Solar Power

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint or just your reliance on the energy retailers for your electricity then solar power is the way to go.

Even a small system can help to reduce your electricity bills and there are still certificates to gain rebates available.

Australia has the most rooftop solar systems of any country and many people have been producing their own electricity for years.

Integreen Electrical installed its first Solar system back in 2009 and there is a massive difference between the systems back then and now.

We can help you to navigate the best system for your current needs and budget.

What are my options?

If you generate your own electricity you can offset the electricity you would normally have to buy from a retailer, any electricity that you dont use is sold back to the retailer.

in the past most systems were just solar panels and an inverter which meant that you could only use the power when it was generated and any extra power generated was retrned to the grid usually with a ridiculously low priced feed in tariff however today batteries allow storage of the excess for use later when the sun is not shining saving you the cost of that electricity allowing your solar system to provide maximum benefit of its production.

I keep seeing these adds about rebates, are they real?

As is usually the case with mass market advertising it is designed to catch your attention but it is not strictly true as the government does not give any money to solar owners, it has set up a process that allows revenue to be generated that will offset the cost of a Solar PV system.

The government has allowed accredited installers to create “green energy” certificates based on the size and location of the Solar PV system and therefore how much theoretical power it can generate. The certificates can then be sold to companies allowing them to offset any greenhouse gas emissions they have produced. The money from the sale is then used by the installer to offset the system cost. The effect is similar to a rebate but it is not funded by the government.

Solar purchasers should also be aware that the number of certificates produced is set to reduce annually so any cost offset is automatically reduced each year.

what size system should I get?

The question of system size will be different for everyone, it will mostly depend on what you can afford because the minute you turn on your system you  will begin saving money by using your own power or making money by selling your power back to the grid operator. It is also important to note the reduction in certificates every year so the cost offset for new systems is reducing annually. As Australia already has the cheapest rooftop solar in the world it is unlikely to get much cheaper and increased pressure on installers will only increase costs.

The main factors are likely to be;

  • what size system can you afford?
  •  what space do you have?
  • how many phases is your supply and is upgrading to 3 phase an option?
  • how much future flexibility do you want?