1. Keep the Communication Open

The good thing about the outbreak is customers can empathize with your business confronting a crisis, as long as you communicate with them appropriately. Inform your customers as to whether you’re closing in the meantime, changing your operating hours and what precautionary measures you’re taking to keep your employees and workplace safe and clean. Make sure to keep updating your customers with the adjustments in your business. With this, they will be aware of what is happening and know that your store is still in business as usual.

2. Go Digital

Go digital with your services to continue to provide access to your customers who are sitting at home, wishing they could support your business. This is the best time to maximise online technologies to cope up with this challenging situation. Utilise free tools like Google Hangouts, Skype or Zoom to give support to your customers and continue to offer your products and services to them.

3. Offer an E-Gift Card and Discounts

Now is a decent time to entice long-term purchases with discounts. Gift cards provide you with immediate cash and guarantee that a customer will come back to your business later on. Offer an e-gift card program to reduce the risk of human contact while staying afloat until the crisis passes.

4. Level up your Digital Presence

It’s known for a fact that consumers are now using various devices and channels, so do what you can to get in front of your customers. Consumers are always turning to search engines like Google to find businesses and products, so ensure that you’re showing up at whatever point they conduct a search relevant to your business.

If you have an advertising budget, think about investing in Google’s local inventory ads (LIA). LIA lets you list your local inventory information online, so they appear as advertisements whenever customers search for products like solar panels or inverters.

Recognize that most consumers are also looking for entertainment while being quarantined at home. This is where Facebook Live or Instagram Live can prove to be useful. If you had a store opening, product launch or business anniversary celebration planned, move it to one of the live streaming social media channels. It’s a great way to keep your customers engaged, as well as to sell your products.

Always look for creative ways on how you can make customers still feel invested in your brand or business and engaged with your products and services from a distance.

But just in case you and your customers have to meet personally because solar work usually takes place outside, here are some recommendations from Clean Energy Council to additionally diminish risk:

• put installers and understudies into dedicated, small teams for the span of the pandemic
• abstain from having more than one team on an installation
• set a roster for start and lunch times to guarantee there is no contact between groups during the day
• keep up a 1.5m space between people at every possible opportunity
• limit all contact, including vehicle sharing, between staff who are not working together daily.

Before going to site

• Brief your customers the precautionary measures you’re taking to keep your employees and projects safe and clean.
• Make sure your documentation is up to date.
• Have the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for you and your team.

On site

• Maintain social distance.
• Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors, and customers
• Promote good respiratory hygiene such as wearing face masks or covering face with the bend of their elbow or tissue if they cough or sneeze.
• Clean up as you prepare to leave.

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Solar monitoring setup and application processing can vary from application to application. Solar monitoring allows solar PV owners to regularly check and monitor their energy generation from any device, wherever they are.

Key Benefits of Solar Monitoring

Additional user benefits

1. Provides users with the ability to view the system production of energy on a daily, weekly and yearly basis.
2. Ability to view the status of your solar inverter and panels. This is a great way to identify signs of problems in your PV system.
3. It can generate up to date reporting on your inverter’s energy production and detail a break down of its performance.
4. Ability to create alerts that send information to your email regarding any system issues.

Additionally, solar monitoring systems are great because users can see the best times to run high load home appliances. For example, if a user is wanting to use a washing machine; their solar monitoring application will indicate when it is best to use high energy consumption appliances. This is a great way for end-users to monitor their energy consumption without overusing energy and taking from the grid.
Solar monitoring applications are a great safety net for end-users as it shows real-time data directly on any handheld device. Users can track their energy consumption throughout the day and use their home appliances based on the energy produced.

Solar Monitoring Methods

Direct PC Connection

This method of monitoring is where the Solar inverter is connected to a PC either using Bluetooth or a CAT5 cable. Here users can download free monitoring software from the inverter’s manufacturer’s website. This method provides a data logging advantage and is one of the most affordable solar monitoring methods.

