Solar Panel Installation in Canberra

Solar panel installation for Canberra homes

Canberra’s seasons can be hard on rooftops. Heat, cold snaps, wind, and hail all matter. A good residential solar installation starts with a design that suits your roof and your daily energy habits, then it is installed neatly and safely.

When we design a home solar system, we aim for outcomes that last:

• Strong year-round generation based on roof orientation, shading, and layout
• A system size that matches your usage and budget
• Safe electrical work that suits the condition of your switchboard and cabling
• Monitoring you can actually use, so you can see what the system is doing

What we check before we recommend a solar system

Before any panels go on a roof, we look at the practical details that influence performance and cost:

• Your energy use: how many kWh you use, plus when you use it (daytime vs evenings)
• Shading: trees, chimneys, nearby buildings, and seasonal changes
• Roof orientation and pitch: where the best solar access is across the day
• Roof condition and access: roof type, mounting points, safe access, and cable runs
• Grid connection considerations: what may apply at your address (for example export limits)
• Future plans: EV charging, battery storage, or moving from gas to efficient electric appliances

This is also where we can flag issues early, like a switchboard that needs upgrades or rework before a solar system installation can be completed safely.

Commercial solar installation in Canberra

For many businesses, commercial solar installation is about matching solar generation to daytime load. If your site uses a good share of electricity during business hours, solar power in Canberra can reduce reliance on the grid during the day.

Decarby Solar supports commercial solar projects with a focus on:

• Panel placement that avoids avoidable shade and uses the best roof faces
• An inverter strategy that suits the site and system size
• A design that supports reliable operation across Canberra’s seasons

If you manage multiple sites, tenancy arrangements, or you are unsure whether the building is suitable, we can talk through practical options before you commit.

Our solar installation process

1) Free assessment and site suitability

We start by understanding your goals and your current electricity use. If you are planning batteries or EV charger installation later, we factor that in early because it can change design decisions.

2) System design and rooftop solar layout

A solar PV installation is not just panels plus an inverter. Layout, string design, shading tolerance, inverter sizing, and cable routes all matter. We prepare a proposal that explains:

• Where panels will be placed and why
• The intended inverter sizing strategy
• Expected generation based on the roof layout and assumptions used

We prefer to be clear about assumptions. For example, if you work from home or run big daytime loads, the bill impact can look very different compared with a home that uses most energy at night.

3) Transparent quote and inclusions

Quotes should be readable and complete. We outline:

• Equipment and key specifications included
• Work scope: roof mounting, wiring, inverter location, monitoring setup
• Likely site-dependent items if they apply, such as switchboard work or meter-related steps

4) Installation, commissioning, and handover

On installation day, the focus is safety, neat workmanship, and correct commissioning. Once installed, we test the system, verify operation, and complete a handover that covers monitoring, expectations across seasons, and what to do if anything looks unusual.

Choosing the right solar system size

Sizing is where most underperforming systems begin. Bigger is not always better, and smaller is not always cheaper once you account for bill reduction over time.

We size solar by looking at:

• Annual household or business consumption
• Daytime usage and load shifting potential
• Large electric loads now (and those likely soon), such as heat pump hot water, air conditioning, or EV charging
• Roof space, orientation, and shading
• Whether you want the system to be battery-ready

Solar rebates and STCs explained simply

Many people call it a “solar rebate”, but in most cases they mean Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) under the Australian Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). Installing an eligible system allows the creation of STCs which can be redeemed by selling or assigning them, and the value is commonly shown as an upfront discount on a quote.

A few things to know:

• Eligibility and certificate value can change over time
• The number of STCs depends on system size, location, and installation date
• Most people assign the right to create STCs to a registered agent in exchange for an upfront discount

To access SRES incentives, your system must be installed by an appropriately accredited installer. The accreditation scheme is operated by Solar Accreditation Australia, and it transitioned from the Clean Energy Council in May 2024.

Quality, safety, and compliance

Solar is electrical work on your roof, so design and installation standards matter. Decarby Solar’s approach prioritises:

• Safe rooftop practices and tidy cable management
• Correct isolator placement and clear labelling
• Proper commissioning and testing
• Using appropriately qualified and accredited people where required

If we identify a safety risk or a compliance issue, we address it properly. Cutting corners is not worth it.

Solar panels, inverters, and real-world performance

There is a lot of noise in the market. The basics still matter most:

• Panel placement that avoids avoidable shade and uses the best roof faces
• An inverter strategy that suits the site and system size
• A design that supports reliable operation across Canberra’s seasons

We will explain trade-offs in plain language, including what matters for performance on your roof.

How Decarby Solar operates

Decarby Solar runs solar installations like an energy project, not a quick sale. That means we spend time on the design, ask the questions that affect real-world output, and set expectations that match how solar behaves across seasons. If you are likely to add a battery, EV charger, or other electrification upgrades later, we plan for it so the system stays tidy and upgrade-ready.

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Our approach is driven by experienced professionals who manage each project from assessment through to installation. You can learn more about the people behind Decarby Solar on our Our Team page.