Solar panels are built to last! Most systems have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, and many come with warranties that cover performance and durability for most of that time.

Even after that, they often still work, just at slightly lower efficiency.

Keeping your panels clean is easy. For most people, rainfall does the job. But if they get dirty from dust or bird droppings, you can gently hose them off.

For a deep clean or professional checkup, we recommend scheduling maintenance once a year to keep your system running at its best.

Or schedule AHE to professionally clean your solar panels for you – click here

The cost depends on the size of your system, the type of panels, and your energy needs.

On average, residential systems can range from $4,000 to $12,000 after government rebates.

We’re happy to provide a tailored quote to help you understand what’s best for your home and budget.

Most installations take 1 to 2 days, depending on the system size and complexity.

We’ll handle everything, from permits to installation, so you can start enjoying solar power as quickly as possible.

Not usually. Standard solar systems shut down during outages for safety reasons.

 However, if you have a battery system or specific backup inverters, your solar power can keep your essential appliances running even when the grid goes down.

Absolutely! Batteries are a fantastic addition to an existing solar setup. They let you store extra energy for use at night or during outages.

Whether you’re planning for one now or considering it in the future, our team can help make it happen.

We know solar is an investment, so there are flexible options to help. You can look into solar loans, leases, or power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Plus, there are often government rebates and incentives available to reduce upfront costs. We can guide you through the best options for your budget.

Shade can reduce how much power your system generates, but it doesn’t mean solar won’t work for you.

With careful planning and advanced technology like microinverters, we can minimize the impact of shade on your system’s performance.

Yes! Most systems come with a handy app or monitoring software.

These tools let you see in real-time how much power your panels are generating, so you can track your savings and system performance.

Good news—it’s possible!

If your roof needs replacement, we can temporarily remove and reinstall your panels.

That’s why we recommend checking the condition of your roof before installation to avoid extra costs down the track.

We’ve got you covered!

Solar panels usually come with performance warranties of up to 25 years, and inverters are often covered for 5 to 10 years.

At AHE Group Solar, we also provide workmanship guarantees to give you peace of mind.

Yes! Solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy or rainy days, just at a reduced rate.

Australia’s abundant sunshine m

In the rare case of damage, most panels are covered under manufacturer warranties for defects and performance issues.

We also offer servicing and replacement options to get your system back up and running quickly.

Yes, most solar panels are made of recyclable materials like glass, aluminium, and silicon.

When they reach the end of their lifespan, recycling programs ensure minimal waste and environmental impact.

• Grid-tied systems are connected to the electricity grid, allowing you to export excess energy and use grid power when needed.
• Off-grid systems are completely independent, requiring batteries to store all the energy you’ll need.
  

We can help you decide which option suits your lifestyle.

This depends on your energy consumption, roof space, and goals (e.g., offsetting bills, reducing your carbon footprint).

We’ll analyse your energy usage and provide a custom recommendation to maximize savings.

Yes, solar panels are extremely safe when installed correctly.

At AHE Group Solar, our licensed electricians ensure all installations meet safety standards, and panels include fire-resistant technology for added protection.

Yes! Panels can be mounted on adjustable brackets to optimize their angle for maximum sun exposure.

Flat roofs are no obstacle for solar installations.

Absolutely. With a grid-tied system, excess power your system generates can be exported back to the grid for a credit on your electricity bill.

These are called feed-in tariffs, and we can help you understand what your local energy provider offers.

Yes! Homes with solar systems are often more attractive to buyers because of the long-term energy savings.

Studies show that properties with solar installations can sell faster and for higher prices.

Yes, there are federal and state incentives available, including the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), which provides rebates based on your system’s size.

We’ll help you navigate all available incentives to reduce your upfront costs.

If you’re in a rental property, discuss solar options with your landlord.

For apartment owners, some strata schemes and government grants may support solar installations for multi-residential buildings.

A professional servicing includes cleaning panels, checking inverters and wiring, ensuring connections are secure, and optimizing system performance.

We recommend servicing your system annually.

Yes, many systems are designed to be expandable.

If your energy needs grow, additional panels or a battery can often be added to your existing setup.

Solar industry is very well regulated in Australia. Each and every aspect from product to installation is regulated. The list is extensive but some of the major Australian Standards are:

PV & Inverter Standards
AS/NZS 5033:2005, Installation of photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
AS/NZS 5033:2005, Installation of photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
AS/NZS 5033, PV modules are compliant and the product is listed at www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au

Grid Connected Solar Electric Systems
AS/NZS 3000:2007, Wiring Rules.
AS/NZS1768:2007, Lightning Protection.
AS/NZS1768:2007, Lightning Protection

Standalone Solar Power Systems
AS/NZS 4509:2009, Standalone Power systems, Part 1: Safety & installation.
AS 4086.2:1997, Secondary batteries for use with standalone power systems, Part 2: Installation & maintenance, wind system. AS/NZS 3000:2007, Wiring Rules

Solar PV panels on the roofs of homes and businesses generate clean electricity by converting the sunlight’s energy.

The more energy in the sunlight received by the panel, the more electricity is being generated.

Even in overcast conditions solar modules still generate electricity, even though less than on a really bright day. In lay man terms – the brighter (not necessarily hotter) the sun (high irradiance) the better the electricity output generated.

A number of factors can affect how much energy your solar system will generate. We have separated these into primary effects (the things that make a big difference) and secondary effects (the things that make a smaller difference). These include the following:

Primary effects on generation

• Location of panels – a northern roof panel will generate much more electricity than a panel on a southern roof. As a matter of fact southern roofs are not suited for solar panel installation in Australia;
• Seasonal variation due to variance in the intensity (irradiance) of the sun;
• Time of day – Middle of the day will give you highest electricity generation for many systems;
• Shading from trees or buildings will reduce electricity output significantly.

