Solar PV Panels

A one kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system can save the average home 1.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.

Products

How do PV panels work?

A solar PV grid connect system mounted on your roof transforms radiation from the sun into direct current electricity. This electricity is transmitted to an inverter which converts the direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC). All electricity produced by the solar PV system is then exported to the electricity grid so that households can take advantage of the gross feed-in tariff (to be introduced in January 2010).

The amount of energy available from your system is chiefly determined by:

The size and type of system installed;
the orientation of the panels on your roof; and
geographical location and seasonal climate variations.

NB: Solar PV systems are not the same as solar hot water systems. Solar PV systems generate electricity to power, for example appliances and lighting in your home. Solar hot water systems use the sun's energy to heat water. Please visit our solar hot water or heat pump pages if you are interested in hot water systems.

What different types of panels are there?

There are a number of solar panel types. Two of the more popular types are crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon. Crystalline silicon cells are made from slices of single crystal ingot (monocrystalline) or multiple small crystals (polycrystalline). Amorphous silicon cells are made up of a thin film applied to glass or plastic. For further information on solar (PV) systems types please visit the Australian PV Association website and the Australian Government's Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre for solar (PV) system performance.

Choosing a system

The most appropriate system for your home will depend on the roof of your dwelling, and also how much money you are prepared to spend. Our preferred suppliers will be happy to talk to you about your needs and help you choose a suitable system, however it may be helpful to consider the following points.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance is available for solar PV systems in the form of government rebates, Solar Credits, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and Green Loans. In addition to this, a gross feed-in tariff will be available from January 2010. For more information about these, read our information on Government Rebates and Schemes.

Your roof

The pitch or slope of your roof, as well as the direction it faces, and shading from surrounding buildings/trees will determine if the panels can be installed to provide optimum performance.

Development Applications

You may be required to submit a development application to install a solar PV system. To find out, check with your local council.

For more information read the Frequently Asked Questions, or speak to one of our suppliers.

RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) and Solar Credits

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are an electronic form of currency designed to encourage the installation of small scale renewable energy systems. Households will receive one REC for every one megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity that will be potentially generated by your solar PV system over a ten year period. As an added incentive when you purchase a solar PV system between 1 July 2009 and June 2012, you will receive five times the number of RECs for systems smaller than 1.5kWp or for the first 1.5kWp of larger systems. This added incentive is called "Solar Credits".

For more information visit the Australian Government Department of Climate Change website at www.climatechange.gov.au.

How do the ClimateClever Shop savings work?

Listed below are the product offers available from the ClimateClever Shop preferred suppliers, including standard installation and GST. For each product we have listed the discounted ClimateClever Shop Price along with the normal recommended retail price (RRP). As the current market price per Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) continually changes, it is not possible to provide the exact price your household will pay on this website.

Therefore to find out how much your household could save, please submit an enquiry on a system that meets your household's requirements. The supplier will then contact you and provide an accurate quotation taking into account your individual circumstances, the current market value of the RECs and the Solar Credits which could potentially reduce the final price by thousands.

Products

<1.5kWp - priced from $8,500 (without Solar Credit discount)

PV size	Model	Supplier	Warranty	Inverter	RECs	Discounted price	Make an enquiry
1kWp	Kaneka Panel type: Thin Film Amorphous Area: 16m²	Solar Shop Australia	25 year performance; modules will maintain more than 80% of the specified minimum output for a 25 year period after shipment materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 5 years complete system materials and workmanship - 5 years	SMA Sunny Boy 1100 kWp: 1.2 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty	99	$8,500 (RRP: $9,350) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
1.05kWp	Conergy P175M Number of panels: 6 Panel type: Monocrystalline Efficiency: 13.7% Area: 7.68m² Made in China	Australia Wide Solar	product - 5 years 90% power: 12 years 80% power: 25 years IEC 61215 IEC 61730	SMA SB1100 Warranty: 10 years	108	$9,100 (RRP: $10,500) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
1.08kWp	6 x Suntech 180W modules Panel type: Monocrystalline Area: 8m²	Green Solar Group	modules - 10 years at more than 90% performance, 25 years at more than 80% performance materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 10 years	SMA Sunny Boy 1100 kWp: 1.21 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty, 10 year optional warranty	111	$10,890 (RRP: $13,890) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
1.44kWp	Kaneka Panel type: Thin Film Amorphous Area: 24m²	Solar Shop Australia	25 year performance; modules will maintain more than 80% of the specified minimum output for a 25 year period after shipment materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 5 years complete system materials and workmanship - 5 years	SMA Sunny Boy 1700 kWp: 1.85 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty	149	$11,500 (RRP: $13,220) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
1.44kWp	8 x Suntech 180W modules Panel type: Monocrystalline Area: 10.5m²	Green Solar Group	modules - 10 years at more than 90% performance, 25 years at more than 80% performance materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 10 years	SMA Sunny Boy 1700 kWp: 1.85 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty, 10 year optional warranty	149	$13,990 (RRP: $17,990) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire

<2.5kWp - priced from $13,600 (without Solar Credit discount)

