STC’S (Small-scale Technology Certificate) are a federal government rebate given when panels are bought for a system. The rebate is calculated based on the system location, date of install, and the amount of electricity it’ll produced within a timeframe. Each system is given a set amount of rebates totalled at $37 each and the full amount is taken off your system price.

Panels to be installed on boats, or motorhomes, and second-hand panels are not applicable for STC’s.

When installing solar, your area may be eligible for flexible exports. This means that when we install your inverter, we will set the export limit at either a fixed export of 1.5kW per phase, or a flexible export between 1.5-10kW. On the flexible export option, the grid will automatically adjust your export to control the grid condition.

Recently, on hot, sunny days, the exported power from homes with solar have been overloading the grid, so flexible exports is a means to contain that issue.

Flexible export began in October 2023, and are constantly expanding eligible areas. Those with existing solar will not be effected. To learn more please visit the SA Power Networks page.

Yes, you certainly can. We have installed systems on shaded roofs many times, using either Tigo optimisers or with a full Enphase system. These sorts of systems are designed to make the most out of what sunlight you can get. If you’d like to know more, just give us a ring 🙂

Yes. When you are on the high feed-in tariff we can replace a like-for-like inverter (or panels) within a margin of 0.5kW of what you are approved for. If you wish to upgrade your system to a size greater than what you have, then you will lose your high feed-in, but we can have you stay on it until the day of install. Installing a battery will also void the feed-in.

There are very few inverters that could run circuits in a grid failure if you don’t have a battery. The power produced by a system in a power-outage is based entirely on the weather at that moment. On a bright, sunny mid-day you might have enough power to charge your phone and maybe have a light on. While on a over cast day or through the night, the system likely will not produce anything usable. If you are still keen, just give us a call and we’d be happy to talk through options.

Yes. If you want this option, let us know in the design stage and we’ll make sure it’s possible.

In some cases, Yes. Retro-fitting more solar or a battery is possible if you wish to “add” to a functioning system. This involves installing another inverter to manage a second group of panels if you want more output, or a battery if you would like storage.

Visit our Retro-fit Battery page for more information.

The reason we might not be able to simply ‘wire in’ more panels (or a battery) is based on manufacturing standards. After a number of years, sourcing compatible equipment becomes a lot harder. Most companies stop production and relevant testing of older equipment, so replacing the system or retro-fitting becomes more affordable.

VPP’s or Virtual Power Points (such as Amber) are available for most hybrid inverter & battery systems that are installed. Through your service provider, the power you produce and store can be connected to a “public grid” of those on the same VPP, ready to be bought and sold at usually a better price than the Grid could offer.

If you have a battery and are interested in joining a VPP, give us a call and we could walk you through it, or browse through your systems settings to join one.

An AC-Coupled battery system is when you have panels and a Grid-tied inverter, and you wire in a battery by connecting it to your switchboard.

The system works the same way as a battery system with power coming in feeding to the house first, charging the batteries second, and exporting any excess. It does have some disadvantages like losing 5% more power when charging the batteries, and if there is a grid failure, the stored battery power isn’t accessible. 

Yes, this is possible. We do advise that the battery be installed within as few years as possible of the hybrid inverter, as securing a battery that is still compatible with the inverter might become difficult. We are also happy to seperately quote the battery with finance options if you’re keen but finding money a bit tight. Often the difference between paying a big electricity bill and repaying the battery is favourable.

When you have a battery you have a bit more stored power to work with. Even then, only a few selected circuits can run. On the day of install, Jason will let you choose your circuits. The advised ones are the fridge and a set of lights. Nearly all inverters we sell have this option so let us know if you are interested.

Companies all across the world are constantly coming out with newer technologies for solar. More often than not, these technologies take years to release from their initial announcements, and in that time you could have installed and had a system pay for itself already. The amount you could save while waiting for newer tech is usually more than the wait could be worth.