Use of mobile devices

The advantage of modern-day technology is that you can track almost everything from your mobile device. Since most inverters allow Bluetooth integrations, you can simply connect your mobile device and review the data of your inverter straight from your phone. This method enables you to remotely monitor your PV system from anywhere.

Monitoring display unit

Traditionally, this method of monitoring is when the only way to monitor the system is by physically gathering information from the front of the display unit. The data can be collected either via Bluetooth or using a CAT5 cable.

Internet-Based monitoring

This method of monitoring is where the information is sent to a router which makes the information accessible on the internet. From here the end-user must now log into their password-protected login on the corresponding website, where they can easily access the information. A great benefit of this method is that the end-user can access inverter information remotely. There may be an additional cost for this method of monitoring due to the card you require to insert into the inverter to work together with a router.

For further information about Inverter brands and monitoring systems, feel free to contact our sales team at [email protected] or call Powerark Solar on 1800 887 557

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The Aoboet battery is an NCA ( Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide) Solar battery applicable for residential energy storage solutions. The battery is designed to be paired to a solar system, to help store energy when panels are not in use. The Aoboet UhomeNCA 6.8Kw/lv battery allows users to maximize their solar energy consumption and can also provide a source of back-up power.

Here are some key features of the Aoboet UhomeNCA 6.8kw/LV lithium storage battery:

• Panasonic Battery Cells
• Communications Free Inverter Connectivity
• Active and Passive Safety Precaution Software
•  IP65 Weather protection
• Amazing 5 + 5 years warranty!

The Benefits of the Aoboet Battery

The Aoboet battery storage solution is a must-have for residential and commercial customers who want adaptable energy storage solutions. One of the key selling features of the Aoboet UhomeNCA 6.;8kW/LV lithium storage battery is its IP65 weather protection feature. This feature makes the battery weather-rated meaning it can be placed in various weather situations depending on your area. The battery can be placed both indoors and outdoors and will still function effectively. Although it is weatherproof, Aoboet recommends for maximum efficiency that the battery be placed in a covered area, out of direct sunlight.

How the Aoboet Battery Works!

This battery storage solution operates in various weather conditions, under cover or outdoors. It has IP65 Weather protection. It is a great energy storage system for households and small commercial businesses to store energy for later use.  Aoboet has self-developed an APP that complements the product for easy monitoring for users. The APP is both IOS and Android friendly which provides proactive after-sales services for users.

This storage system is fed solar energy from panels during the day and stores energy at night for later use. In the instance that there is a power blackout, the Aoboet battery storage solution will provide power to the house.

For further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact our sales team at [email protected] or visit our website download center for further information on Aoboet brand.

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Consider the unique requirements of your customer

In any business, it is important to understand your target market. You must consider what their needs are, what value can you bring to their unique situation and what value proposition can you offer.
Before making a decision, it is expected for your client to seek information before settling for an Inverter brand. It is important to identify their needs and suggest a competent Clean Energy Approved Inverter brand that can do the job.

Key questions to consider before suggesting an Inverter brand to your customers

• What is your customer’s budget?
• How much electricity is their home currently using?
• Will they be making any major renovations or house expansions in the next 5 – 10 years?

A great starting point would be to introduce your customer to your current Solar Inverter brands and list the key qualities that make that brand a great option.

Inform your customers of the Inverter Performance, Quality & Consistency

It is important to provide your customers with relevant information relating to the performance qualities of the Solar Inverter you plan to sell to them. Ensure you check if the brand is Clean Energy Council approved and up to Australian Standards. To give you an idea of which Solar Inverter brands are CEC approved check out the list here. A background check on the consistency of the Solar Inverter Brands’ performance is important. Check their brand presence online, product reviews and if the company has experienced bankruptcy in the past. These small checks assist you in suggesting Solar Inverter Brands to your customer.

Recommend Trusted Brands and Quality Products

At Powerark Solar, we stock quality Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Inverter Brands at competitive prices.

