Your questions answered in more detail.
Solar parties are a fun and social way to get your questions about solar rooftop installations and batteries answered. We have private info parties where the host invites friends and neighbours for a casual get-together and public info events in local community spaces. UPDATE: While the restrictions around COVID-19 last, all events are conducted online via Zoom.
There’s a presentation by Zero Emissions Sydney North and our solar installer partner, followed by a Q&A session. All up about 1.5 hours. Guests bring their power bills to find out how much solar they need and how much money they could save each year. They’ll learn about the cost of a new solar system and the attractive payback periods. If guests are interested in taking it further, they can choose to make an appointment with our installer partner for a home visit to receive a detailed quote.
Zero Emissions Sydney North is a not-for-profit organisation, run entirely by volunteers.
We are an educator and act as a coordinator on behalf of residents to help ensure they are offered high quality products and services at competitive prices. We have taken the hard work out of choosing from the large number of brands and providers on the market, and have negotiated competitive prices for you.
Our Solar My House partner makes a contribution to support our work and Community Giving Fund.
After extensive research, Zero Emissions Sydney North chose to partner with Solarpro, a family-owned local business from Allambie Heights, based on the following criteria:
Yes, feel free to get other quotes. You can contact installers directly or use a comparison website, such as locally owned Solar Choice. While our partnership is with Solarpro, we don’t mind which installer you choose – we just love seeing more solar on roofs!
When you compare quotes, please compare ‘apples with apples’ as there are differences in quality, length of warranty and workmanship. Cheap offers can imply any of the following problems: inferior product quality, inferior installation (cutting corners when laying cables and connecting panels), poor customer service or financial instability of the company and the inability to service warranties in the future.
The listed prices are for a standard installation, which is a single-storey house, colorbond roof and no split roofs. Extras will be charged for specific variations, such as two-storey house, terracotta roof including tile grinding, split roofs and a high pitch roof. Extras can add between 5 and 15% to the listed price. You will receive a detailed quote specific to your house after Solarpro has conducted a home visit.
Yes, generous rebates called ‘Small-Scale Technology Certificates’ (or STCs) are still available but will decline to zero by 2030. As a customer, you do not need to claim the rebate. Solarpro does this for you. All our solar system prices are quoted net of rebates. STCs only cover solar, not batteries.
Presently, for a 5kW system, STCs reduce the solar system’s price by around $2,650, which is between a quarter and a third of the total price.
Solar helps you save money in two ways:
Estimated power bill savings in the first year
| Benefits | 5kW system | 7.7kW system | 10kW system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar system cost1 | $7,200 | $10,000 | $12,800 |
| Estimated kWh produced per year | 7,300kWh | 11,242kWh | 14,600kWh |
| Money saved if 40% solar consumed | $1,300 | $2,000 | $2,600 |
| Money saved if 60% solar consumed | $1,500 | $2,400 | $3,100 |
| Plus Battery cost2 | $11,500 | $11,500 | $13,800 |
| Money saved if 85% solar consumed (with battery) | $1,800 | $2,800 | $3,600 |
This estimate uses the following assumptions:
1 Mid-range option, standard installation: REC 325W panels and SolarEdge inverter
2 LG Chem for 5kW and 7.7kW system and Tesla Powerwall 2 for 10kW system, standard installations
Depending on the solar system you buy and your energy consumption profile, the payback can be as quick as 4 years, at the most 7 years. The payback is quickest if you use a lot of the solar energy in your own home during the day rather than exporting it to the grid. Switch on energy-hungry appliances like electric hot water during the day and run your dishwasher and washing machine while the sun is shining. If you have a pool, operate the pump during solar peak times. Once you have paid off the system you will be generating free electricity for many years to come with high quality solar systems lasting 25 years or more.
