How does a Grid Connect Solar System Work? 

Solar panels convert sunlight into DC electricity. An inverter then converts this into 240-volt AC electricity.

What happens to the electricity?

As of 1st January 2010 all electricity produced (gross) by your PV system will be paid at 60c per KWh.  This is up to four times the current rate electricity is purchased at, greatly reducing the “payback” time on a PV system.

What happens in a black out, do I still get power?

In the event of a black out, your grid connect system will stop operating.  For safety reasons, regulations require this to happen, unless the system is connected to a battery back up system.

How big should my system be?

This is entirely dependant upon budget & available roof space.  Typically a 1KW system would provide approx 20% of the power required for an average household.

Who does the install?

Northern Beaches Solar are a small family owned operation, as such, the owner of the company is directly responsible for the installation.  Chris is a fully qualified electrician with Business Council of Sustainable Energy (BCSE) accreditation (for which we are also members) & is also an accredited EcoSmart electrician.  This ensures we are at the forefront of the every changing technologies available and will provide the highest quality installation.

Can the panels be damaged by hail?

At Northern Beaches Solar, we only use the highest quality PV panels, which have passed rigorous testing procedures, including tests which reflect the effects of hail.

Where is the system installed?

The PV panels are ideally installed on the roof at an angle of approx 30deg.  They should be facing in a Northerly direction & preferably in full sun, so the affects of shading are not too great.

The inverter is a fairly large device (approx same size as a household meter box) that needs to be installed in an area away from weather.  At the time of quoting, we will discuss with the owner the most suitable location.

What does the inverter do?

The inverter converts DC from the PV panels to 240AC, so it can be connected to your household power supply.

What Now?

Contact Northern Beaches Solar, so we can provide a free site inspection & quote for your new Grid Connect PV system.  Wherever possible, we will complete all required paperwork for connection & rebates, to make the process of installing a new PV system as seamless as possible.

How Do I Calculate the Number of REC points I am eligible for?

System Capacity (Kw) x Solar Zone Rating (1.382 Sydney) x Deeming Period (usually 15 years)
So for 1.5Kw System
1.5 x 1.382 x 15
= 31 RECs (rounded down to nearest whole number)
(With the new solar credits scheme, for a system up to 1.5Kw this figure is currently multiplied by 5.  So (31 x 5) x current REC pricing = $ total rebate available)
Note: This will usually be given as a point of sale discount.