Our newest Solar Inverter is from the globally recognised, award-winning brand Huawei.
We now stock the Huawei Single Phase SUN2000L -5KTL inverter which has been awarded the ‘Red Dot Design Award’ in 2016. A Highly regarded product with a review of 4.6 stars on various review forums online. Its sleek seamless design and battery ready plug and play technology are sure to be a great option for your customers.

The Huawei Single Phase SUN2000L -5KTL inverter is a great option for residential and commercial installations. Here are some key points about this Inverter:

• An Integrated DC isolator
• AC connector is cover free for simpler connection and user navigation
• Battery ready! – Battery installation is via direct plug and play!
• High-efficiency rating of 98.6%
• Max PV Power of 7,500Wp
• The lightweight sleek design of 10.6KG
• Smart Meter – Export control and load consumption
• Amazing 10-year warranty!

Another brand Powerark Solar recommends is Solis. The Solis 1P5.0K-4G Inverter is one of our most popular and trusted Inverters. Solis Inverters are a world recognised brand with a longstanding track record of high efficiency and reliable products.
The Solis 1P5.0K-4G Inverter is a quality Inverter comparable to many ‘high end’ Solar Inverters but costing a fraction of the price!
Here are some key facts about this inverter:

• High-frequency switching technology
• Smaller but smarter innovative design at 11.5kg
• 24-Hour load consumption monitoring
• Max efficiency of 98.1%
• Wi-Fi monitoring available – Android and Apple friendly
• Amazing 5-year Standard warranty + 5 years product warranty (parts only)

Another Solar Inverter brand like the two mentioned is Kehua. Kehua’s company mission is to provide reliable power solutions for various installation projects both in residential and commercial instances. Our Kehua SPI5000-B2 Inverter is another great product we highly recommend, with its MPPT Efficiency is 99.9%. Kehua strongly stand by their company core values: Renewable, Reliable and Responsible. They believe in holding these values in the highest regard in their everyday approach to business and dealing with their customers. Kehua is one of our most affordable Solar Inverters with key features such as:

• Advanced control algorithms providing higher grid adaptability and stability
• Industry’s first cold-resistant Inverter with superior operating temperature from -40 to 60 degrees Celsius.
• High-efficiency inverter design reaching up to 98.3%
• Intelligent cloud monitoring platform with Smart Phone APP real-time performance monitoring
• Amazing 5 years standard warranty (with the ability to extend to 10-15 years)

Customer Service, Support and Warranty

When it comes to problem-solving any issues pertaining to your Solar Inverter, it is important that the customer service team are locally available to help resolve the issue. The solar inverter being the most important aspect of your customer’s PV solar system, a great warranty agreement is very important. All Solar inverters are working 24 hours a day 7 days a week converting Solar energy into the power that fuels your home. Ensure your customer is fully aware of their warranty agreement whether it be standard 5 years or 10 years.

Pricing

Pricing is one of the many things to consider when purchasing a solar inverter. Keep in mind the Inverter is the most important aspect of the customer’s Solar system. It would not be wise to recommend the cheapest Solar Inverter to your client just to make a sale. Customers must be aware that the Inverter is the most important part of the Solar PV System. It is in constant use daily and will need regular maintenance over the years. The inverter is where an end-user would need to invest in the most. Informing your client of the importance of purchasing a quality inverter that won’t break down after two years of use is important. Provide them with data sheets and product information to help guide their purchase effectively.

Choosing the right inverter to suit your customers’ unique living situation is a challenge. There are many high-quality inverters currently in the market that when pitted against each other all hold high qualities making the purchase decision more difficult. If you require further information on any of the inverters mentioned, feel free to visit our website download center for all product information.

To Speak to a sales representative directly feel free to call us on
1300 887 557 or email us at [email protected] or visit the Powerark Solar website.

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Huawei Single Phase – SUN2000L-5KTL Inverter

Introducing the Huawei Single Phase SUN2000L-5KW TL inverter! We are now offering this Smart inverter at Powerark Solar!
This inverter has received the ‘Red Dot design award in 2016’ as well as the ‘IF Design award’ in 2017! Its sleek design has a very seamless lightweight look, perfectly blending into the design of any residential home or commercial installation. This Inverter comes with many pros including:

• An Integrated DC isolator
• AC connector is cover free for simpler connection and user navigation
• Battery ready! – Battery installation is via direct plug and play!

