The cost of solar panels will depend on the size and specifications of the system that you need. Every home will have a different solar system requirement and therefore, a different cost. There are many things to consider when assessing the cost of solar panels, such as your household energy consumption, whether there is shade on your roof, whether you need a battery add-on and how long it will take for the system to pay for itself. We therefore recommend that you get a free quote from our solar specialists to determine which are the right solar panels for you.

A good system with proper care and monitoring should last you up to 25 years (or more). Our philosophy for choosing the right solar system for your home in Wollongong and the Illawarra region:- The right solar system size is the solar that fits your home!

Determining the solar system size that fits your home requires you to answer 3 questions:

+Do you have a large roof or a small roof?

+Is your energy consumption high or low?

+Does your roof have shade?

The Federal Government offers incentives to Australians looking to install solar panels to help it achieve its Renewable Energy Target (RET). These incentives are available to homes and businesses installing small-scale solar systems (under 100kW). The amount you can save is determined by the amount of energy your system will produce – this varies depending on your location and the size of the solar system you purchase. While it is possible to organise the government yourself, this method requires applications, fees and a lot of time. At SolarRun Illawarra, we will help you organise the rebate on your behalf - which means that the rebate will be applied immediately into your quotation. Speak with one of our certified specialists today!

You save by offsetting your grid usage. For example, your regular electricity rate is 30 cents for One kW. When your solar outputs One kW as well to offset that, then you have just saved the full 30 cents!

You will probably never use ALL the solar power you generate, so all this extra power will be exported back to the grid. On days that you need to rely on the grid for power (example on a cloudy day), the grid will sell the power back to you again but NOT at 30 cents per kwh. It would be at a discounted rate. That's MORE savings again! The discounted rate is called your Feed-In-Tariff. The rates vary between retailers as well as the state that you live.

After your solar system is installed and running, it’s really important to keep an eye on your Feed-In-Tariff s (FIT) because the rates that are offered are always changing and can vary between retailers and location. Always research what other retailers

are offering so you can negotiate or switch retailers. From time to time, do a quick look around the market to see which provider is

giving out the best rate. The more you monitor your solar tariffs, the more you save.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING SOLAR PANELS:

01. The size and location of your roof

02. Panel brand reputation

03. Panel warranty

04. The type of solar panels

The best solar system size for you would ultimately depend on your usage and needs but an absolute minimum solar size to go for is a 6.6kw system. A 6.6 kW solar system in Wollongong generates about 26 kWh of energy; more in summer, less in winter.

If correctly installed, this solar system could produce enough electricity to reduce your energy bill to zero!

It's wiser to install more solar panels than less because it is complicated and expensive to fit extra solar panels to an existing solar system later on.

Give us a ring and we will analyse the best solar panels for your home in Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama regions.

A solar battery can help you become energy independent. This gives you the power to store and access your own electricity, even when there’s a blackout and the grid is down. If your household does not use much energy during the day, then the solar power that your solar panels are capturing is disappearing into the grid. This can be hugely frustrating for those looking to get the most out of their solar power system. This is why the next thing on their minds are solar batteries: a storage of all your unused solar energy which can be used when sunlight isn’t available.

Battery costs are expected to continue to decline over the next few years, which will reduce payback times. A solar battery system needs to be tailored to your home’s energy usage, the size of your rooftop solar system, and when and how you use electricity.

Speak to us today and we will help you determine if a solar battery is right for your home in the Wollongong LGA.

For houses in the Illawarra with partial shading, half cell solar panels are a good option to consider. The advantage of the half cell solar panels is that if part of your solar panel is shaded, the rest will continue to work. Half cell panels are more durable, efficient and can reduce the negative impact of shading. Solar optimisers are another great option for roofs with shade. By monitoring the maximum power point (MPPT) of each solar panel, optimisers keep your device working at maximum efficiency. This can increase the energy produced by your solar system and reduce the effects of shading.

To estimate the payback period in years, simply divide the upfront system cost by the projected annual savings in your energy bills.

In Wollongong, the average payback time for a 6.6kw solar system is an average of 3 years. If you have financed your solar system, you should see a full payback in approximately 5 years. It doesn’t sound long at all does it? Forget about the myths that you hear that solar isn’t worth it. Maybe 10 years ago, they could have been right. But 2023 is the time for solar energy. Make no mistake, this is the future and you are on the right track.