Secondary effects on generation

• Angle and orientation of the solar power panels
• Annual variation in sunshine
• Panel and solar power inverter quality and efficiency
• Air flow around the system
• Dirt build up

However, we can use some averages to give us a good idea of what to expect. See the chart below from the Clean Energy Council, which  can be used to  view some typical power generation results. Also try our solar output calculator.

This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on the type of house, size, number of people living in the property etc.

As a very rough estimate nowadays a typical Australian home with 2 adults and 2 children would consume between 15 and 28 kW/h per day.

Nevertheless large modern open plan homes with pool, aquarium and down lights can easily use between 40 and 50kW/h per day with some households using as much as 60kW/h of electricity per day.

A highly energy-efficient home with energy efficient appliances, a net meter and solar power system can use as little as a 5 -10 kW/h per day.

Solar Credits are provided in the form of additional tradable certificates called small-scale technology certificates (STCs) for eligible small-scale renewable energy systems including solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

While it is possible for owners of renewable energy systems to create and sell the STCs themselves, in practice, installers of these systems usually offer a discount on the price of an installation, or a cash payment, in return for the right to create the STCs. Householders considering installing small-scale renewable energy systems are encouraged to shop around for the best deal.

One STC is equivalent to one megawatt hour of electricity generated by your solar PV power system. The price of STCs changes according to market conditions. As an owner of a solar PV power system, you can register, sell, trade or surrender STCs for systems up to 100kW.

There are two ways you can be paid for your STCs:

1. Assign your STCs when you purchase your solar PV system to a registered agent in exchange for a financial benefit which may be in the form of a delayed cash payment or upfront discount on your solar PV panel system

or

2. Create the STCs yourself by finding a buyer and then selling and transferring them in the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Registry.

The level of subsidy will depend on a number of factors, including the location the solar system, the size of the system and the price of STCs at the time the system was installed.

Australia is divided up into various zones based on how much renewable energy can be generated by a solar panel in a given area. So the same sized system installed in Melbourne or Hobart (Zone 4) receives fewer STCs than those installed in Sydney (Zone 3) or Darwin (Zone 2) because Melbourne and Hobart have less sunshine so less solar energy is produced by your system.

The table below shows the different rebate for a similar system in various cities.

A solar system can help you reduce your bill substantially and in some applications like off grid systems, reduce your bill to zero.

In Australia with Net Metering (explained later in FAQ’s), the electricity produced though your solar system is fed directly during the daytime into your home, office or commercial enterprise. 

This helps you to substantially offset your consumption which you would have paid for. The bigger the system the more likely you will be that power you generate and do not use will be fed back into the grid.

The payment for this electricity you generate and send back into the power grid can offset some of the cost for the electricity you still use from the grid during rainy days or at night.

In short most solar systems will substantially reduce your electricity bills, but a zero bill requires a substantial system size eg more than 4 KW and also you need to monitor your electricity consumption and use energy efficient products such as LED lights.

Every watt of electricity generated by your solar power system and used by you directly in your house will save you money, as you do not have to buy this electricity from your electricity retailer.

Therefore it makes sense to use pool filters, manufacturing equipment, dishwashers and washing machines when the sun shines brightly.

For excess power generated and sent back to the grid you may get a feed-in-tariff from your energy provider. The amount paid to you for each kilowatt hour of electricity can vary between energy retailers.

kW stands for kilowatt, or 1,000 watts. It is a measure of power. Your solar power system is rated according to the number of watts it can produce each hour.

For example 12 x 260Watt panels will make up a 3,120 kW system. Normally you would then also use a 3 kW inverter with this system to convert the panel’s direct current (DC) voltage to 240V AC.

kW/h stands for kilowatt hour. It is a measure of energy. If you use a 1 kW electric pool pump for one hour, it will consume 1 kW/h of energy.

Or if you use 20 x 50W down lights for an hour they will consume 1kW/h. Usually your electricity bill is billed in units of kW/h.

A solar power system has 5 components to ensure a satisfied customer.

1) The solar panels purchased should be from a known and diversified manufacturer, so in future years you can receive follow up service or warranty back up, as the company is still around.

Many solar only manufacturers are currently in severe financial distress. Just read up on the internet about these issues.

2) Only use high quality inverters with your system. The inverter undertakes the key work in your system.

Every time there is a cloud and change in weather to invert adjusts the output. Therefore an inverter never stops during the day.

High quality brands which work well with your Trina panels can be recommended by your local Trina installer. Please avoid cheap inverters.

3) Framing systems. There is no point buying quality panels and inverter and not fasten them with a quality framing system. Your authorized solar dealer can provide you with solid advice.

4) Warranties – There are now decade long warranties available from solar system component manufacturers. Warranties are only as good as the companies that back them.

Stick to the leaders in the industry. Ask about local service centres and how warranty processes will be executed.

More and more the solar industry is maturing and the leading companies are diversified and have solid balance sheets. If you have never heard of the manufacturer, then stay away.

5) Quality of installation and after installation service. No point buying high quality components and have them installed poorly. Use a Trina authorized dealer or someone who has been installing for a while.

You do not want to have broken tiles or poor cabling run as a legacy of a poor and rushed installation job. What after service does the company provide?

Are they local or just came into town for a quick sell solar and run. Always choose local diversified solar install businesses over travelling solar install teams, which will be gone when you need after install service.

Buy cheap – buy twice, it’s certainly true for solar.