Highlighted Key features include:

• High-efficiency rating of 98.6%
• Max PV of 7,500Wp
• The lightweight sleek design of 10.6KG
• Smart Meter – Export control and load consumption
• Amazing 10-year warranty!

Huawei Three Phase – SUN2000-5KW TL-M0 Inverter

Our second product newly available at Powerark Solar is the Huawei Three Phase- SUN2000-5KW TLM0 inverter. This particular inverter is equipped with a sleek seamless, modern design compatible with various residential home and commercial installations. It won the ‘Inter Solar Award” in 2019 due to is innovative safe and reliable design. Here are some pros that come with this inverter:

• AC connector is cover free for simpler connection and user navigation
• Built-in Arc fault protection for extra safety measures
• Automatic shutdown in 2 sec for safety measures
• Accurately detect and confirm PV arcing with less false alarms
• Direct plug and play (battery ready use)

Highlighted Key features include:

• High efficiency of up to 98.4%
• Max PV 10,000Wp
• Modern, sleek and seamless design 17kg
• Smart meter- Export control and load consumption
• Amazing 10 years’ warranty!

Huawei Three Phase – SUN2000-10KWTL-M0 Inverter

Our third and final inverter to join the Powerark Solar family is the Huawei SUN2000 1OKWTL-MO String Inverter. This beauty gained recent recognition winning the ‘Inter Solar Award 2019’. Its seamless and sleek design coupled with its simple and easy set up makes this String Inverter truly one of a kind. This Inverter has an efficiency rating of 98.50% which enables it to perform perfectly under Australian conditions for any residential and commercial rooftop solar installation. Here are some pros that come with this inverter:

• Similarly, to its other counterparts, this inverter has a built-in Arc fault protection for extra safety measures
• Simple and Easy installation
• Direct plug and play (battery ready use)

Highlighted Key features include:

• High-Efficiency rating of 98.50%
• Max PV power of 20,000 Wp
• Beautiful timeless sleek design with a lightweight and modern shell only weighing 25kg
• Amazing 10 year’s warranty

If you would like to make a pricing inquiry or place an order, please don’t hesitate to contact our Powerark Solar sales team via email: [email protected]

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New technologies that surfaced in the 2010s

The 2010s brought the solar industry many new emerging technologies that have since replaced current technologies. There are some technologies forecasted to take over and replace standard solar modules over time.

List of the technologies that have surfaced during the 2010s:

• Higher-efficiency mono silicon-based technology modules surfaced and have since rivaled multi silicon modules and have grown in popularity, now placed as the predominant Solar PV module type.
• Half-Cell or Half-Cut technology has taken the solar industry by storm in one fell sweep, providing higher-efficiency modules with the ability to work in low light conditions.
• Modules have adapted to have larger wafers as opposed to smaller general sized ones, this technology innovation allows for higher efficiency in the modules when capturing energy from sunlight.
• MWT (Metal wrap through) technology has entered the solar market. MWT technology provides increased module efficiency, is lad-free and provides enhanced performance of the PV modules over a long

• PERC technology arrived on the solar scene during the 2010s, it has since gained in such popularity that it is forecasted to only increase in popularity as the years come

The diagram above shows that since 2011 there have been new styles of solar modules emerging throughout the years. Since their introduction into the solar industry, they have slowly taken over the industry making solar modules more efficient.

The rise of solar PV popularity in the 2010s

Since 2013 the global increase of solar power generation has risen in popularity only increasing every year. According to the IRENA ( International Renewable Energy Agency) Second to wind energy, between 2013-2017 solar power has increased by 35.5%. For two years in a row, 2018-2019 76% of Australians rank solar power in their top three preferences for energy production. It is evident that throughout the 2010s the introduction of more efficient solar technologies has made solar the more efficient source of energy for end consumers. During the decade manufacturing, high-efficiency solar modules became an easier task. Thus, decreasing module prices throughout the years.

