Installing solar power step-by-step guide

It doesn’t matter if you own or rent, you can save money and help protect our environment by making changes to your home.

Work out your requirements

Study your electricity bills and try to work out your average daily electricity use. This will help you choose the best system for your requirements and budget.

Work out what system will be best for your situation. Each type of solar panel has different levels of efficiency under different conditions. Talk to one of the many good suppliers that work in your area
Check if your roof will need reinforcement to support the weight of the panels and if your location has any special requirements, such as in areas with strong winds.

Work out the best roof position for the solar panels.
If you are building or renovating, consider panels that are integrated into the building fabric of your home.
Ask about the best position and mounting options for your situation. You’ll want the panels to get as much direct sun as possible. Fixed panels should face north. Adjustable panels can be moved during the year to get the maximum amount of sun. Automatic panel tracking frames follow the path of the sun and can significantly increase the amount of electricity you can generate (but is likely to cost more than the fixed or adjustable panels).
If you live in a heritage-listed area or a heritage-listed home, check with your local council to see if there are restrictions on installing solar power.
Check that nearby trees or buildings won’t shade your system, especially in winter when the sun is low in the sky. Ask suppliers about your options – a system with bypass diodes allows electricity to flow through the panels that are shaded.

Choose system & supplier

Talk to several suppliers about options before selecting a model.
Decide if you will get a stand-alone system with its own electricity storage (like a battery bank) or connect it to the mains electricity grid.
If you want to connect to the mains electricity grid, talk to your electricity supplier about options – electricity suppliers are not obliged to connect you. Some suppliers let you feed in your excess electricity and take this amount off your electricity bill.
If you are going to install a standalone system, you’ll need a storage system like a battery bank. Check how often you will need to replace it and what maintenance will be required. Check the best place to install the batteries – they should be as close as possible to the panels.
Check how panels will operate at different temperatures. A panel rated at 25 degrees Celsius may not perform well in the middle of summer. Talk to suppliers about your best options.
Ask suppliers about any additional costs like a new fuse box or a new meter.
Check the warranties for different panels and other system parts.
Ask about after sales service and what assistance you’ll get if you have questions about your service in the future.
Check suppliers are accredited installers as this could affect your eligibility for financial assistance, rebates or insurance.

Get your new system installed

Ask the installer to show you how to monitor and maintain the system, including the safest way to clean the solar collector panels.
Make sure that the system’s regulator and monitoring equipment is put in an accessible location and that you know how and when to turn the system on and off.
If you have home insurance, remember to have your new solar system added to your insurance policy.

Maintain your system

Always follow the manufacturer’s maintenance and operation recommendations.
Clean your solar panels when needed, to remove dust and increase efficiency.
If you are planting tall trees, don’t plant them where they will shade your system in the future.