Australia is a great place to take advantage of solar energy. In Australia, a north facing roof between 20 and 30 degrees is the most ideal aspect. Lower or higher pitches can also be used, often to great effect. Panels facing east or west will still generate good yields, typically only 15-17 percent less than they would on the north. Eastern panels will generate power earlier in the day then north and western panels will produce power later in the day. Many people decide to put a portion of panels on the western aspect, as it improves the production later in the day when many appliances are commonly used. Using the power you’re producing has financial advantages, which is why it can make sense despite the lower production.

Solar panels work on sunlight, not heat. Hotter days generally have more sunlight and hence better production, but the heat actually has a negative impact on them. Panels will never perform at their peak power output, as the test conditions they are subject to when they receive their rating will never be replicated in the real world (even in Australia). This is why suppliers give you an estimated energy yield in kWh (units) per day, as this is what you buy and sell from your energy retailer. In the middle of a perfect day in summer, you could expect to see your panels reach around 85 percent of their peak power output. Early in the morning, late in the day or in overcast conditions, this will be reduced. Your power output will bounce around a lot, so focus on your energy (kWh) yield when looking at the performance of your system.

Yes, and it’s usually quite significant. Solar panels facing north should ideally be in full sun from at least 9 am till 3 pm, as this is when they will produce the majority of their power. If they are eastern facing panels, then this changes to 7.30 am to 1.30 pm and for western facing panels, 11.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Shading from objects like flue vents, trees and other structures should be avoided where possible. Careful design with a consultant and your install team can help with this. If this is not possible, then consider micro inverters or panel-level optimisation, as this will reduce the impact of the shaded panels on the non-shaded panels. Most larger inverters will have two maximum power point trackers (MPPTs), which means shaded panels on one tracker will not effect panels on the other. Also be mindful of future shading issues, as new structures may be built and trees often get bigger.

Other objects like power lines and antennas can cast a very thin and small shadow. While not ideal and to be avoided where possible, these will not have a drastic impact on your system. Panels should not be placed directly under antennas though, as birds are likely to perch on an antenna and leave excrement on the panels.

Yes, however it can be quite expensive if the correct provisions are not made.

An AC coupled or DC coupled system can be retrofitted to almost any solar power system currently installed. However, this is not very cost-effective, as it requires extra components in addition to the batteries. There are many more cost-effective ways to include batteries (now or in the future) to your system, so if you’re considering adding batteries down the track, we recommend discussing this with one of our renewable energy consultants. Different batteries will require specific components to integrate them into your system, and there is often more than one approach that will work. We can determine the most suitable option for you and provide you with a system that has or has the capability to add your desired battery solution.

Yes. The cost varies between states and energy providers. Households that already have a smart meter will be charged a fee to configure the meter to accommodate for solar. If you do not already have a smart meter, your retailer will need to install one for you. Most energy providers have these costs absorbed into your billing so you don’t pay a lump sum cost for your new meter.

AAPL provides a five year comprehensive warranty on the entire solar power system. This covers both parts and labour for all the components in your system. There are no extra costs associated with maintaining this warranty and while we recommend keeping an eye on the system performance, no scheduled maintenance is required.

The manufacturers also provide a warranty with their products. The panels all have a performance warranty (commonly 25 years) and a product warranty (usually 5-12 years). The product warranty covers any defects of the panel that doesn’t impact the performance. After the product warranty, any defects must impact performance before you’re eligible for repairs or replacement. Note that the panel warranty typically does not cover the labour costs involved in replacing the panels, although we will do this in the first five years as apart of their comprehensive warranty. Inverters typically have a five year product and labour warranty, however some will have longer warranties or offer them for an additional fee.