System size increase over the years

The following table shows the average system size of rooftop solar systems in Australia over the years. In 2015 the table indicates that the most popular rooftop solar system sizes were 5kw with 19.4% of Aussie homes having this size system on their roof. As the years go by Australian homes require more electricity thus increasing the size of rooftop solar systems to 7KW – 10KW in 2018.

All in all, PV Solar over the years has developed into the multi-billion-dollar industry it is today and is an industry that seems to only go up from here in terms of quality. What we can see coming for the 2020s is possibly higher efficiency and continued price reduction per watt.

References:

Energycouncil.com.au. (2020). [online] Available at: https://www.energycouncil.com.au/media/15358/australian-energy-council-solar-report_-january-2019.pdf [Accessed 10 Jan. 2020].

Energycouncil.com.au. (2020). [online] Available at: https://www.energycouncil.com.au/media/17320/australian-energy-council-solar-report-september-2019.pdf [Accessed 10 Jan. 2020].

Woodmac.com. (2020). PV Supply Chain & Technology Service. [online] Available at https://www.woodmac.com/research/products/power-and-renewables/pv-supply-chain-technology-service/ [Accessed 9 Jan. 2020].

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The national solar market is constantly growing, and new trends quickly become mainstream.
Today’s mainstream full cell modules (60 cells) will have a market share of about 35% in 2028. The ITRPV predicts that other cell variations will soon take over. Half Cell technology is a new technology that has changed the solar game.
The International Technology Roadmap of Photovoltaic (ITRPV) predicts that the market share of half cells will increase from 5% in 2018 to about 40% in 2028. This indicates that Half Cell technology is a strong player against outdated full cell technology.

What are Half Cell Modules?

Traditional full cell panels ( 60 cells) are made with 60 or 72 cells on the entire panel. A half-Cell module doubles the number of cells into 120 or 144 cells per panel. The panel is the same size as a full cell panel but with double the cells. By doubling the number of cells this technology creates more avenues to catch energy from sunlight to send into the inverter.

Essentially, Half-Cell technology is the process of cutting cells into half, reducing resistance so efficiency can increase. Traditional full cell panels with 60 or 72 cells produce resistance which can lower the panel’s ability to produce more power. Whereas  Half-Cells with 120 or 144 cells have lower resistance which means more energy is being captured and produced. Half-Cell panels have smaller cells on each panel which reduces mechanical stresses on the panel. The smaller the cell the lesser chance of the panel micro cracking.
Moreover, Half-Cell technology provides higher power output ratings and are usually more reliable than traditional full cell panels.

Why turn to Half-Cell technology for your next install?

The opportunity to generate more power for your customers and to save them money is at the forefront of any rooftop PV system sale. Half-Cell technology can take your solar installs to the next level.

The increase in Half-cell popularity over the years is due to some very distinct advantages such as:

• Excellent performance in low light situations

Half-cell technology is excellent in low light situations. This is due to the design the increased number of cells feeds more power to the inverter.

• Half-cell technology is more durable for long-life performance

HC technology is less susceptible to micro-cracking due to the smaller size of the solar cells. The mechanical stress on the entire panel is lessened which reduces the opportunity for micro cracks to develop. Therefore, HC panels are more durable and less prone to cracking over long periods of time.

• Performs better in high-heat conditions

Half-Cell technology is proven to perform well under high heat conditions. As we know Australia never falls short of hot weather conditions. This is the reason why Half-Cell technology is increasing in popularity in the Australian solar market. Half-Cell technology is less susceptible to panel malfunctions.

• Split junction boxes

Hot spots are very common in poorly manufactured solar PV panels and can severely reduce the lifespan of a solar PV panel. Half-Cell solar PV panels have less heat below the individual cells on the panel. Hot spots are common and a negative that comes with solar PV systems that receive high levels of constant heat. In some major cases, hot spots can cause fire risks to the customer’s home. Having a split junction box reduces cell heating and the possibility for hot spots occur.