If you add a battery, your payback will be longer but can still be worthwhile.
| Payback years | 5kW system | 7.7kW system | 10kW system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar system cost1 | $7,200 | $10,000 | $12,800 |
| 40% solar consumed | 5.5 years | 5 years | 4.9 years |
| 60% solar consumed | 4.8 years | 4.2 years | 4.1 years |
| Plus battery cost2 | $11,500 | $11,500 | $13,500 |
| 85 % solar consumed (with battery) | 10.4 years | 7.7 years | 7.3 years |
1 Mid-range option, standard installation: REC 325W panels and SolarEdge inverter
2 LG Chem for 5kW and 7.7kW system and Tesla Powerwall 2 for 10kW system, standard installations
For most solar systems you do not need Council approval. Solar systems larger than 10KW used to require Council approval but this threshold was scrapped in recent changes to the State Environment Planning Policy .
If your property is in a heritage conservation area, a planning permit is needed if the proposed solar system would be visible from a primary road. Depending on the circumstances a “Heritage Exemption” may be issued by Council.
For further advice, please contact your local Council:
Solarpro offers three different options for solar panels – good (Suntech), better (REC), best (LG). You cannot go wrong with any of them as all three panels are quality, high-performing products.
The LG panels are one of the most advanced panels on the market. They produce more power per panel than the other two options and more power in low light situations. This means that fewer panels are required for a given kW system size and you need less roof space. Importantly for our beach/harbour suburbs, the LG and REC panels are durable in salty conditions and have the highest corrosion resistance rating. And both have a much longer product warranty than the Suntech panels. For the duration of 25 years any panel failure will be repaired at no cost to you.
LG panels come at a premium cost. If your budget is constrained and you have plenty of roof space available, Suntech or REC may be the more economical option for you.
| Good | Better | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Suntech 330W HyPro | RE 325W Twin Peak 2 | LG355W NeON2 |
| Quality | Good | High | Premium |
| Product Warranty | 12-year | 25-year (20 year standard + 5 year Solarpro bonus) | 25-year incl. labour |
| Corrosion Resistance (for salty locations) | Good | Highest Level 6 | Highest Level 6 |
| Manufactured in | China | Singapore | Korea |
| Carbon footprint of manufacturer | Unknown | CO2 neutral production | CO2 neutral production |
| Solarpro Partnership | No special partnership | Solarpro are “REC Solar Professionals” | Solarpro is “Platinum Partner in LG Dealer Network” |
Both Fronius and Solaredge are high quality, high-performing products.
Fronius, the less expensive option, is a string inverter. One inverter controls one or two sets of panels at the same time. It works well when all panels in a set face one direction (e.g. all North) and there is no shade.
Solaredge combines a string inverter with DC optimisers on each individual panel. Each panel can operate independently from the others, making it ideal for roofs with multiple aspects and permanent shading issues. Also, bird droppings or moving shade from clouds/buildings will only affect a limited number of panels rather than the whole set. Solaredge can produce up to 25% more power than a string inverter only system, but comes at a higher cost.
| Fronius | Solaredge & DC Optimisers | |
|---|---|---|
| Panel control | String inverter can control 1 or 2 sets of panels. Within a set it controls all panels at the same time. All panels perform to the capacity of the lowest-performing panel (e.g. if 1 panel is shaded, all lose capacity). | DC optimisers sit on each individual panel and panels operate independently from each other (e.g. if 1 panel is shaded, only this panel loses capacity). Especially important for roofs with multiple aspects & permanent shading issues, but also for bird droppings & shade from moving clouds/buildings. |
| Power production | Produces up to 25% more power than string-only inverters. | |
| Adding more solar panels in the future | Not easy | Easy |
| Safety feature | Leading safety feature (automatic shutdown, no voltage on panels) | |
| Quality | Very high quality, minimal failure rate | Very high quality, minimal failure rate |
| Warranty | 10 year warranty available if registration done online | Longest warranty in the industry: 12 years & extendable to 25 years |
| Battery | Can be easily coupled with AC batteries | Can be easily coupled with AC and DC batteries |
| Manufactured in | Austria; company in business since 1945 | Israel; company in business since 2006 |
| Consumption Monitor | For extra cost, consumption monitor available | For extra cost, consumption monitor available |
The consumption monitor is an ‘energy meter’ which sits on your meter board. It reports your household’s energy production and use in near real time. The monitor connects to a phone app so you can see exactly how much energy you are producing, how much you are using yourself and how much you are exporting to or importing from the grid. This helps you become energy-savvy and save more money by choosing when to run appliances and when to offload to the grid. The Fronius inverter and the Solaredge inverter offer a consumption monitor.
