Are your solar panels working correctly?

In the pursuit of reducing energy bills and harnessing renewable energy, solar panels have become standard for many Queensland households.

However, what happens when these powerhouses of sustainability aren’t performing as expected?

According to RACQ research, nearly one in four (23.5%) Queenslanders who have solar did not know their solar system had to be maintained or checked regularly to ensure it was working efficiently.

RACQ Solar CEO Jack Hooper said there were several reasons solar systems may not be performing at their peak level.

“One of the most common causes of underperforming solar panels is inverter failure which can occur if there is a grid fault, if there is a problem with the earthing of the system or if the system circuit breaker has tripped,” Mr Hooper said.

“The inverters are one of the most complex components of a solar system and often one of the first mechanisms to fail.”

Mr Hooper said the quality of workmanship during installation also played a critical role in ensuring the solar system was generating the power that was expected.

“Unfortunately, this is often overlooked as consumers typically prioritise the price of solar installations over quality,” Mr Hooper said.

“The most recent round of inspections completed by the Clean Energy Regulator in 2019 showed that 23% of installations audited in Queensland were found to be substandard or unsafe.

“Hot spots, corrosion, cracks and general degradation are also common problems, particularly for aged solar panels.

“Many of these issues can be created during the installation process by poor handling of the solar modules or the incorrect mounting and fixing of the solar modules to the roof.

“Dirt and other soiling is also an issue, with the build-up of dust, tree sap and bird droppings often reducing the output of the panels and sometimes causing long-term damage.”

Mr Hooper said qualified solar electricians should perform servicing on solar systems every couple of years.

“Investing in routine solar health checks is like giving your solar panels a doctor’s visit – it helps catch problems early and ensures your solar system is operating at its best,” he said.

“Only electricians with a Clean Energy Council solar licence should be working on the system.

“A normal electrician is not qualified and homeowners should not be checking the system themselves.”

Checking that the system is performing at its optimum level will ensure homeowners are getting the best return on their investment.

“A solar health check could reveal a system is producing up to 20% less power than it should,” Mr Hooper said.

“With a 6.6kW system, that could be in the region of 5kWh per day which could cost the owner up to $450 per year based on the average electricity costs in Queensland of 25 cents per kilowatt hour.

“Over the 25-year expected life of the system, this could cost the homeowner more than $10,000 in lost potential savings.

“In addition to the financial benefits, regular servicing also ensures that the system is operating safely and meets the required safety standards.”

RACQ Solar offers solar health checks in the greater Brisbane region. To book or find out more, visit the solar health checks webpage.

If you are interested in a solar health check but live outside greater Brisbane, you can register your interest here.