays facing different directions; by putting all the shaded panels on one string and unshaded panels on another, by using an inverter with two independent solar array inputs; by installing optimisers on shaded panels; or by installing microinverters on each panel.

Microinverters are becoming more common because they maximise power output from solar panels, especially in shade situations. Find out more in Finding the right inverter.

Getting the pitch angle right

Panels are often set at the roof angle for aesthetic reasons and to simplify mounting. Slight variations in panel angle don’t make that much difference to the annual energy production, so unless you have a radically steep or flat roof angle, mounting panels at the roof angle is usually the best solution. It is important to have a tilt of at least 10° on the panels so that they can be washed clean by rain.

However, the panel angle should be considered if you want to maximise the energy output from your system at certain times of the year, especially if you want to maximise the total annual energy output. To produce as much electricity as possible, angle the panels to maximise summer solar input. To minimise the seasonal variation in generation, angle the panels more steeply to maximise generation during winter, when the sun is at its lowest and weakest. This approach is more common for off-grid systems, but if this is your goal you can work this out with your installer. Speak to your installer to discuss the optimal angle for your situation. Remember, the cost of angling panels more precisely may be more than the value of the additional energy generated.

Shading can impact the performance of your panels. It is important to work with your installer to design a system where shading has minimal impact.

Steps to purchase, install and connect a solar PV system

Keep in mind the following steps to installing a solar PV system for your business.

• Read this Buyers Guide to learn about solar electricity systems
• Gather your questions and seek independent advice
• Confirm your own business’s requirements – see the section on Planning your solar electricity system
• Seek recommendations on installers or companies that manage installation, and then contact those who are appropriately accredited for quotes
• Select your preferred installer
• Make sure the quote meets your needs, using our checklist can help
• Confirm that your system can be connected to the grid
• Install your new system
• Connect to the grid, arranged by your installer
• Enjoy your new system and reduced energy bills

Finding a retailer or installer

As with all major purchases, you should carefully consider both price and quality when buying a solar PV system.

New Energy Tech Approved Sellers

Retailers in the Solar Homes Program must fulfil our requirements, including being a signatory to the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC). The Clean Energy Council administers the NETCC program as the peak body for clean energy industry in Australia, including solar and battery retailers

This means that retailers in our program have committed to high standards across sales and marketing, quotes and contracts, delivery and installation, and warranties and support. They are known as New Energy Tech or NET Approved Sellers under the NETCC.

Customers doing business with a NET Approved Seller can be confident they are getting clear, honest information, quality installation, and good warranties.

Check the NETCC website for a list of NET Approved Sellers in your area and our list of authorised solar retailers to see if they are participating in our program.

Accredited installers

The person who installs your battery system also needs to be CEC accredited and must hold an unrestricted Class A Electrical Licence registered with Energy Safe Victoria.

A good installer will help you plan the right battery system to suit your household now and into the future. They will recommend the best position to install your battery system. Check if your installer is CEC accredited here.

How to be sure of quality?

You can be more confident in a solar retailer or installer if they provide you with a written quote and undertake a detailed generation analysis onsite, as part of a free ‘no-obligation’ quote. You should ask about the maintenance and operation requirements of your system, and don’t be rushed into making a decision.

You could also search for a potential retailer or installer online to see if there are complaints from other consumers or ask for references.

Consider how system faults will be handled

A warranty is only as good as the company that provides it. If the company disappears in a few years, you might have difficulty making a warranty claim should failures occur. It’s not possible to know the future of any solar panel manufacturer or installer, as some of the biggest players over the years have simply disappeared. Seeking out a retailer or installer with a long history in the business helps.

Also, be aware that under Australian Consumer Law, warranties are required to be honoured by product manufacturers even if retailers have gone out of business, so make sure you receive and keep information about the manufacturers of all the different components of your system, and the different warranties on each component.

Consumers have specific rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), regardless of any other warranty provided by the supplier or manufacturer. For more information about your rights visit the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.

What not to do when engaging an installer or company

Installing a solar PV system is something that you want to get right: after all, you only get one shot at the rebate, and a well-installed system with quality parts can continue to save you money for many years to come. A poorly-installed system or one with cheap components can be nothing but trouble.

