A Review Of The Best Solar System in Australia in 2024

Solar power has become so affordable that a top-quality system can pay for itself in as little as 3-5 years, saving you tens of thousands of dollars on your power bills over the system's lifetime.

With fantastic government rebates available and great solar power deals now running on high-efficiency solar panels, now is a great time to make the switch to solar.

Getting the best solar system in 2024 is all about smart energy management with online consumption monitoring and battery storage. The future of renewables is here with systems now offering home automation functionality, online monitoring and back-to-base status reports. Let’s have a look at the best options for your solar system.

Solar Panel Deals In 2024

We approach things a little differently here at 1KOMMA5° to help you cut through the confusion. We believe you should have all the information you need to make an informed decision, including pricing.

And so here it is:

The average price for a good-quality 5kW solar system, fully installed, in Sydney starts at $5,500. This 18-panel system will output around 20kWh a day and can save you up to $500 on your quarterly power bill.

==> A warning about cheap solar systems

==> The future of solar power technology is here! Nearly all 1KOMMA5° systems now feature panel-level output, online monitoring, back-to-base status alerts, home automation and more!

The Best Solar Panel in 2024

There is always a lot of hype around the world’s most efficient solar panels, and rightly so. Advancements in solar panel technology have global significance because with increased output more households will be able to become self-sufficient, especially now that solar storage is available.

High-efficiency panels have dropped in price significantly, and nearly all 1KOMMA5° Systems installed last year have 400W or higher solar panels.

1KOMMA5° Full Black Modules

The 1KOMMA5° Solar Panel features premium performance, a lower carbon footprint and ethical production.

Solar panels just got greener! Featuring German made Polysilicon, the new 1KOMMA5° Solar Panel is a premium solar panel designed for Australia’s tough environment. It has exceptional performance in the heat, as well as in low light. We are bringing the lowest prices and cleanest energy possible to our customers in Sydney and Melbourne.

The new 1KOMMA5 panel features:

• German design and quality

• Backed by Porsche

• German-made polysilicon

• All-black design

• 25-year product & 30-year performance warranty

• 420W power rating

The 1KOMMA5° solar panel has taken Europe by storm, and it’s a thrill for us to bring this product to Australia. With the might and security of 1KOMMA5° warranting our own panel (one of the world’s largest renewable energy companies), and with installation by our own crews – you can be confident that your investment will be safe and well-supported in the years and decades to come.

The Best Solar Inverter in 2024

Microinverter technology allows each panel in a solar system to work independently from the other panels, ensuring the maximum output of clean renewable energy for your household or business. Enphase Microinverters help homeowners avoid common roadblocks that stop a solar installation on many houses such as patchy shade and small roof areas.

An Enphase Micro Inverter system uses a small DC to AC inverter under each panel. This means that each panel’s performance does not affect any other panel’s performance –  this is of particular use when there are shade issues, or when you need to face panels in two or more directions. Discover the top reasons why Enphase Microinverters are the best solar inverters on the market:

Increased Output from Enphase Microinverters

An Enphase Micro Inverter is attached to the mounting kit underneath each panel. The micro inverter uses state of the art electronics to convert DC to AC underneath each panel. This allows each individual panel to output power independently from the other panels, significantly increasing system output.

According to Renewable Energy World, shading of as little as 9% of a solar system connected to a central inverter, can lead to a system-wide decline in power output with as much as 54%.

The below image is a great example of how micro inverters can significantly increase output. In this image, the system will be working at near maximum output with micro inverters, despite the patchy shade because each panel is independent of the rest of the array.

Microinverters vs String Inverters

One of the biggest limitations with standard string inverter systems is that the panels are installed in series, meaning that the system will always perform at the rate of the worst performing panel. This means that partial shade on even just one panel can have a large impact on the output of a system.

It is not just shade from trees that can affect solar output. Bird droppings and dust, as well as chimneys and power lines, can affect solar output. Additionally, solar panels have a +- tolerance during the manufacturing process. For example, LG Solar 320W panels have a +3% tolerance, so they will range in output from 320W to 329W. Your system won’t be able to take advantage of this unless each panel is outputting power independently from the other panels.

Increased Flexibility

Using Micro Inverters allows our solar technicians to design a panel array across multiple roof areas – both across different orientations and angles. If you use most of your power in the afternoon, it can be beneficial to have panels facing both north and west to distribute the output of solar power across the day. This avoids having a big peak of solar power in the middle of the day, making it easier to use a large percentage of the solar power as it is generated, and hence increasing the value of your system.

