Guide to solar panels for your home

Put simply, solar panels are used to generate solar energy as part of a solar power system – either on rooftops of homes and businesses, or ground-mounted for large solar farms.

Solar panels are designed to capture the UV rays from sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. This DC electricity is then converted to alternating current (AC) electricity via your solar system’s inverter, allowing the use of this renewable solar energy to power lights, televisions, computers, and just about anything else in our homes or businesses.

More: How do solar panels and solar power work?

With so many brands of solar panels on the market, it is important to identify your individual needs first, as this will affect which brand is right for you.

“New products are being released all the time, so it’s important to choose a quality, experienced solar provider who can assess your situation and give you the best advice to suit your specific needs,” explains Vitale.

“Things to consider before buying solar panels are the panel efficiency and performance over time, Bloomberg Tier 1 status which should tell you the company’s bankability reference and whether they’re trustworthy, as well as the manufacturing process.

“It’s also important to understand the climate and how hot the panels will get, the warranty provided by the company, and whether the company has a strong local support team that can quickly help if any issues arise,” she adds.

More: Why you should get solar ready for summer

Depending on the type of solar panels used, the brand, how many panels are installed, the size of the home and eligibility status for a Victorian solar rebate, solar systems range in price from as little as $3000 to more than $25,000 for a large solar panel and battery system.

“Remember that solar is a long-term investment, so it’s not worth prioritising a cheap price tag at the expense of good quality products and installation,” says Vitale.

“Your installer will work with you to design the right system for your needs and budget.” 

More: Solar panel and battery rebates available in Victoria

For a good-quality 6.6kW system and installation for an average family home, the payback period should be five years or less. 

“Solar panels have continued to decline in price over time. At the same time, solar panel technology is improving,” says Vitale.

“In the past 10 years, the price for a solar panel has plummeted while the average efficiency has increased greatly. Electricity bills have also risen by 100 to 150 per cent in that time, and we’re now seeing gas becoming increasingly costly too – so in almost all cases, solar panels are definitely worth it!”

More: How to reduce your energy bills

Always have solar panels installed by an experienced and accredited solar panel installer. They will take care of the full design and installation of your system.

Solar panels are mounted on rail which is fixed to your roof and the panels are screwed securely to the mounting system. An electrical cable is then run from the solar panels to your inverter and into your switchboard.

“Any good-quality installer will take care when installing your solar panels, choosing the right mounting system to suit the roof material and type,” says Vitale. “And if you have a tiled roof, accidents can happen no matter how careful the installer is, so it’s always a good idea to have some spare tiles on hand so they can replace a broken tile for you straight away.” 

More: What makes a good solar provider?

The number of solar panels installed depends on how much electricity the home or business uses, as well as how much is likely to be used in the future.

“There’s little point sizing a solar system to simply meet your current energy needs if you plan to grow your family or get an electric car soon,” says Vitale.

“As an example, a 6.6kW solar system – that’s about 14 to 15 solar panels with current panel efficacy being around 450W – is usually enough for the average family home. However, as a general rule, if you have room in your budget and on your roof, the more panels you get, the better,” she adds.

More: Do solar panels work in winter and how effective are they?

Good-quality solar panels will keep performing well up to 25 years and beyond, provided they’ve been installed well.

Leading panels now come with a product warranty of anywhere between 12 and 30 years (this is different to a 25-year performance guarantee, so be sure to check carefully).

“The long warranties show just how confident the top manufacturers have become in their product’s performance over time,” says Vitale.

“However, a solar panel’s lifetime also depends on the quality of the installation workmanship, so make sure you select a quality installer with a good reputation.”

At the end of their lifecycle, up to 90 per cent of the material in solar panels can be recycled.

In Victoria, the panels are considered e-waste, which means they are banned from entering landfill. Solar Victoria recommends you contact an authorised solar system recycler with permission to receive panels to obtain the location of the nearest collection point.

It’s important that an accredited solar system installer or licensed electrician removes or replaces the solar panels or any other components at your home.

More: 7 questions to ask when choosing a rooftop solar retailer

To run a home entirely on solar power, a battery is needed to store the energy generated by panels during the day for use overnight, explains Vitale.

“You’ll also need to ensure your solar energy system is big enough to cover your energy needs and then some. So, during a string of overcast days, you’ll have enough electricity stored in your battery to get you through without drawing from the grid.”

While solar power systems automatically stop working when there’s a power blackout on the grid, many new solar battery storage systems also come equipped with a back-up option which can provide backup power during a power out.

Before you invest in solar power in your home, check whether the battery has a back-up option.

More: How do solar batteries work and are they worth it?

A garden hose and long-handled brush can efficiently clean solar panels. However, only apply water to panels when the panels are cool, for example in the morning as the sun is coming up, or in the evening.

If cold water is applied to a hot panel, there is a risk that the panel could crack. Never walk across your panels when cleaning them – they might be strong, but the weight of the average-sized person is still a lot for them to bear.

More: Solar panel maintenance and system troubleshooting

The short answer is: Yes.

“A solar panel system is a great option for EV owners,” says Vitale.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than charging your car with power from the sun – that you’ve generated yourself – particularly when fuel prices have risen so much over the past decade.”

Remember, you need to charge your electric car when your panels are producing solar electricity, otherwise you will still be charging your vehicle from grid, even if you have solar panels installed.

A smart EV charger for your home, such as one installed by RACV Solar, can be programmed to divert excess solar power to charge your EV during the day, rather than sending that electricity back to the grid where you will get little benefit.