Choosing to fit a solar power system with battery storage is one of the most important decisions a homeowner will make on the journey towards realising their dream home.
Opting for solar power means choosing a smart energy future.
It means making a personal investment in the future of renewable energy, moving away from fossil fuels, and seeking independence from variable, ever-increasing power bills.
Once you have decided to go solar, the follow-up decisions can prove just as critical.
Solar and battery systems are not plug-and-play appliances.
They are complex electrical installations.
It is vitally important not only to use the highest-quality components when setting up your solar system, but also to ensure that they are designed and installed meticulously and monitored adequately.
Unfortunately, complaints about solar companies have more than doubled over the last few years.
A survey conducted by CHOICE revealed that 30% of solar owners reported issues with their solar company.
In addition to that, Australian solar safety standards are not as stringent as in other parts of the world, such as the US.
The vast majority of solar systems installed in Australia create high uncontrolled DC voltages that can pose a fire and electrocution risk in the event of a fault.
Solar fires are often caused by an electrical arc fault, which occurs when an electrical current jumps from one point to another, potentially sparking a fire.
When adding a battery to your solar PV system, the complexity and importance of quality workmanship become even more critical.
In February 2022, an Adelaide couple were lucky to escape with their lives when their house was badly damaged after a fire started due to their solar system’s faulty battery.
The couple escaped the blaze, managing to save their cat and two dogs, at 3am after being alerted to the danger by a smoke alarm.
Adelaide Metropolitan Fire Service, or MFS, claimed there is a growing problem with faulty and malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries across Australia.
MFS Northern Operations Commander Stuart Dawes told ABC News that the fire had started in a home battery storage system in the property’s garage.
He noted that lithium-ion storage systems are becoming an emerging hazard to fire services around the nation.
He also stated that it is vital for batteries to be safely installed following compliance regulations.
Safer solar technologies reduce the risk of electrical arc faults, which in turn reduces the risk of solar-related fires and electrocution.
The two main safer solar technologies available in Australia are SolarEdge DC Power Optimisers and Enphase Microinverters.
Both microinverters and power optimisers, also known as Module-Level Power Electronics, or MLPE, control power generated by the solar panel at the solar panel.
They also constantly monitor electrical performance for faults that may cause a fire.
There is a great variety of solar products on the market and a broad selection of installers operating in different parts of the country.
Figuring out which company to work with can be overwhelming at first, as there is a lot of information to take in.
Choosing to work with an experienced installer that uses only high-quality components is vital to ensuring the long-term success of your solar journey.
Unfortunately, some less scrupulous installers operate on the fringes of the solar industry and have presided over solar system installation disasters for some homeowners.
Known as solar cowboys, these dodgy companies usually operate newly founded businesses or websites that lack a history of verified customer reviews.
Once they secure the sale, they then outsource the installation to the cheapest labour available, in many cases using unskilled or unqualified technicians.
Many installers setting up batteries these days do not even hold CEC Battery Accreditation.
In most cases, that can mark the start of a nightmare for homeowners.
As soon as poor reviews start coming in from unsatisfied customers who have had poorly functioning solar systems and batteries installed on their properties, the dodgy operators close down their business and reopen under a new name.
Ultimately, customers pay the price as they are left with faulty, unsafe, and underperforming orphan systems, with no company to hold accountable for warranties and service.
Close to 800 solar companies have gone out of business since 2011, leaving more than 650,000 Australians with no recourse if their systems fail.
Verified customer reviews are one of the best ways to gauge the reliability and quality of service that a solar system installer provides.
Look for installers that have been in business for several years and have accumulated plenty of high-quality, detailed customer reviews.
A dodgy installer might be able to add a handful of fake customer testimonials to their website, but real verified customer reviews are what you should be looking for.
Check Google Reviews for any installer you are considering.
A quality installer should have a good number of customer reviews spanning several years.
Before working with an installer, be sure that they have received plenty of five-star reviews from customers and have an overall rating of over four stars.
Be sure to read through several pages of customer reviews and keep an eye out for any inconsistencies or common complaints.
As well as Google Reviews, be sure to search for reviews on any installer you are considering working with at ProductReview.com.au.
This independent website contains real, verified reviews from customers for thousands of Australian companies.
ProductReview.com.au gives out annual awards to a smaller number of exceptional Australian businesses in various categories that have received overwhelmingly positive customer reviews.
Smart Energy Answers was awarded the ProductReview.com.au award for the solar installer category for three years running in 2020, 2021, and again in 2022.
Smart Energy Answers is also a strong advocate for safe solar in Australia, specialising in the installation of Enphase Microinverters and SolarEdge DC Power Optimisers.
