Grid connect solar power systems
A grid connect solar power system allows you to generate your own electricity from sunlight. The generated electricity is fed into your home wiring and contributes to your energy needs.
If you generate less solar power than you require you are able to draw additional power from the normal grid supply connected to your home. If you generate more electricity than you require the excess is fed back into the grid and you are paid a small amount for this exported power.
The national electricity grid that connects to most Australian homes and businesses can be thought of as a power sharing network. Many generators of power are connected to it and many more users of power draw from it. Any business or home can generate power and export it to the national electricity grid. A grid connect solar system is one of the simplest and most cost effective ways of achieving this.
The different Australian states have various schemes in place to purchase your solar energy. Some State Governments ask that the energy retailers operating within their states buy all the solar power you produce (Gross Feed-in Tariff) while other states ask the retailers to pay for any solar power not used in the home and exported to the grid (Net Feed-in Tariff).
NSW currently has a net feed in system. Only solar power not used by the home first is fed back into the grid with this arrangement.
System configurations.
String inverter - The traditional system with the solar panels on the roof and a single inverter mounted at ground level. The cheapest option for a good quality system.
Micro inverter system - Each solar panel on the roof has its own micro inverter mounted underneath it. Better output than a standard string inverter if shading is an issue. Usually offers more comprehensive system monitoring.
Example costings.
3.3kW grid connect solar power system using a German SMA string inverter and 9x Suntech 370W modules.
Fully installed with the modules mounted on a single corrugated ion roof - approx. $4,297 after STC’s discount.
Same system with panels mounted on a tile roof - $4,482
SMA inverter is able to connect to the clients home WiFi net work to give online solar power production figures.
3.3kW grid connect solar power system using 9x Enphase IQ7+ micro inverters and 9x Suntech 370W modules.
Fully installed with the modules mounted on a single corrugated ion roof - approx. $5,070 after STC’s discount.
Same system with panels mounted on a tile roof - $5,255
Enphase micro inverter system is able to connect to the clients home WiFi net work to give full online power monitoring of both solar power production and house hold consumption.
The micro inverter system also allows you to mount panels on different roofs with no drop in efficiency. ie - half the panels on the east roof and half on the west roof for better power utilisation if most power in the home is used in the morning and the afternoon.
Use our contact page to ask for a more specific quote to suit your needs. It would be handy if you could have an idea of how much power you’re using per day. You can get this information from your electricity bill.