A plain-language guide for Townsville homeowners

What do I need to know about solar?

Solar is one of the most straightforward investments a Townsville homeowner can make, but there is a lot of noise in the market. This guide covers the key things you need to understand before you buy, from how the technology actually works to how to choose a company you can trust.

Start here

How to choose a solar company

The solar industry in Australia has had more than its share of companies that sold systems and then disappeared. Knowing what to look for in an installer before you commit is just as important as knowing which panels to buy. Here is what matters.

Are they local?

Use a company that has a physical office, workshop or showroom in Townsville. If something goes wrong with your system in three years, you need to be able to reach someone who is already here. National brands and interstate sales companies are not the same thing as a local installer.

Do they hold an Electrical Contractor Licence?

The holder of the Electrical Contractor Licence is legally responsible for the electrical installation and all associated warranties. Ask for the licence number and verify it. This is not something a legitimate installer will hesitate to provide.

Do they employ their own accredited installers?

Solar Accredited Installers are responsible for the installation of the panels and inverter, and for the safety of the whole system. Solar Accredited Designers are responsible for the system layout, performance and compliance. Ask whether the company employs these people directly or uses subcontractors.

Are you talking to a tradesperson or a salesperson?

When getting quotes or having a site assessment, make sure you are speaking with a solar-accredited electrician who understands the technical side of what they are recommending. A commissioned salesperson with no technical background is not the right person to be designing your system.

Check their reviews and ask around

Check Google reviews and ask neighbours and colleagues who they used. Word of mouth from people who have been through the process is still the most reliable indicator of how a company actually performs after the sale.

Are they a sales company or an installation company?

Most solar companies in Australia are sales organisations that use subcontractors to do the actual work. They may describe themselves as a Solar Retailer or Approved Seller. Look for a company that has its own installation team. The people who sell you the system should be the same people who install and service it.

Understanding your options

The three types of solar system

Grid connect solar

The standard setup for most Townsville homes. Solar panels on the roof generate DC power, which an inverter converts to 240V AC for your appliances. Excess power is exported to the grid at the feed-in tariff rate. On cloudy days or when demand exceeds generation, the grid supplies the difference. If the grid goes down, a standard grid connect system goes down with it. It is the cheapest, easiest and fastest way to reduce your power bill.

Hybrid solar with battery storage

Works like a standard grid connect system with one key addition: a battery stores surplus solar rather than exporting it to the grid. When the sun goes down, the battery discharges to power the home. If the grid goes down, a hybrid system with a backup-capable inverter can island from the grid and keep your home running. This suits homes with high evening consumption, which describes most Townsville households running air conditioning at night.

Off-grid solar

A completely self-sufficient system with no connection to the electricity grid. The solar array generates power during the day, the batteries store it for overnight use, and a backup generator handles periods of low production or high demand. Off-grid suits rural and remote properties where grid connection is impractical or prohibitively expensive. It requires more complex design and a higher level of expertise to install correctly. Most off-grid systems we install are on cattle properties, remote homes and mine sites across western Queensland.

Small-scale Technology Certificates

The federal solar rebate — how it actually works

The federal government provides an upfront incentive to homeowners installing solar through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The incentive is delivered in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates, or STCs. The number of certificates you receive depends on the size of your system and your location. Your installer converts those certificates into an upfront discount on your installation cost, which means you simply pay less from the start rather than claiming anything back after the fact.

The STC rebate applies to solar panels and is separate from the battery rebate. If you are installing both solar and a battery, both rebates apply simultaneously. The STC rebate value decreases progressively each year until 2030. We apply the current rebate figure to every quote we provide.

The federal battery rebate

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program provides a separate upfront rebate on eligible battery storage systems. It applies to new solar and battery installs as well as retrofits on existing solar systems that do not yet have storage. Like the STC rebate, it is applied directly to your quote by your installer. No separate claim, no government forms. We apply it to every battery installation we quote. The rebate declines every six months from May 2026, so installing sooner delivers a higher discount.

Getting credit for surplus solar

What about the feed-in tariff?

