Solar

Battery Rebate Offer

Sunshine Coast Battery Rebate Offer

Considering a battery storage solution for your home? There is currently a QLD government rebate for batteries available. You can learn more about the program by checking out the video below, or use the following links to learn more:

  1. Check your eligibility, learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3wu6y2I
  2. Discuss with our team to learn more

Battery Solutions

Battery Ready Solar

Home battery storage solutions enable the storage of electricity and are an essential step towards become less dependant on the electrical power grid. In this article, we take a look at the main considerations involved in organising a battery for your solar system. If you’re interested in a solar solution on the Sunshine Coast, contact us to learn more about a high-quality solution by a local company you can trust.

Battery Evolution

Batteries are a relatively recent addition to the uptake of rooftop solar in Australia. While battery storage has always been useful, bringing products to the market that are affordable, efficient and safe, as well as being sufficiently small, has taken some time. Battery technology is now moving ahead in leaps and bounds, thanks in no small part to the research and development in this area by electric vehicle manufacturers in recent years. Now there are every-superior residential battery storage options emerging as options for Australian consumers.

Battery Benefits

Batteries have two key benefits:

  1. Ability to store electricity
  2. Ability to become less dependant on the power grid.

Solar & Battery Compatibility Issues

Not all solar systems are compatible with all batteries. Depending on the age of your solar system, an upgrade to the system may be recommended prior to fitting a battery. Also, if you install a solar system with the intention of connecting a storage battery in the future, you need to ensure battery compatibility is part of the initial assessment. Discuss your situation with our team – we can let you know the options, and find a solution that will work for you.

Do I Need a Battery?

You can have solar power without a battery. In this case, solar energy is collected and sent to the power grid, with your electricity at home also coming from the power grid. The need for a battery depends on your energy objectives. With a battery, you can store electricity to the extent it is collected by your own solar panels, so you will be less dependant on the power grid for electricity.

Future-Proofing Your Solar

There is more to a solar installation than meets the eye. We’re here to help make the process smoother for you. In addition to battery compatibility, we also help fine-tune your solar to take into account other essentials such as array size, adaptability, energy management systems, timers and EV charging capability. For a complete, future-proofed solar solution with long-term support, contact our team today.

Enquire About a Battery Solution

If you’re interested in learning more about a solar solution or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.

EV Charging Solutions

zappi EV Charging Solution

One of the biggest changes in our lifetime is happening now with the addition of Electric Vehicles (EVs) to the market, providing a competitive alternative to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles for the first time. With this shift comes the ability of individuals to charge their own car, and like all things with technology, there is more than one way to get it done. In this article we take a look at the technological options and concepts to be aware of when assessing a home charger for your electric vehicle. 

The Efficiency of EVs Vs ICEs

Electric vehicles operate energetically more efficiently than their internal combustion counterparts. “EVs convert over 77 per cent of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels. Conventional gasoline vehicles only convert about 12 per cent – 30 per cent of the energy stored in gasoline to power at the wheels,” [SRC: https://www.energycouncil.com.au/analysis/evs-are-they-really-more-efficient/

In addition to this greater efficiency, they don’t create emissions while being driven, and need substantially less maintenance than ICEs. However, the real benefits of EVs are achieved when they are powered by solar on the roof (rather than power from the grid). Power supplied by renewable energy enables vehicle operation without reliance on a fossil-fuelled power source. 

Meeting the Demand of an EV

The introduction of an electrical vehicle into your household will increase the demand for electricity in your home. That’s why a solar solution should be mapped to your energy objectives – a process we include in our free solar consultation and quote. In addition to getting set up the right way, our solutions also include modular options that can be extended in the future should your energy needs change. Certainly, a solar installation with an electric vehicle represents the ability to supercharge your return on investment for a solar installation.  

Smart and Dumb Charging

EV charging at home can be done with a ‘smart’ or a ‘dumb’ charger. Both get the job done, but they do it in different ways. Here’s the breakdown! A dumb charger is just a charger, nothing more. You plug your EV into the charger, and it charges the EV using the available power. It’s simple and effective. However, if you have solar power, one of the main goals is to maximise the use of your solar power. This is where a smart charger can help. Some chargers have the ability to measure your solar production, and your homes overall energy consumption, enabling charging purely off your excess solar energy generation. That almost equates to free charging of your car using entirely renewable energy.

Optimising EV Charging

If you’re interested in optimising your EV charging, Energex has compiled a list of helpful hints and tips which can you read about here.

The Shift to Smarter Homes

A home with an optimised solar solution is made up of many interrelated parts. Some of the components are more obvious than others. If you’re hoping to charge your electric vehicle using renewable energy, you need a solar configuration that is up to the task, and a smart EV charger to optimise your charging capability. We can help – we provide all of the solutions required. Contact our team for a free consultation and quote:

EV Charging Solutions

Talk to Noosa Electric Co for an EV charging solution for your home or business, in Noosa & surrounding suburbs. This includes charging options from the grid or from your own solar power, and different charging modes to make the most of renewable energy.

On-Grid, Off-Grid & Hybrid Solar

Solar Panels on Roof

Noosa Electric Co installs On-Grid and Hybrid AC Solar Solutions in Noosa and surrounding suburbs. On this page, we clarify the difference between On-Grid, Off-Grid and Hybrid Solar solutions.