Great Half-Cell products to try out

Jinko Solar is one of the largest distributors of Solar PV panels in the solar market. They are a ‘Tier 1’ brand selling premium quality products to the Australian Solar market. The Jinko 330W Cheetah HALF-CELL Mono Perc module is Powerark Solar’s highest-selling product from the Jinko rage. With a module efficiency of 19.56%, this panel will fulfill the requirements of your solar install.

Please feel free to contact our sales team today on 1300 887 557 OR email [email protected] for a price list.

Astronergy is a ‘Tier 1’ brand that sells premium products at cost-effective prices. The Astronergy 330W HC mono perc panel is a popular product in our product range. It has been a hit since its release this year! due to a high-efficiency rating of 19.9% and a 15-year performance warranty. Either of these panels will perform well under harsh Australian weather conditions.

Please feel free to contact our sales team today on 1300 887 557 OR email [email protected] for a price list.

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Solar panels make up the bread and butter of any solar PV system. They are the main attraction! Without reliable solar panels, the system you install won’t produce the level of energy a home requires. Therefore, it is important to suggest quality brands that have features that will tick all your customer’s needs.

Introducing  the Astronergy brand

Founded in 2006, Astronergy also known as Chint is one of the top-ranking private Solar module manufacturers in China. They are a Tier 1 trusted module manufacturer of polycrystalline and monocrystalline PV panels. Tier 1 refers to a list published by  Bloomberg that ranks solar manufacturers by financial stability, longevity and production volume. Companies that make the Tier 1 list are mainstays of the solar industry.

Astronergy creates cost-effective high-efficiency solar modules to complement various types of residential and commercial properties. Due to its brand popularity, Astronergy has the capacity to produce 5.5GW in solar panels per annum. Thus, Astronergy is a strong contender for premium quality solar panels at a cost-effective price range.

In 2014, Astronergy acquired Conergy’s production plant located in Germany. It became the first Chinese solar company to establish a production facility in Germany. The German plant increased Astronergy’s market share in the EU significantly combined with another 5 production sites around the world.

Introducing Astronergy 310W -330W HC Monocrystalline Panels

At the All Energy event this October 2019, Astronergy introduced its newest panel range. The 310W-330W Half Cell Monocrystalline panel series. The 330W HC Mono panel generated a buzz as its key features were that of Tier 1 quality.

Some of the key features that Astronergy introduced included:

• Module efficiency of 19.9% (330W)
• Reduce shadow loss
  Effectively reduces the effect of shadow on the module surface
• Innovative Half Cell technology
  Improves the module output, decreases the risk of micro-crack, enhancing the module reliability.
• Reduce internal mismatch loss
  Reduce mismatch loss and improves output

Warranty

Warranty is an important aspect of choosing a solar panel brand for your customer’s needs. A Solar module warranty can vary and can last between 10-15 years. It is important to educate your customers on the importance of considering later changes in life. These changes affect your PV system purchase now. End customers need to choose the right system that will produce enough energy for their home needs over the years.

The Astronergy 330W HC monocrystalline is a perfect example of a high-efficiency solar panel that is from a reliable brand. Recently Chint the makers of Astronergy have released a 15-year warranty on the newly released monocrystalline half-cell panels. This 15- year warranty secures and ensures your customer will be covered of any product issue that may arise.

In conclusion, panels are an integral part of all solar PV systems. It is crucial to educate your customers on the importance of researching the panel brand they are buying from. The cheapest or the most expensive panels won’t necessarily tick your customer needs. Share solar panel brands that have high efficiency, and are trusted brands with great warranty agreements.

References:

Astronergy. (2019). Astronergy – Solar Panels, PV modules manufacturer and EPC. [online] Available at: https://astronergy.com.au/warranty-and-support [Accessed 2 Dec. 2019].

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Increase in solar installations every month

A monthly report created by the Australian PV Institute (APVI), highlights that this time last year approximately 16,451 PV installations were made in that month. Fast-forward to 2019, the report highlights quite an increase with approximately 22,474 reported PV installations made this October. It is evident that Solar PV systems are increasingly becoming popular and in high demand.