Don’t buy a solar panel (PV) system from a door-to-door salesperson, or from a salesperson who cold calls you on the phone. If you have signed a contract in this way, take advantage of the 10-day cooling off period under consumer law to cancel the contract, and then take your time to do your homework, plan your system and find a quality installer.

Do not make any payment to a solar provider until your eligibility has been confirmed by Solar Victoria. Apply for eligibility on the Applying for a Solar for Business rebate page.

What to look for in a quotation

There are a number of details to check in any quotation for a new solar PV system. Check the panel’s performance specifications are what you’re after (see section on panel wattage for more).

Other factors to consider include construction quality, frame type and colour, panel dimensions and weight. Some panels may be more suited to your roof shape than others, especially when used on small buildings such as sheds.

Also bear in mind that different types of solar panels look different. Thin film panels have a uniform, plain appearance, while crystalline panels have distinct cells – sometimes quite obvious (they may have dark coloured cells on a white background, for instance), while others are designed to make the appearance of the cells less obtrusive. If appearance is a concern, make sure you see good photos of the panels before purchasing. Ask the installer if they have any photos of complete installations with those panels.

Check datasheets carefully for information on different versions of the same panel, and make sure you will be buying panels with all the features you are expecting to get. Talk to the supplier/installer and get a full part number for the panels, including any part number suffixes—that way you can be sure you know which variation of panel you are receiving. Also check out the manufacturer. Refer to the information in the Advice on panel quality and selection section for further advice).

Obviously, you want a long warranty. Pretty much all panels now have at least a ten year materials warranty and 25 year power warranty. Find out more about warranties in What warranties are available.

Inverters have their own separate warranties, usually between two and ten years. Ten year warranties are becoming more common, and while these inverters will probably be a little more expensive than ones with shorter warranties, it could well prove worth it in the long run.

Regardless of warranties, you can expect that the inverter will fail at some point, probably well before the panels do. You can also be reassured that if an inverter does need out-of-warranty replacement after ten years, the solar system is likely to have already paid itself back and saved you more (through lower bills) since reaching payback than the inverter replacement cost.

Also consider the mounting system and how it will appear on your roof, if that’s an issue for you. Systems that use racking usually have the rack rails extending past the edges of the solar array, and this can look unsightly if the array is in an obvious position. Mounting systems that require no rails might be the better option, but these may be available only for certain panels that have the appropriately designed frames. But this choice depends on what your chosen installer usually uses for panel mounting—they will have a preferred system and may be reluctant to use anything else.

Installer and quotation checklist

It’s worth considering the following when reviewing a quoted system:

• What is the total purchase price for a (XX) kW system?
• Is there a deposit required?
• Does someone inspect the property first to check the site is appropriate and whether extra installation costs might apply?
• What is the total waiting period from sign-up to installation?
• How many panels are required for a (XX) kW system and what size is each panel (in watts)?
• How many square metres will the panels require? What is the length/ width of each panel?
• What is the brand and type of solar panels and where are they made?
• What is the average daily and yearly kWh production for this system?
• What brand is the inverter and what’s its rated capacity?
• Does the inverter have a smaller or larger capacity than the panels or are they size matched?
• What does the inverter display show?
• What accessories, such as remote displays, are available for the solar system?
• Is there a monitoring service so I can check how my system is performing? Is there an extra cost for this?
• What is the warranty on panels, inverter, mounting frame and installation?
• What is the performance warranty on the system?
• How long is the warranty on the selected inverter?
• Are the solar panels and inverter made by the brand name company or are they made by a different manufacturer and relabelled? If so, who is the original manufacturer of the panels and inverter?
• Does the solar panel brand name company that honours the panels’ warranty have a base in Australia that I can contact if there are any issues with the panels? Also are there details of the company that honours the inverter warranty, if different? What are the phone numbers and addresses?
• For how long have the solar panel and inverter brand name companies been selling these products?
• How does the panel efficiency compare on quoted systems?
• What power tolerances are offered on panels within quoted systems?
• If the system is significantly cheaper or more expensive than average, why?
• What is the total cost of any insurance coverage before discounts and rebates? (Find out more about insurance in the Panel warranty from manufacturer section).
• What sort of after-sales service is available for trouble-shooting issues?
• What is the CEC accreditation number for solar installation?
• Do the panels have Clean Energy Council approval?
• Will the installer organise metering and switchboard modification, including the inspection and paperwork?
• Does the installer organise the application for the Federal Government STC subsidy? The business owner will need to apply for the Victorian Government’s Solar Panel Rebate.
• Is the installation work contracted out?
• For how long has the company been installing solar photovoltaic systems?
• Can the installer/company provide contact details of people who they have installed solar systems for, who would be happy to give a reference about their work?

