Why install solar?
Modelling by the Victorian Government shows the average existing Victorian home could save around $2,000 per year by going all-electric – when paired with a solar system.
Homeowners and rental property owners may be eligible for a solar panel rebate, under the Solar Home Program.
Using renewable energy you create can cut your household emissions.
If you convert to an all-electric home that’s supported by a solar system, you can remove your gas supply. This takes away a major household bill and the daily supply charge that comes with it too.
Why install home batteries?
When your solar panels make more energy than you use in a day, a home battery stores that energy for use at night.
Keep your lights on during power outages if your system design includes backup functionality, and there’s energy stored in your home battery.
You don’t need to get all your battery storage at once. Add storage to your battery stack as your energy needs change, for example, to charge an electric car at home, upgrade appliances or change to an all-electric home.
Home batteries help to reduce demand on the electricity network – and this helps all Victorians.
Top tips for rooftop solar and batteries
Consider your energy needs
Get a baseline of the home’s use by looking at 12 months of electricity bills and adding up the kilowatt hours (kWh).
Your own installer or an SEC-endorsed installer can get this information from your network distributor when they’re sizing your system, but it’s a good figure for you to know, as well. An experienced installer can guide you if you’re not sure, when you ask for a quote.
Plan for now but look ahead too
Talk to your own installer or an SEC-endorsed installer about your future electric plans too. Get guidance on whether you may need more solar panels soon. For example, do you plan to add battery storage, add an electric vehicle charger, or get a heat pump hot water system or induction cooktop installed?
A standard system for many homes can be between 6.6–10 kW, but for futureproofing you may want to consider a larger system.
Ask about compatibility and connectivity
Solar
Ask your own installer or an SEC-endorsed installer how your new solar system will handle future upgrades.
Find out how easy it will be to add battery storage or connect to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), which allows you to trade energy with retailers for extra savings. Planning for ‘smart’ connections now means your system stays flexible and may save you money for years to come.
Batteries
If you have battery storage with solar, you may be able to connect to other systems if yours is compatible – like to retailers that offer wholesale (cheaper) electricity prices, or to Virtual Power Plants that swap financial benefits when you share the energy you produce. If this is important to you, include it in your conversation with an installer.
Solar and batteries FAQs
Solar panels, also called photovoltaic (PV) systems, capture energy from sunlight and convert it to electricity. Even on cloudy and cold days, solar panels produce power because they rely on light and not heat.
Energy generated from solar panels is called direct current (DC). Your home appliances use alternating current (AC), so the inverter included in a solar system converts DC energy into AC, ready for your home to use.
If you use electricity while the system is generating energy, you’ll use this energy before buying from the grid. If you have battery storage, you can store excess solar to use at night, which may save you even more on your energy bills.
During the day, your solar panels power your home first and any extra solar energy goes into your battery. Once the battery is full, the leftover energy is sent back to the grid.
When your solar system isn’t producing enough to power your home, like at night, your home automatically uses the energy stored in your battery before you pay for power from the grid.
A solar system with battery storage can power your home during blackouts, but only if your system is designed for it. Your own installer or an SEC-endorsed installer can help you understand the options and create the right setup for your home.
The Solar Homes Program offers rebates on solar panel installation to eligible customers. Your installer or an SEC-endorsed installer can quote on the type of solar system that could suit your home, and include the estimated rebate you could be eligible for.
And if you’re renting, talk to the property owner – they could be eligible for the discount too.
Visit our Help centre for more on solar rebates.
The Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program offers residential customers a discount of around 30% on the upfront cost of installing an eligible battery system.
Your installer or an SEC-endorsed installer can help you work out which battery systems are eligible, and what could work for your home and how you use energy. They’ll also be able to explain the discount amount you may be eligible for, and how they’ll process the discount if you accept their quote.
Visit our Help centre for more on battery discounts.
When you ask for a quote from your installer or an SEC-endorsed installer, they’ll calculate the usable roof space on your home as well as on other buildings like your garage – even if a roof is flat.
Generally, installations on north or west-facing roof spaces are better for energy bill savings, though east facing is still a good option. There are also technologies available, like solar panel optimisers or micro inverter systems, that reduce shading issues.
Houses with solar panels but no back-up battery storage will usually be just like the other houses. They’ll be without power too.
It’s good to know, though, if you add battery storage and your solar system has backup functionality, it’s a different story. If your batteries are charged and your system is working, your power stays on, even if the rest of your street is out.
The lifespan of a battery depends on how you use it, for example the number of times you charge and discharge it and the percentage charge it’s set to (e.g. to 80% or 100% capacity).
Your batteries also come with a warranty. Many major brands offer a 10-year warranty or a maximum number of charge cycles, whichever comes first.
A proper installation by an accredited professional is a key safeguard against hazards like fire and electrical faults.
SEC-endorsed installers are licensed, accredited and have experience in sourcing and installing solar and battery systems. They must comply with relevant Australian laws and standards, local/state regulations and government incentive program requirements.
If you have a specific query, talk to us. We can connect you with an SEC-endorsed installer who will answer your questions and give you an obligation-free quote.
Adding solar to a rental property may increase its value and be a real draw card for new renters looking for cheaper energy bills or more sustainable living.
As a rental property owner, you may be eligible for solar panel rebates and discounts, and don’t forget interest-free loans. Head to Information for rental providers on Solar Victoria’s website to find out more.
