FAQs

While it may seem like the technology is complex, it’s actually very easy to understand once you break it down.

1. The sun shines on the panels, generating direct current (DC) electricity
2. The DC electricity is fed through a solar inverter that converts it into alternating current (AC) electricity
3. The AC electricity is used to power your home
4. Surplus electricity is either fed back into the grid or is retained in a home solar battery system

Generally, your solar panel system should continue to generate electricity for up to 23-35 years. Solar panels are durable and capable of withstanding various whether conditions from snow, wind and hail.

Each of specific product we use comes with a warranty period. We try to align ourselves with premium products to ensure our customers are getting the best quality and warranty period available.

Solar panels not only lower the cost of your electricity bills, but they are a long-term investment so a long term view is needed.

Up front price is always an important factor, but the overall return on investment for the life of the solar system is much more important.

Lowering your utility bills is the most common financial benefit of solar power. Any power that is produced yourself with solar is power you don’t need to purchase from the utility. When your system also produces more power than you’re using, that power is then sent back into the grid in exchange for an energy credit.

If you’re covering the cost of solar without borrowing, within only a few years you can see a return in your investment. However, this isn’t static or temporary. A 5kW residential solar system has a life span of 25 years. This is why we balance upfront purchase price with supplying top quality solar components that will last well past the payback period for the system.

Solar electricity is one way to power your home or business that benefits the environment. There are no direct greenhouse gas emissions because the electricity is made from sunlight rather than burning fossil fuels. Sunlight is a renewable energy source, meaning we will never run out of it.

Understanding your electricity usage is an important part of the process with our team. Read our guide on how to correctly read and understand you electricity bill or book an appointment with one of our solar consultants.

A feed-in-tariff is the amount your electricity retailer pays you for any electricity your solar system generates that you don’t use and is fed back into the grid. Feed-in tariffs differ depending on where you live.

Solar panels do not generate power at night. Once the sun goes down, your home or business will start to draw power from the main grid as usual.

Solar panels will still work on cloudy days but will not generate as much electricity as when the weather is clear and sunny. The amount of sun will determine the amount of power your solar energy system can generate.

In the event of a blackout, your solar panel system will shut off if connected to the grid. However, certain inverters provide backup power when paired with a battery.

If you would like to discuss battery options for your home please contact our team.

Yes, it is possible to retrofit a battery storage system to your existing solar system. The options you have for a retrofit will depend on whether you are single or three phase, and the inverter size of your current solar PV system.

No, unfortunately there are currently no government rebates or incentives for installing a solar battery system. However, as batteries are almost always installed alongside a solar PV system (excluding battery retrofits) you will receive government rebates, otherwise known as STCs for installing the solar PV system.

Inspire Energy have aligned themselves with Brighte for finance options for residential solar systems.

To discuss repayment options or interest free packages please contact our team.

The most ideal roofs for a solar panel system would be Northerly-facing roofs with minimal to no shade. In other cases, if your roof doesn’t have an ideal roof, there  are ways around finding a solution in our free solar assessment.

The amount of money your household will save on power bills by going solar is affected by a number of factors, including:

• Your energy consumption and the size of your solar power system – if you use more power than your system is capable of producing, your savings will be reduced. It’s important to choose the right-sized system for your needs.
• Your feed-in tariff – this is the amount your electricity retailer pays you for any excess power your solar panels generate.
• Your usage patterns – solar panels can only generate electricity while the sun is shining. This means that households that use a lot of power during the day may attract greater savings than those that consume most of their power at night. However, you will still receive a feed-in tariff for any excess electricity you generate during the day.
• Where you live – some areas of Australia receive a lot more sunlight than others, so a solar system in Brisbane will usually generate more power than one in Hobart.

Businesses have a couple of other things to take into account, including the tax implications of any revenue received from feed-in tariffs.

A Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer must provide a site-specific estimate of your system’s energy generation. Many solar companies will also calculate the impact this has on your bill.

STCs are government incentives that help reduce the upfront cost of installing your solar system. The value of STCs your system receives differs depending on its size and location.

To be eligible for STCs, your solar system must be installed by a Clean Energy Council accredited installer.

For more information on STCs, visit the Clean Energy Regulator website or download their guides for households or businesses.

Large Scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) are a form of currency in Australia’s renewable energy market. They’re essentially tradable certificates issued for each megawatt-hour of clean electricity produced by accredited solar farms.

Businesses can buy LGCs to fulfill their mandatory renewable energy targets or for voluntary sustainability goals. This system incentivises investment in large-scale solar power by allowing companies to offset their carbon footprint and potentially reduce energy costs, while supporting the growth of clean energy in Australia.