The working life of a solar panel should be in excess of 25 years and many panels come with a 25 year performance warranty. There are several warranty types to consider.

Panel warranty from manufacturer

Most panel warranties have two parts, a construction/materials warranty and a power output warranty. The first covers the actual manufacturing quality of the panel and warrants the panels to be free of manufacturing and materials defects for a given time, usually ten years or so, but some manufacturers provide manufacturing warranties up to 25 years or more.

The performance warranty covers the actual panel power output and is given in the form of a percentage after a certain number of years. For example, a power output warranty might state that a panel will still produce 90% of its rated output after ten years and 80% after 25 years. Or it might be stated as a linear warranty with just one figure, say 85% after 25 years.

Any high-quality panel would be expected to still produce at least 80% of its original rating after 25 years. Under Australian consumer law importers are responsible for manufacturers’ warranties, so it’s important to know who your importer is because sending the panels back to the country of manufacture would be impractical.

To guard against this issue some manufacturers provide prepaid insurance at no extra cost, which ensures the warranty will be honoured even if the manufacturer goes out of business. Others provide comprehensive insurance, at an extra cost, which covers just about everything from theft to failure for a period of a few years.

WARNING: Remember to read the fine print on all insurance policies, including excesses. If the manufacturer pays for their product insurance annually, rather than it being prepaid in full, the insurance may lapse after the company becomes insolvent, meaning you can lose both warranty and insurance coverage.

Inverter warranty

A good quality inverter should last at least ten years, if installed properly, and given no accidents such as lightning strikes. Lifespan will vary, depending on a number of factors including ambient temperature, mains grid voltage and mains power quality. Many large electrical spikes, caused by large loads like electric motors, can eventually cause damage to even the best equipment.

Other factors that can affect lifespan are dust, heat, ventilation and pests or vermin such as mice or ants. To guard against the cost of an early failure look for long inverter warranties. Five years is a suggested minimum. A five year warranty with the option of buying an extra five year warranty is often available and can be good value and offer peace of mind.

Installation warranty

Another important aspect of the warranties is the installation or workmanship warranty. This is the part of the warranty that is the responsibility of the system installer and covers their workmanship as opposed to the panels or inverters within the system. It is also important to understand whether the installer or solar retailer will assist in enacting any manufacturer warranties should a fault occur with a major system component.

You have rights to protect you as a consumer if you have a problem with a solar panel (PV) system. This includes the rights you have under Australian Consumer Law, and additional entitlements under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC).

Retailers taking part in the Solar Homes Program are required to be signatories to the NETCC and have promised to follow this Code when doing business. The Code requires retailers to commit to high standards across sales and marketing, quotes and contracts, delivery and installation, and warranties and support.

Your consumer rights

Australian Consumer Law has rules for responsible marketing and selling, products being fit for purpose, and warranties being honoured. The New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) has higher standards in these areas. It also has requirements for New Energy Tech Approved Sellers about dealing with problems and complaints.

When you buy a system find out who you should contact if there is a fault and be aware of the warranties available with your system.

If you have a problem with a product, service or unfulfilled contract try to resolve it directly with your retailer first. Putting your complaint in writing gives you records of your dealings with it.

If you are unable to contact the business, or you do not receive a satisfactory response within a reasonable time, you could lodge a complaint with Consumer Affairs Victoria(opens in a new window), who may be able to assist.

The solar energy page on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website has advice on the next steps, from dealing with a faulty product such as a solar inverter, problems with installation and dealing with insolvent businesses.

You can also take your complaint further by applying to a court or tribunal, such as the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) or seek your own independent legal advice.

More information, including who to contact about your rights as a consumer, see Consumer protection.