When your solar system generates more power than your home is using at that moment, the surplus goes back to the grid. Your electricity retailer pays you a small credit for that exported power, known as the feed-in tariff. The current standard feed-in tariff in Queensland is a fraction of what you pay to buy power back from the grid, which is why using your solar generation yourself is always worth more than exporting it.

Adding battery storage means you capture that surplus and use it yourself in the evening, rather than exporting it at the low feed-in rate and buying it back at the peak rate a few hours later. For most Townsville households the economics of a battery depend on how much you currently export and what your evening consumption looks like. We go through this properly during the site assessment.

The standard feed-in tariff

The current standard feed-in tariff in Queensland is set by the government and applies to all new solar systems. It is significantly lower than the retail rate you pay for grid power, which makes self-consumption through battery storage more financially attractive than exporting.

The 44 cent feed-in tariff

A legacy tariff paid to systems installed during the early solar boom, roughly 2008 to 2012. At 44 cents per kWh it remains one of the most valuable solar incentives ever offered in Australia. It is scheduled to end on 30 June 2028. If you are on this tariff, there are important decisions to make before that date. We have a dedicated guide to this on our 44 cent feed-in tariff page.

Panels, inverters and batteries

What to look for in the products themselves

The solar industry has a long history of cheap products with inflated claims and warranties that cannot be enforced because the company behind them no longer exists. Here is what actually matters when comparing products.

Panels: warranty length and what it actually covers

Look for a product warranty of at least 25 years and a performance warranty that guarantees minimum output at the end of the period. The manufacturer’s Australian presence matters: a warranty from a company with no local office is very difficult to enforce. We only supply panels from manufacturers with Australian offices.

Panels: performance in the heat

All solar panels lose some output as temperature rises. This is measured by the temperature coefficient. In Townsville where rooftop temperatures regularly exceed 60 degrees in summer, this number matters more than it does in cooler cities. We select panels specifically for their heat performance.

Inverters: brand reputation and local support

Inverters are the most common point of failure in a solar system, typically after eight to twelve years. Choosing a brand with a genuine Australian presence and a track record of warranty support matters. A cheap inverter from an unfamiliar brand may cost you more to replace in ten years than the money you saved upfront.

Batteries: chemistry and safety

Modern home batteries use lithium iron phosphate chemistry, which is thermally stable, long-lasting and well suited to Townsville’s heat. Older battery chemistries, including lead acid and some early lithium formulations, are not appropriate for home storage in hot climates. All three battery brands we install use LFP chemistry.

Racking: do not overlook it

The mounting hardware that holds your panels to the roof is something most people never think about, but in a cyclone-prone region it matters. We install Schletter racking on every system, a German-made system rated for cyclonic wind loads and corrosion-resistant to handle Townsville’s coastal salt air.

Monitoring: know what your system is doing

Every system we install comes with app-based monitoring so you can see exactly what your solar is generating and what your home is consuming in real time. A system you cannot monitor is a system that can underperform for months without you knowing. We walk every customer through their monitoring app before we leave on installation day.

North Queensland specific

What to do with your system during a cyclone

If your system is in good working order and installed correctly, you generally do not need to do anything before a cyclone unless there is major structural damage to your property or your inverter has been submerged.

The system will shut down or stop working automatically in the event of significant damage. Even if the system is shut down or switched off, there is still voltage present in the DC cabling. If you notice loose wires, displaced panels or physical damage after a weather event, do not attempt to fix it yourself. Call a licensed electrician.

If you want to shut your system down before a cyclone, here is the procedure

1
Turn off the Solar Supply Main Switch
Located in the meterbox, or the AC isolator located beside the inverter.
2
Turn off the PV DC Isolator
Usually located on or near the inverter.
3
Do not disconnect any DC cables
Leave all cabling in place. Disconnecting DC cables yourself creates a serious electrical hazard.
4
If you have a battery, follow the battery shutdown procedure
Each battery brand has a specific shutdown sequence. Refer to your system documentation or call us.

Once the weather has passed and power is restored, check your system is running. A green light on the inverter is a good indicator. If something does not look right or you want a post-cyclone inspection for peace of mind, give us a call.

What Do I Need to Know About Solar