Moreover, a recent milestone was hit when the Australian national grid hit the demand of 50.2% for renewable energy. Additionally, APVI reports show that 37% of dwellings in Queensland, 35% of dwellings in SA and 17.9% of dwellings in Victoria are run by a PV system. All of this supports the fact that due to the increase in solar installation, the high demand is affecting solar brands and their ability to keep up. The hardship in accessing Fronius stock can be related to these spikes in solar PV homes increasing by the month Australia-wide.

When will stocks arrive?

There have been discussions online that the Fronius Primo 5.0kW inverter will be available for purchase again in March 2020. This has only been discussed amongst retailers and online forums, although nothing has been formally suggested by the brand. There are some sellers located on the Fronius website who may have stock over the Christmas period, but this is something installers will need to back-order until stock is estimated to arrive in early 2020.

How to overcome the shortage?

Looking for the next best thing? There are many high performing inverter brands in the current market. One that is comparable to Fronius is Solar Edge!

SolarEdge is a strong contender in the inverter brand market. Founded in 2006, SolarEdge has a great reputation for reliability and efficiency. Fronius Primo is said to be a great inverter, that is highly responsive and works in low light or shady conditions. Whereas, SolarEdge inverters work well with your ecosystem of solar panels as a whole. They can operate individually instead of as a group. Effectively, even with factors such as damage or heavy shade, you are highly likely to receive a good amount of power converted by your PV system. In terms of the warranty, Fronius offers 10 years whereas SolarEdge provides a generous 12 years!

When looking at current market pricing for a Fronius inverter, you will save yourself a couple of hundred bucks if you purchase a SolarEdge inverter.  If you were to pair a SolarEdge HD Wave 5kW inverter with Jinko Solar 330w Full Cell Panels, plus P350-5R Optimisers you’ll find there is a difference in price by $400-$500 per system.

An additional $400-$500 is nothing when it can save you from:

• Hassle of finding inverters in stock
• Hours spent trying to locate and secure stock
• When the stock is unavailable calling the customer and changing what they have ordered, and potentially losing the customer all-together.
• Uncertainty of when stock will be available in Australia again.

SolarEdge stock is in healthy supply here in Australia, it is a well-known premium quality brand that produces reliable and efficient products that customers can fully rely on. SolarEdge has many years’ experience in this industry and uses state of the art technology.

More Inverter Options

Similarly, Solis Inverters is another well-known inverter brand within the Australian market. They are popular in the industry for their innovative technology and reliability as an inverter brand. The Solis 4G 5kW inverter is comparable to the Fronius Primo 5.0kW and is in healthy supply in Australia. Another great perk about Solis is their warranty team is located locally and can readily assist all your needs regarding installation, warranty, and case managing post-purchase of your inverter.

Save yourself the bother of trying to find Fronius Primo stock and look into other various well-trusted brands. Solis 4G 5kW inverter can easily provide you with:

• Hassle-free stock procurement
• Local warranty and service case management
• More jobs completed before the year is up!

Don’t wait around for other brands to become available when there are great brands ready to help you save on inverter costs and get the job done!

Contact Powerark Solar Today at 1300-887-557 and one of our sales representatives can assist you with your inquiry. 

References;
K, A. (2019). Fronius Inverters vs Solar Edge Inverters | Renew Energy Blog. [online] Renew Energy. Available at: https://www.renewenergy.com.au/fronius-vs-solaredge-inverters-key-differences/ [Accessed 19 Nov. 2019].

Pv-map.apvi.org.au. (2019). Australian Photovoltaic Institute • Market Analyses. Available at: https://pv-map.apvi.org.au/analyses [Accessed 20 Nov. 2019].

Pv-map.apvi.org.au. (2019). Australian Photovoltaic Institute • Mapping Australian Photovoltaic installations. [online] Available at: https://pv-map.apvi.org.au/historical#4/-26.67/134.12 [Accessed 19 Nov. 2019].

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Where do the materials come from?

