Solar Power FAQ

What would you like to know?

Q. Who does the installation and how long does it take?
A. Installation generally takes just one day and will be performed by an electrician certified by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). A list of companies certified by the BCSE to install solar power systems can be found here (PDF).

Q. Who makes your inverters and where are they made?
A. SolarPowerGoldCoast inverters are made by Latronic Sunpower Pty Ltd. Labtronics are an entirely Australian owned company that have been operating since 1985. As Australia's leading manufacturer of inverters, Labtronic's products are fully ISO 9001 compliant and they export their products to over 30 countries worldwide.

Q. What size invertor will I receive with my 1.44kW Solar Power System?
A. It will have a maximum Solar Panel Input of 1600W and a maximum output of 1250W non-continous. Larger inverters are used for the 2kW and 2.5kW systems and are available on request for the 1.44kW system at an additional cost. Technicians will explain your options fully when you meet to discuss installation.

Q. Ok, I'm interested. What is the process for getting things started?
A. You need to fill in Enquiry form . Shortly afterwards, one of our certified electricians will contact you to arrange a time to assess your needs and suitability for a PV solar system. The instller will discuss signing over your Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to SolarPower. This way you are not required to pay the full cost of instalation and wait for the government rebate to be processed.

Q. How much will I save with a PV solar system?
A. Exact savings depend on many factors - such as where your house is located, how much sunshine your house receives and how and when you use electricity. Typically, a PV solar system will reduce your electricity bills by 33%. To help you work out how much you will save and how much you will help the planet, visit the SolarPowerGoldCoast Savings Calculator and the Electricity Cost and Carbon Footprint Calculator.

Q. Does the system require maintenance?
A. Systems are designed to the highest standard and should provide you with 25 years of free solar power. However, some very basic maintenance is required. For example, solar cells will need to be occasionally cleaned of leaf litter, dirt and other debris as this will prevent sunlight from reaching the cells.

Q?. What type of roof is the system suitable for?
A. The system can be mounted to most types of roof coverings, the exceptions are slate roof tiles and roofs in poor condition. Before installation is started the installer will notify you if there are any problems that would not allow the installation to continue.

Q. I live in a 2 storey house, can it still be installed?
A. Yes.

Q. I have trees shading the roof, will a solar power system work for me?
A. The system will work, but will have a reduced output due to the degree of shading. Other obstructions like neighbouring buildings, chimneys, and air conditioning units may reduce system output due to shading.

Q. Your registration forms asks for my email and other personal details. What is your privacy policy?
A. We will provide your contact details to the electrician who will conduct your installation assessment. We will also need to provide details of your application for the rebate to the government. However SolarPowerGoldCoast will never provide your contact details to any other person or organisation. We appreciate your custom and we respect your privacy.