PV size	Model	Supplier	Warranty	Inverter	RECs	Discounted price	Make an enquiry
1.54kWp	Conergy PP220M Number of panels: 7 Panel type: Monocrystalline Efficiency: 14.13% Area: 11.41m² Made in Germany	Australia Wide Solar	product - 5 years 90% power: 12 years 80% power: 25 years IEC 61215 IEC 61730	SMA SB1700 Warranty: 10 years	156	$13,600 (RRP: $15,500) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
1.76kWp	Conergy PP220M Number of panels: 8 Panel type: Monocrystalline Efficiency: 14.13% Area: 13.04m² Made in Germany	Australia Wide Solar	product - 5 years 90% power: 12 years 80% power: 25 years IEC 61215 IEC 61730	SMA SB1700 Warranty: 10 years	160	$15,000 (RRP: $16,700) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
1.8kWp	10 x Suntech 180W modules Panel type: Monocrystalline Area: 13m²	Green Solar Group	modules - 10 years at more than 90% performance, 25 years at more than 80% performance materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 10 years	SMA Sunny Boy 1700 kWp: 1.85 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty, 10 year optional warranty	161	$16,990 (RRP: $22,490) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
1.9kWp	Kaneka Panel type: Thin Film Amorphous Area: 31m²	Solar Shop Australia	25 year performance; modules will maintain more than 80% of the specified minimum output for a 25 year period after shipment materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 5 years complete system materials and workmanship - 5 years	SMA Sunny Boy 1700 kWp: 1.85 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty	164	$14,950 (RRP: $16,350) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire

<6kWp - priced from $21,500 (without Solar Credit discount)

PV size	Model	Supplier	Warranty	Inverter	RECs	Discounted price	Make an enquiry
2.64kWp	Conergy PP220M Number of panels: 12 Panel type: Monocrystalline Efficiency: 14.13% Area: 19.56m² Made in Germany	Australia Wide Solar	product - 5 years 90% power: 12 years 80% power: 25 years IEC 61215 IEC 61730	SMA SB2500 Warranty: 10 years	179	$21,500 (RRP: $24,000) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
2.88kWp	16 x Suntech 180W modules Panel type: Monocrystalline Area: 21m²	Green Solar Group	modules - 10 years at more than 90% performance, 25 years at more than 80% performance materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 10 years	SMA Sunny Boy 2500 kWp: 2.7 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty, 10 year optional warranty	184	$26,990 (RRP: $34,490) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
3kWp	Kaneka Panel type: Thin Film Amorphous Area: 49m²	Solar Shop Australia	25 year performance; modules will maintain more than 80% of the specified minimum output for a 25 year period after shipment materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 5 years complete system materials and workmanship - 5 years	SMA Sunny Boy 3800 kWp: 4 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty	186	$22,950 (RRP: $24,880) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
3.08kWp	Conergy PP220M Number of panels: 14 Panel type: Monocrystalline Efficiency: 14.13% Area: 22.82m² Made in Germany	Australia Wide Solar	product - 5 years 90% power: 12 years 80% power: 25 years IEC 61215 IEC 61730	SMA SB3300 Warranty: 10 years	188	$25,000 (RRP: $29,000) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
3.96kWp	Conergy PP220M Number of panels: 18 Panel type: Monocrystalline Efficiency: 14.13% Area: 29.34m² Made in Germany	Australia Wide Solar	product - 5 years 90% power: 12 years 80% power: 25 years IEC 61215 IEC 61730	SMA SB3800 Warranty: 10 years	206	$32,500 (RRP: $36,000) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
4.1kWp	Sanyo Panel type: Hybrid Crystalline Area: 26m²	Solar Shop Australia	25 year performance; modules will maintain more than 80% of the specified minimum output for a 25 year period after shipment materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 5 years complete system materials and workmanship - 5 years	SMC 6000 kWp: 6.3 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty	209	$34,950 (RRP: $37,350) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire
5.5kWp	Sanyo Panel type: Hybrid Crystalline Area: 35.1m²	Solar Shop Australia	25 year performance; modules will maintain more than 80% of the specified minimum output for a 25 year period after shipment materials and workmanship - 5 years mounting system - 5 years complete system materials and workmanship - 5 years	SMC 6000 kWp: 6.3 Warranty: 5 year factory warranty	239	$45,390 (RRP: $48,500) Surrender your RECs for an even lower price	Enquire

Suppliers

Not sure which system is right for you? Our ClimateClever Shop suppliers are more than happy to help. Give them a call and get the advice you need over the phone. Be sure to mention the ClimateClever Shop to ensure you receive your discount.

Contact the preferred suppliers for details of their accreditation process, licensing of installers and information about the compliance of their solar PV panels to Australian standards.

		Australia Wide Solar Phone: 1300AWSOLAR or 9533 7444 Website: www.awsolar.com.au

		Green Solar Group Phone: 1300 88 22 71 Website: www.greensolargroup.com

		Solar Shop Phone: 133 SOLAR or 8850 4500 Website: www.solarshop.com.au

* Please read about Government Rebates and Schemes.