Harpers Solar

Solar Panels Sunshine Coast

Solar energy has been around since the beginning of time. Solar power systems are now an affordable option for Sunshine Coast households looking to reduce their power bills and generate their own clean energy.

Energy from the sun is converted by the photovoltaic modules (solar panels) on the roof to direct current, like a battery, that is then converted to alternating current by the inverter at 240volts for use in the home.

Any excess power not used by the home is redirected through the bi directional meter connected to the grid placing you in credit. At night when there is no excess power the house will use grid power as normal.

Harpers Solar supplies panels, racking, inverters and being Master Electricians all the other components required for a complete solar system. We also complete the paperwork necessary to inform your energy supplier of the installation of your solar power generating system to allow them to convert the electricity meter at no cost to the household.

The installation of the solar generator is the first step in future proofing your self and your family from predicted energy increases.

Harpers trained and fully certified designers and installers use only the best equipment with German designed panels and Italian made inverters. We are also trialling other makes for our budget systems with very good results.

As you can expect the optimum angle for solar collection for the panel is one where the panel follows the sun during the day. New tracker systems are now available on the coast that do just that and are proving to be a staggering 30% more efficient than fixed roof systems. Trackers do not take as much room as you might think but they must have a clear radius around them to allow the panels to be automatically rotated from flat ( midday ) to angled as the morning/afternoon sun dictates. Trackers are used in large commercial solar power generating sites around the globe but consumer pressure on manufacturers has produced an affordable system from 7 to 21 panel systems capable of withstanding 150km hour wind speeds.

Contact our office for details of the tracker and we can arrange a site visit to discuss the options.

The Queensland Government announced changes to the Queensland solar bonus scheme in mid-2011, including that the maximum eligible system size under the scheme will now be capped at 5 kW per premises and that only one eligible grid-connected PV system per premises will be allowed. The current 44 cents per kWh (net) feed-in tariff rate will remain unchanged. This is the rate that you will receive back from your electrical retailer for power returned to the grid.

Act now, the equipment price is stable and the renewable energy credits have risen since the first round of cuts ended on 30th June 2011. The next cut to the subsidy from multiplier 3 to 2 is due 1 July 2012. Do not miss out again.

Government Schemes Financial Assistance

Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)

STCs are an electronic form of currency created by the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. One STC is equivalent to one megawatt hour of electricity generated by your solar PV power system.

The level of subsidy will depend on a number of factors, including the location (also known as the zone) of the solar PV system, the size of the system and the price of STCs at the time the system is installed.
You will assign your STCs when your purchase your solar PV system to Harpers Solar in exchange for an upfront discount on your system.

Solar Credits

The Solar credits scheme for solar PV systems is based on the STC scheme, but multiplies by three (until 30 June 2012) the number of STCs able to be created for your solar PV system. Theses extra credits only apply to the first 1.5kW of system capacity. So if your system is larger than 1.5kW, you will receive solar credits plus an additional STC for every megawatt hour of electricity able to be generated by your solar PV system.

Feed-in Tariffs

A feed-in Tariff pays you for your electricity generated by your solar PV system. Under a net feed-in tariff, a premium is paid for any solar energy that goes back into the grid from your house. If you have any surplus energy generated by your solar panels, you get paid for it. If you use all of the energy you generate it will offset against your normal electricity bill. You need to apply to your electricity retailer to receive the feed-in tariff.

Qualification/ Accreditations

Clean Energy Council Accreditation Number: A1401016
Electrical Licence: 67426
Workplace Health & Safety Registration (No: WAA061054861)
Public Liability Insurance (04A 001924 PRL)
ABN: 96 863 952 936
Business Number: BN2478262