Common questions installers hear from their customers are about the manufacturing origin of a solar panel. The latest industry estimates show that roughly 70% of the world’s panel manufacturing comes from China. A whopping half of the industry. This is a strong indicator that China is a significant player in the global solar industry. China has made major technological and industry changes worldwide including long-lasting warranties, pricing, and improved manufacturing operations. Between 2008 and 2013, China’s solar panel industry decreased world prices by 80%. This is a result of its competitive high-tech market and innovative methods of building high-quality panels at a lower cost.

Currently trending on the 2019 top solar panel manufacturer’s list are brands from China these include Jinko Solar, JA Solar, Trina Solar, and LONGi Solar, all of which are high-quality solar panel brands. Many of the companies listed utilise high-grade materials to manufacture their solar panels procured locally. As such, Chinese panel manufacturers use quality crystalline silicone when making their panels. They also use quality aluminum frames identical to other international brands who manufacture in China.

Modules from other nations

German solar brands are known for making quality panels for the global market. Typically using the highest-grade materials during their manufacturing process. German brands have a strong industry presence some brands with up to 25-30 years of industry trust or more. Their deep-rooted industry presence has rendered their brands guaranteed high quality and reliable.

In recent years the solar panel industry has seen more product reliability coming from the Chinese market. Currently estimated 70% of the solar panel manufacturing industry comes from China, this does not necessarily mean they are only producing Chinese brands. There are many brands in the US, Europe, and Australia that manufacture in China to lessen production costs. Does this necessarily lower the quality of the brand? The technological gap between European and Chinese solar brands is decreasing immensely over the years. This decrease even has some German manufacturers producing their panels in China, Malaysia or South Korea.

Many solar panel brands are turning to Asia to save on costs. This offshore manufacturing method is rivaling German brands due to their low manufacturing costs. Thus, your customers should consider which aspect of the panel’s manufacturing process is important for their purchase decision. Ask your customers what their main concerns are. What matters most? The materials used? or where the brand is based?

Manufacturing process

When comparing the manufacturing process of Euro and Chinese brands, it is important to do your research and find out what you are truly investing in.

For example, there are some solar panel brands that are well known American brands, but produce goods offshore in places such as the Philippines or Mexico to save on labor costing. Usually, the materials are sourced in China but are sold offshore at premium prices. Similarly, this is done by several German brands where they produce their products in the U.S ( Mexico) to lessen labor costs.

Would you still consider paying premium pricing for products manufactured in the same offshore country?

There are multiple variables to consider when in search of the most ideal solar panel brand to suit your customer’s needs. Whilst some well-known brands may have higher efficiency ratings over others, investing in top-quality premium-grade solar brands doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a better product. As mentioned throughout the article, the technological gap between Chinese brands and other international brands is closing. This is due to many well-known brands turning to offshore manufacturing to produce their panels to save costs.

All in all with China currently manufacturing 70% of the global solar panel market, many offshore brands will start joining the growing trend. Eventually, there will be no difference between European and Chinese brands as in time they will be produced in the same country.

References

John Fialka, C. (2019). Why China Is Dominating the Solar Industry. [online] Scientific American. Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-china-is-dominating-the-solar-industry/ [Accessed 14 Nov. 2019].

Richardson, L. (2019). Are Chinese Solar Panels High Quality? | EnergySage. [online] Solar News. Available at: https://news.energysage.com/should-i-use-chinese-solar-panels-for-my-solar-installation/#comments [Accessed 14 Nov. 2019].

Solar News. (2019). 10 Top Solar Panel Companies & Manufacturers for 2019 | EnergySage. [online] Available at: https://news.energysage.com/best-solar-panel-manufacturers-usa/ [Accessed 12 Nov. 2019].

Solar Review. (2019). COMPARE | German vs Chinese Solar Panels – Solar Review.. [online] Available at: https://review.solar/german-vs-chinese-solar/ [Accessed 14 Nov. 2019].

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The post Difference between European and Chinese Solar Brands! The facts will shock you appeared first on Powerark Solar.