PV Power operates on the principle that electricity will flow between two semiconductors (typically crystalline silicon) when they are put in contact with each other and exposed to light. By linking a number of these 'cells' into a Panel (also called a Module), a useful flow of electricity can be generated. Any number of Solar Panels can be used in a system, providing a very flexible approach to power generation.

Solar Panels can be used to power your entire home's electrical system, including lights, cooling systems, and appliances. Today, Solar Power systems can be easily blended into and suit the appearance of both traditional and non-traditional homes. The most common practice is to mount the Solar Panels onto a north-facing roof.

Once the system has been installed on your roof little maintenance is required. It is however recommended to check and clean the Solar Panels periodically to prevent the build up of dirt and grime which can affect the output.

Yes, if any part of the Solar Panels are in shade the output of the system will be significantly affected.

No, the good news is that most blackouts happen at night or during inclement weather – times when solar production is minimal or non-existent. If you have a standard grid connect system your inverter will automatically shutdown and disconnect itself from the grid during a blackout, in order to protect workers on the network. If it did not shut down, your system would continue to put electricity onto the grid. This would create a major hazard for power line service personnel.

All of the power retailers will purchase the surplus power produced from your Solar Power System. There are also Green power companies who specialise in renewable energy. Generally your surplus power will be credited to your power bill account on a one for one basis.

There are no running costs. Once your Solar Panel System is installed the electricity is free.

A solar panel converts light energy into electricity without causing pollution. Solar panels are also referred to as a photovoltaic or PV modules (photo = light, voltaic = electricity).

Solar power systems use the energy contained within light from the sun to generate electricity, and are commonly referred to as Solar PV or Photovoltaic systems within the industry. Solar hot water systems use the heat of the sun to directly heat water, and this type of technology is referred to as Solar Thermal energy.
With Solar PV (or Solar Electric) systems, there are no unsightly water tanks, and with systems connected to the electric grid, there are no batteries – excess production is sent to the grid for distribution to other homes (you get credit for this).

When the solar panels on your roof are connected to your existing commercial electricity supply, the solar system is said to be grid connected.

The average home uses about 20 kilowatt hours per day. The system will produce on average about 6 kilowatt hours per day. This will reduce your electricity bill by about $100 a quarter while reducing the amount of CO2 in the environment by about 2.4 tonnes each year. The solar system will also cushion the impact of future electricity price increases. If your state offers a feed-in tariff, your quarterly electricity bill could reduce by anything up to $1,450 a year in today’s dollars if you lived in NSW where the feed-in tariff is set at $0.60/kWh for every kWh your system produces.

This is the price the government says must be paid to you for the power produced by your solar panels. Most state governments have introduced a NET feed-in tariff that pays up to 4 times the retail price for the solar electricity that you don't use and export to the grid. NSW and ACT have introduced or are planning to introduce a GROSS feed-in tariff that pays up to 4 times the retail price for the solar power for all the solar electricity you produce regardless of whether you use some of it yourself.

Grid Connected means that the system is connected to the local power network (“the grid”). This is in comparison with stand-alone solar PV systems in remote areas, that do not have access to an electricity grid. With Solar PV (or Solar Electric) systems, there are no unsightly water tanks, and with systems connected to the electric grid, there are no batteries – excess production is sent to the grid for distribution to other homes (you get credit for this).

A part of this is looking after our environment. Much of Australia’s electrical production is sourced from Coal, a resource that sullies the environment during its extraction (scarring of land, dirtying water, tailings), during its transport (long journeys by road, truck and ship) and during its combustion (carbon dioxide, sulphuric acid, heavy metals such as mercury).

Solar Power production displaces electricity from fossil fuel power stations, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the other negative ‘symptoms’ above.

They are quiet, clean and reduce your electricity bill, whilst requiring little maintenance.

It’s possible that a solar system will also make your home more attractive to subsequent occupants.

Many BP Solar panels from the 70s and 80s are still working today.
Typically, solar panels on the Australian market come with a warranty of up to 25 years depending on make or model. When evaluating the legitimacy of warranties, bear in mind the history of the manufacturer and their current financial standing.

In most cases, the answer will be Yes. Solar panels are made of hardened laminated glass. To pass Australian Standard and TUV testing and certification, solar panels are required to withstand a test involving a 1 inch solid ice ball (representing a hailstone) being fired at the solar panel surface, without breaking the glass or damaging the solar cells.

Your electricity supply will not be interrupted at night as a result of installing a solar system.

Note that solar panels need sunlight to generate power, and therefore power will not be supplied by the solar system at night. However, in Grid Connected systems the main board will automatically source power from the electricity network (the poles and wires in the street), ensuring that you always have access to electricity. The idea is that in the day time, your production will exceed your needs, creating credits, which you can then use at night. Credits will only be created if you use less power than the solar system produces.