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Install solar power

Solar power panels on a roof.

If you can have solar panels installed, you'll be capturing the sun's energy to generate electricity at home.

Once your panels are installed, they will help you reduce your energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. They are also low-maintenance and noise free, and can increase the value of your home.

Solar power can be connected to the mains electricity grid or set up as a standalone system. If you connect to the grid you will probably still have an electricity bill unless your system provides all your power needs. If you are still buying some electricity from the grid, consider buying green power so that all of your home electricity can be from renewable sources.

Solar panels are expensive to buy but you may be eligible for financial assistance to help with the costs.

Installing solar power step-by-step guide

Installing solar power step-by-step guide
Step Number Step Name Action
1 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. Start with Your Home Technical Manual - Photovoltaic systems or talk to a range of suppliers.
  • 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.
  • Research rebates and assistance.
2 Select position
  • 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. These systems create an attractive feature but must be expertly designed and installed to perform at their optimum.
  • 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. Bypass diodes allow some electricity to flow around the panel if it becomes shaded or damaged.  Many PV panels have bypass diodes incorporated during manufacture, those that don't can have them fitted by the installer. Ask your supplier to ensure that bypass diodes are incorporated in the system.
3 Choose system and 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. There are important requirements in the Australian Standards covering the installation of battery banks.  Batteries cannot be placed in habitable areas or exposed to sparks, they should be housed in an appropriately designed structure preferably away from the house. Among other things, your batteries will need appropriate ventilation, compulsory safety signs, acid containment trays and they will need to be insulated from ground temperature. The majority of batteries are lead acid batteries and will leak hydrogen gas which poses a risk of explosion if allowed to accumulate.
  • Panel performance declines as temperature increases. A panel rated at 25C will not perform as well in the middle of summer. You notice that most panels are installed with a gap to the roof, this air space provides cooling.  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.
4 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 for maintenance and cleaning.
  • Consider adding your new solar system to your insurance policy.
5 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.

More information

See these resources for more information about installing a solar power system:

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Rebates & assistance

As a home owner, renter or landlord, you could be eligible for financial assistance to help you start living greener.

Find out about government rebates and assistance.

Why do it?

  • Reduce your electricity bills
  • Increase the value of your home
  • Show others how home power generation works
  • Reduce the amount of greenhouse gas generated by your home

Did you know?

The amount of solar energy that falls on Australia on just one average summer day would meet half the world's energy needs for a whole year if it could all be captured.

Page last modified: 19 May 2010