Relationship to the Grid

Solar installations can be configured to work in different ways with the public electricity grid. Generally, they fall into one of the following three categories:

  • On-Grid
  • Off-Grid
  • Hybrid

These distinctions explain how the solar energy is used. Explanations follow:

On-Grid

These systems do not use batteries and are connected to the public electricity grid. Any excess solar power that you generate can be exported to the electricity grid. (SRC: cleanenergyreviews.info) We install on-grid solar systems.

Off-Grid

An off-grid system is not connected to the electricity grid and therefore requires battery storage. (SRC: cleanenergyreviews.info) We do not install off-grid solar systems.

Hybrid

Hybrid systems are connected to the grid and to battery storage. Depending on energy collection and usage needs, the grid and the battery work to provide an optimal system for the home. (SRC: cleanenergyreviews.info) We install hybrid solar systems.


Would You Like to Know More?

If you’re interested in learning more about a solar solution or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.

How AC Solar Works

How AC Solar Works

Noosa Electric Co provides an Enphase Microinverter AC Solar System suitable for Australian homes and businesses. On this page, we provide information to help you understand why we provide AC solar solutions, and how they are different from other approaches to solar power.

Solar – A Broad Overview

In a typical residential solar installation, solar panels convert the sun’s energy into DC (Direct Current) electricity. However, inside the home, AC power is used, so a conversion is necessary. DC and AC solar systems go about this conversion process in different ways.

How AC Solar Works

DC solar is arranged in a ‘series’ circuit – connected panel to panel, this circuit leads electricity as DC to a single inverter inside the home, where it is transformed into AC power.

AC Solar works in a different way. Each solar cell has a microinverter which converts DC to AC at the solar cell. This significant distinction opens up a wide range of benefits in safety and capability.

Benefits of AC Solar Solutions

1. Avoiding High Voltages on the Rooftop

In a DC Solar system, the series circuit can lead to high DC voltages on the rooftop. This is due to the fact that the solar cells are linked together in series. This can result in DC voltages of up to 600 (Residential) – 1000 (Commercial) Volts DC on the roof.

In the event of the circuit being compromised due to any number of reasons (rodents, environmental wear and tear, water ingress, etc) this can result in high voltages of DC current arcing which can cause injury and fire.

An AC solar system doesn’t need high DC voltages – its DC voltages never exceed 80 volts. This makes for a safer solution.

3. No Need for a DC Isolator Switch

The DC Isolator switch is one of the most common points of failure in a DC Solar system. The purpose of this switch is to separate the DC circuit from the rest of the house. Although the intention is to make the system safer, over time the failure of these switches and subsequent exposure to the environment is a leading cause of failure in DC solar systems.

In an AC solar solution, there is no need for a DC isolator switch because there is no high-voltage DC circuit. Microinverters transform DC to AC at each panel, and the AC voltage on the rooftop is much lower because it is operating on a per-panel basis, as opposed to the combined effect in a DC Solar series circuit.

4. Performance in Partial Shading

In a DC solar installation the performance of the whole system depends on the performance of each individual cell. If a cell is shaded, this impacts the performance of the entire array, reducing the output. In an AC solar system, cells work separately from each other. Any shading only impacts the individual cell, not the entire system.

4. Centralised VS Decentralised Inversion

Another important distinction between AC and DC solar is the impact of a single vs multiple inversion points. In a DC solar system, the whole system relies on a single inverter to transform DC to AC. If this inverter fails, the whole system goes down. This single point of failure doesn’t exist in an AC solar solution. Here, the inversion happens at the panel with a microinverter. If it should fail, only a single panel is impacted – the rest of the system won’t be affected. This creates a more robust system that isn’t dependent on a single inverter.

5. Scalability

Scalability (the ability to change the size) of your solar installation is an important consideration. The installation that works for you now may not work for you in 5 years time. A case in point is electric vehicles. If you transition to an electric vehicle, the need to charge your car would change the profile of your energy usage requirement.

AC Solar Scalability

DC solar installations are inherently less scalable than AC solar installations. Adding additional solar panels is only possible as long as the single inverter can handle the additions. It may be necessary to upgrade your inverter to accommodate extra panels. In comparison, AC solar can be scaled as needed. Panels can be added, or removed, as required without compromising the rest of the process. This is achieved by microinverters transforming DC to AC at the cell rather than at a single inversion point.


Would You Like to Know More?

If you’re interested in learning more about a solar solution or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.

Solar System Longevity

Longevity is an Important Consideration with Solar

A Solar installation represents a significant investment. Accordingly, it’s important to prioritise a quality solution that will last for a long time. Make sure your solar will go the distance with Noosa Electric Co. solar solution. We use quality components and best practices to ensure your solar will go the distance – and if you need support with your solar system in the future, we will be here to assist.

Quality Components

Our reputation for excellence is well known on the Sunshine Coast. In regard to our solar solutions, we use high-quality components in conjunction with our licensed, qualified and experienced solar team to implement long-term solutions for your solar energy needs.

Since 1973 – Towards 2073

Solar installations are major electrical installations and its important to know you will be supported in the future if the need arises. We’ve serviced the Sunshine Coast since 1973, and we will be here to assist if required in the future. Just let us know how we can help!


Would You Like to Know More?

If you’re interested in learning more about a solar solution or getting a quote, please contact our team. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.