Solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage

The best solar PV system or battery for your situation will depend on a number of factors, including:

• how much electricity you use and at what time of day
• how much roof space is available
• the direction and orientation of panels.

To work out what solution is best for you, speak with a reputable solar or battery installation company that uses installers accredited by the Clean Energy Council.

The person installing a solar PV system or battery must be a licensed electrician. Check if your electrician is licensed in South Australia by searching the licensing public register.

For help understanding your options:

• the Australian Government's YourHome website provides information about photovoltaic systems and batteries and inverters, including the different types, and installing and positioning solar panels.
• the Clean Energy Council answers common questions about solar power and battery storage
• the Clean Energy Council produces guides for choosing, buying and installing solar PV systems for households and business and industry.

Understanding your home energy use can help you calculate the effect of a solar PV system on your energy bills, and help you work out if battery storage is an economical choice for you.

Solar PV panels produce most power when they are pointed directly at full sun between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm:

• Make sure there's no shade on the panels. Even shade from things like trees, roof ventilators or antennas on just one cell will result in a loss of power from many cells. This will have a large impact on the output of a panel, due to changes in the flow of electricity through the panel.
• To produce the most electricity, the panels should face north or, if that’s not possible, be spread over both east and west areas.

The performance of batteries can change depending on the temperature around them. Understand the installation requirements for your battery so you can put it in the right location:

• Batteries need a location or enclosure that has adequate insulation and plenty of ventilation. In Australia, a battery enclosure should ideally be located on the south or east-facing side of a building.
• Do not install batteries in living areas of a property. Outside is safest, but some batteries can be installed in areas like sheds, garages, cellars or laundries.
• Protect the battery and its enclosure from vermin, pets and children. Never store anything on top of or against the battery or its enclosure, as it may cause an electrical fire.

Your solar installer will usually organise permission to connect your solar PV system to the electricity grid and a new import/export electricity meter, on your behalf.

For permission to connect to the grid, your installer needs to complete the small embedded generation application on the SA Power Networks website.

SA Power Networks has limits on the size of inverter energy systems connecting to their distribution network - eg from a solar PV or battery system, to protect the electricity grid and make sure it operates safely and reliably.

For a single-phase connection, the maximum size an inverter can be is 5 kilovolt-amps (kVA). In some cases more generation may be permitted if exporting to the grid is limited - contact SA Power Networks for more information. For a three-phase connection, the maximum size the inverter can be is 30 kVA, which must be balanced across the phases. SA Power Networks' Service and installation rules manual explains the requirements for connecting an electrical installation to the distribution network.

You'll also need an import/export meter. If you don't have one, your installer needs to speak to your chosen energy retailer to get one installed. Your new import/export meter will be a smart meter. For a list of retailers operating in South Australia and to get the best electricity deal for your needs, visit the Australian Government’s Energy Made Easy comparison website.

For more information about connecting solar PV systems to the grid, contact SA Power Networks on 1300 665 913 or newenergyservices@sapowernetworks.com.au

Subsidies

When you purchase an eligible solar PV system, the cost of the system is subsidised by the Australian government through small-scale technology certificates (STCs), as part of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.

Each STC represents the amount of electricity the solar PV system generates over its lifetime to offset what your property would otherwise draw from the main electricity grid. The more electricity your solar PV system is capable of producing, the more STCs you will get.

Trading your STCs offsets the cost of your solar PV system. The most common way of claiming STCs is to assign them to your installer or retailer, who will give you a point-of-sale discount on your system in return. It's a bit like a rebate, except you get an immediate discount instead of paying a larger amount and then needing to claim money back.

Feed-in payments

Your electricity retailer may offer you a feed-in tariff for any excess electricity your system generates and exports to the electricity grid. See solar feed-in payments or contact your energy retailer for more information.

If you already have a solar PV system and want to install a battery, speak to your retailer about how adding a battery may affect any feed-in tariff you receive.

Your solar PV system, battery and most installations are covered by automatic consumer guarantees. The system should operate and perform as described. A warranty offered by the supplier is separate and doesn't replace the standard consumer guarantee.

Make a consumer complaint

How to check your solar PV system installation video

What to look for

Secure cables

Ensure that all of the system's cables are secured and properly enclosed to protect them from mechanical and environmental damage. Unprotected cables (for example, laying loosely across your roof) could easily become damaged and present a safety risk.

Signs relating to safety, isolating switches and shutdown procedures

Your system should have labels which clearly identify switches (isolators) controlling the:

• supply from the solar panels (DC supply)
• supply from the inverter unit (AC supply)
• supply from the batteries (DC supply)
• normal electricity supply main switch.

The solar PV system or battery should also have:

• clear shut down instructions you can follow if you need to switch off the supply from the solar panels or batteries
• a label on your main switchboard and meter box identifying that your home has multiple energy supplies
• a sign explaining the type of battery installed.

If there is no shutdown procedure displayed, or you do not understand the instructions, do not operate any of the switches until your installer has explained their use to you.

Ask your installer to show you the location of all the relevant switches and labels.

A certificate of compliance

Solar PV systems and batteries must be installed by a licensed electrician, who should give you an electronic certificate of compliance (eCoC) within 30 days of the system being connected.

If you do not receive an eCoC, it could jeopardise your insurance if an electrical-related incident subsequently causes fire or damage to the property. See using licensed tradespeople for more information.

System maintenance

To keep your system safe, make sure your installer provides you with a maintenance schedule. This will help ensure:

• your system is operating correctly
• you understand your system's performance potential and limitations
• you understand how to interpret critical system health information, so you can recognise when the system needs attention
• people at your property or working on the electricity distribution network are kept safe.

Your installer or a licensed electrician should service your battery storage system every 12 months.

If the electricity consumption at your property changes significantly without an obvious reason (for example, using a new appliance or additional people living in the home), check with your installer that the system is working properly.