There is much debate about batteries at the moment. Depending on your energy consumption profile (how much electricity your household consumes and when you use most of your electricity), paybacks for a battery can vary between 7 and 10 years.
The cost of batteries will eventually come down due to economies of scale but may not do so for a while. You need consider the cost of waiting. If you buy a battery now, you will save money by consuming more of your own solar-generated electricity instead of buying from the grid at higher prices.
If you decide not to buy a battery right now, you can add one later. Our solar partner will make sure your solar system is battery-ready.
Batteries offer many functional benefits:
Battery owners have additional opportunities to make money by participating in a ‘Virtual Power Plant’ (VPP). VPPs enable you to sell electricity from your battery to the grid at times of peak demand when prices are high (called ‘grid events’). There are several VPPs commencing in Sydney North with different offers and paybacks. The VPP of Diamond Energy, our electricity retailer of choice, is called GridCredits100. It pays $1 per kWh when you discharge your battery during grid events. Find out more Diamond Energy GridCredits100
If you don’t already have a smart meter then you will need to have one installed. Smart meters measure the electricity sourced from the grid and the solar exported to the grid.
Once you have paid the deposit for your solar system, Solarpro will send the paperwork to your electricity retailer and they will install the smart meter. Solar-friendly companies like Diamond Energy, our electricity retailer of choice, will install a free app-ready smart meter quickly so that you can enjoy your electricity cost savings from the moment your solar system is installed.
In addition, older homes may need to upgrade the electricity switchboard, which will cost from $800.
It’s a good time to switch to a solar-friendly electricity retailer that offers a free smart meter, a generous solar feed-in tariff and supports renewable energy in Australia. Zero Emissions Sydney North recommends Diamond Energy.
Solarpro is responsible for the installation, services, products and warranties subject to the terms of your supplier contract. Zero Emissions Sydney North is not responsible for these matters, but is available to respond to questions about the offer.
If you have received a final quote from Solarpro, you can change your mind, you have no obligation to proceed with the installation of the solar system. However, once you proceed with the final quote by making a deposit/signing a contract, you have an agreement with Solarpro. If you change your mind after entering into a contract with the supplier, you will need to discuss this with Solarpro directly. Zero Emissions Sydney North is not responsible for these matters.
Electricity usage accounts for up to 48% of residential emissions**. By replacing a large amount of grid electricity with your solar energy, you are considerably reducing your footprint.
If you also switch to a renewable-friendly electricity retailer for the remaining grid power you have to buy, you are able to be carbon neutral. Your electricity usage will be zero emissions! Check out Diamond Energy, our electricity retailer of choice.
| Environmental benefits of solar per annum | 5kW System | 7.7kW System | 10kW System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated kWh produced per year | 7,300kWh | 11,242kWh | 14,600kWh |
| CO2 emissions saved per year | 5.38 tonnes | 8.29 tonnes | 10.76 tonnes |
| CO2 savings = equivalent to car km not travelled* | 31,370 km | 48,338 km | 62,740 car km |
** Source: Northern Beaches Council, Kinesis Report 2018 (residential emissions)
* Average emissions intensity for passenger vehicles in Australia is 171.5g/km, National Transport Commission Australia.
For every sale, Solarpro contributes to Zero Emissions Sydney North’s Community Giving Fund.
The Fund will be used to supply and install solar systems for local charities and not-for-profits. Lowering their power bills will free up funds for their core programs.
Zero Emissions Sydney North will not disclose your personal information to any third parties except for the purpose of putting you in contact with Solarpro. We will not use your personal information for external marketing purposes without your consent. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
Zero Emissions Sydney North is here to help – send us an email at solar@zerosydneynorth.org with additional questions and we will email or call you back.
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