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home-solar

How Does Solar Stack Up in Melbourne?

Many Melbourne-based households have already invested in solar panel systems. The answer to the question, “does solar stack up in Melbourne?”, is yes! In some areas, like Clyde, more than 70% of the building roofs are covered in solar panels.  Some years ago, solar panels were still considered to be very expensive. Because of this, the federal government introduced a rebate scheme to make it a more affordable investment. On top of this, a state rebate was introduced. The rebates are not as big as they used to be, which raises the question: How does solar stack up in Melbourne…Continue readingHow Does Solar Stack Up in Melbourne?

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home-solar

How Does Solar Stack Up in Adelaide?

Many households located in Adelaide have already installed solar panels on their roofs. Actually, around 30 to 40% of all homes in the South Australian capital city have invested in solar technology. The answer to the question “does solar stack up in Adelaide?” is yes. If you still use electricity through the grid, you might want to consider going solar. Adelaide has some of the highest electricity costs in Australia. This combined with the sunny climate in South Australia is making solar power very appealing. This alone makes solar stack up in Adelaide. In the last few years, the introduction of…Continue readingHow Does Solar Stack Up in Adelaide?

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home-solar

What are the Government Solar Rebates in NSW?

Although the original Solar Bonus Scheme in New South Wales concluded in December 2016, the state continues to provide financial incentives to households contributing to renewable energy generation, along with competitive feed-in tariffs. Rebate Swap for Solar offer In addition to the federal government STC rebate, the Rebate Swap for Solar offer targets low-income households in NSW by providing them with a free 3kWh solar energy system. Residents eligible for the low-income household rebate may qualify for this free solar system from the NSW government. It’s important to note, however, that participating residents must own their homes and be willing…Continue readingWhat are the Government Solar Rebates in NSW?

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home-solar

Microinverters vs Conventional Inverters?

When you are planning on installing a solar panel system, you will be able to choose between a wide selection of inverters including microinverters vs conventional inverters.  The inverter plays an important role, as it will convert the direct current (DC) generated by the solar energy system, to alternating current (AC) that can be sent through the grid. If you prefer a grid-tie solar panel system, an inverter is essential. Among the different types of inverters, you will find both microinverters vs conventional inverters. The latter is often referred to as central inverters or string inverters.  So which solution is…Continue readingMicroinverters vs Conventional Inverters?

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home-solar

Off-Grid: A How To Guide for Your Home

Many people across Australia have switched from on-grid power supply to off-grid self-supply in the last few years. By installing a solar panel system on your rooftop, you can get clean power from a renewable energy source, and reduce your carbon footprint significantly. Solar power is also cost-effective, and you can lower your monthly power costs. With an average payback period of four years (for grid-tie systems), you can expect the solar system to pay for itself. You will also get a rebate from the government when installing the system. So, how to take your home off-grid, and start producing…Continue readingOff-Grid: A How To Guide for Your Home

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home-solar

Solar Panel Prices – How Much Does a Solar Power System Cost?

Many Australians are planning to install a solar power system in their home but are not sure about solar panel prices. This is not only contributing to reducing your carbon footprint, but it may also be extremely cost-effective. Even though the initial cost is rather high, you will be able to save money in the long run. Today, one out of five households in Australia have installed solar panels on their rooftops – which makes the Aussies world-leading when it comes to utilizing solar power. If you are planning to contribute to the trend, you probably have the following question:…Continue readingSolar Panel Prices – How Much Does a Solar Power System Cost?

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home-solar

The benefits of a microinverter?

There are many positive benefits of a microinverter. But let’s start by understanding the role of the inverter in a solar energy system. A solar inverter is able to convert the direct current (DC) output produced by a solar panel system. It converts this into alternating current (AC) which can be transferred to the public grid. There are many types and sizes of solar inverters. One of the most relevant for private households is the microinverter.  Microinverters are especially beneficial for homeowners who own a smaller solar system or starter system. It is particularly suitable for those who struggle with…Continue readingThe benefits of a microinverter?

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home-solar

Look up Solar Panel Information by Suburb

The Australian solar power industry has had rapid growth in the last few years, and many households continue to install solar energy systems. This has caused many homeowners to look up “solar panel information by suburb”. Solar does not only benefit the environment but also lets you save electricity and lower your energy costs. Before installing a solar energy system, it might be useful to find information about the resources of local solar energy where you live – and other relevant information. It is quite simple to look up solar panel information by suburb. You might also want to know…Continue readingLook up Solar Panel Information by Suburb

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home-solar

How do you make solar panels?

Many people ask the question “How do you make solar panels?”. Solar panels consist of an array of solar cells encapsulated behind a sheet of glass. They have an aluminium frame for mounting the solar panels onto a roof and electrical cables for connecting the panels. The main ingredient of a solar panel is solar cells. The Solar Cell There are three main manufacturing steps to make solar panels. First, you need to mine silicon and melt it into an ingot. The smelting process happens at a polysilicon factory. The factory will produce a mono-crystalline solar cell or a poly-crystalline…Continue readingHow do you make solar panels?

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home-solar

STC Calculator

The STC solar rebate is a government-designed point-of-sale discount on the price of solar systems installed on Australian homes and businesses. The STC rebate calculator is based on the Small Technology Certificate system. Under this system, you are eligible for a certain number of STCs based on the size of your solar system and the location in which it is installed. These STCs can then be sold to solar retailers, who use them to offset a mandatory renewable energy target set every year by the Government regulator. The STC Solar Calculator can be used to estimate the number of STCs…Continue readingSTC Calculator