Our solar experts will help you find the right system for your home.

• The Best Solar Panels To Install In Australia in 2024

• The Price, Output and Payback Period of a 10kW Solar System In Sydney In 2024

• How much is a 5kW or 6.6kW Solar Panel System in Melbourne?

• How Much Do Solar Systems Cost In 2024 in Sydney?

• Is Solar Power Worth It To Help You Save Money In 2024?

• How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Solar Panel Or Solar System?

Get all the right information before installing a solar power system for your home.

The Best Solar System Monitoring in 2024

The Enphase Envoy Communications Gateway is the networking hub for the system. The Envoy Gateway connects to the internet to transfer live data on system performance and critical issues. As your Enphase Installer, 1KOMMA5° receives automatic emails alerting us to any technical issues, making it simple to conduct system checks remotely from our head office in Glendenning, or even when our technicians are on the road. Customers are also able to read system output and check the system status on the Envoy’s LED screen.

The Enlighten software platform provides solar professionals and solar system owners with ongoing system statistics and uptime assurance. Enlighten has a user-friendly and engaging interface to view your energy production. This energy monitoring platform is regarded as one of the best in the industry.

System Safety

Micro Inverter systems avoid the need for high voltage DC cable runs, increasing safety for the homeowner. If a string inverter system was invented today it would probably be deemed illegal due to the need for a high voltage cable run through your home. There is also power leakage on longer DC cable runs, making safe and easy AC cable runs the preferred option whenever possible.

No Single Point of Failure

In the unlikely event that something goes wrong with one of the panels or micro inverters, the rest of the system that is unaffected will still be operational. This allows for less downtime, and allows you to continue to generate solar power during a warranty claim or service check.

Remote Technical Support

Both Enphase and 1KOMMA5°, as your installer, have access to live, real time monitoring of every panel. In the event of a fault, 1KOMMA5° receives an automated message to alert us to the issue. In most cases, the firmware can be updated by Enphase technicians and the problem fixed remotely. This can save you days of downtime and the frustration of having to call out a technician.

Easily Expandable

Micro inverter systems are expandable, limited only to your roof space. 1KOMMA5° can install as many additional panels as you like, and we don’t need to match the panels to your existing array. This allows you to take advantage of any technology gains over the next few years. For example, you may find that in 3 years time, 300W panels are the market standard.

With a standard string inverter, you need to match the inverter size to the panel array to ensure high performance. This means that adding panels normally requires the inverter to be replaced. The other limitation is that we need to match the panels in order to add panels to a string. This limits the upgrade window to around a year or so, as trying to find old stock is close to impossible due to the fast advances in technology.

Single Phase vs. Three Phase Power

With a standard string inverter system, we would normally use a single phase inverter even if you have three phase power. We connect the inverter to the phase that uses the most power. The alternative is to use an expensive three-phase inverter. For systems over 5kWs, you must have three phase power and so the only option is to use a three-phase inverter.

With an Enphase Micro Inverter system, there is no additional cost for you if you have three phase power. This is the best option from a technical viewpoint and can save you a lot of money as you don’t need to upgrade to a three-phase solution.

10 Year Microinverter Warranty as Standard

As your Platinum Enphase Partner, Enphase systems installed by 1KOMMA5° include a 10-year warranty that can also be extended to either 15 years or 25 years. It is a full replacement warranty so you are not out of pocket in the event of a failure. One of the reasons 1KOMMA5° is considered to have industry-leading support standards is that we offer full-service warranties. 1KOMMA5° does not have ‘back to base warranties’ where you need to send faulty parts to the manufacturer.

All of the main string inverter manufacturers including SMA, ABB (Aurora), Fronius and Growatt offer a 5-year warranty as standard. In some cases, these warranties can be extended to 10 years by registering the inverter online with the manufacturer.

Battery-Ready Solar System

Enphase systems are battery-ready and are the preferred option if you are considering batteries in the near future.

The Enphase Energy Management System is unlike anything currently available because of its compatibility. Enphase Batteries are connected directly to the meter board, where we install a control hub that manages power consumption and storage in the home. This allows the Enphase power storage system to be compatible with any existing solar system. This is in stark contrast to other battery systems that typically connect directly to an expensive hybrid solar inverter and have limited compatibility.

The system itself has been designed to be modular, expandable, easily installed and can be tailored to each customer’s usage profile. A household or business will be able to monitor their usage, solar generation, and peak times, as well as install more battery capacity, knowing that it will pay for itself in the quickest possible time.