When this Drewvale homeowner first got solar, it felt like the right move. But a few years on, the system wasn't doing much for the power bill. Most of the electricity it generated during the day was heading straight back to the grid for a shrinking feed in tariff, while the household still paid full price for power every evening.
Rethink Green Energy assessed the property, added 15 panels to the north facing roof, and paired the expanded system with a 20kWh GoodWe battery for the first time. The result was a home that finally used the solar power it was already generating, with the added benefit of backup power when the grid goes down. Here's how the project came together.
The homeowner already had solar panels on the roof, but the system wasn't doing much for the household budget anymore. Most of the power it generated during the day was being exported to the grid for a feed in tariff that kept shrinking, while the family still paid full price for electricity every evening once the sun went down. The quarterly bill was still higher than it should have been for a home that already had panels installed.
There was also the question of backup power. Brisbane's storm season is not gentle on the grid, and outages of a few hours are common in the warmer months. The family wanted a way to keep the fridge, lights and essentials running through a blackout, not just a slightly bigger solar array.They needed a system that used more of the solar power they were already generating, added meaningful storage for the first time, and made the whole setup worth the investment rather than a token upgrade.
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Rethink Green Energy started with a site assessment of the existing system and the roof space available. The north facing section of the roof had room for 15 more panels, so the team designed an additional 6.6kW array to sit alongside the existing installation, angled for maximum sun exposure through the day.
To solve the real problem, which was wasted daytime generation and no backup during outages, the team paired the expanded array with a 20kWh GoodWe battery system and a matching hybrid inverter. This let the household store the solar power it generated during the day and draw on it in the evening, instead of buying it back from the grid at retail rates. The battery is also VPP capable, so the household has the option to join a virtual power plant program down the track if they choose to.
Every component, from the panel brand to the inverter and battery, was chosen from Clean Energy Council approved product lists, and the whole job was scoped so the existing system and the new addition would work together as one properly sized setup rather than two separate systems bolted together.
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The additional 15 panels were installed on the north facing roof section, keeping a clean, symmetrical layout alongside the existing array. The GoodWe battery modules were mounted on an external wall close to the switchboard, with the hybrid inverter installed nearby to keep cable runs short and efficient.
A CEC accredited installer completed the full electrical connection, tested the system, and issued a certificate of testing and compliance confirming the installation met the requirements of the Electrical Safety Regulation. The system was also registered for Small scale Technology Certificates, with 164 STCs assigned for the new panel installation, and the retailer completed its written statement confirming the battery was correctly sized for the existing solar system and ready for grid connection.
From the first site visit to a fully tested, grid connected system, the job was completed and signed off in a single day of on site work.
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This project is a good example of getting more out of solar that is already on the roof, rather than starting from scratch. A lot of Queensland homeowners assume that once they have panels, the job is done. In reality, without storage, most homes only use a fraction of the power their panels produce, and the rest goes back to the grid for very little in return.
By adding storage and a small amount of extra generation, this household turned an underperforming system into one that actually offsets a meaningful share of their daily electricity use, with the added benefit of backup power when the grid goes down. It is also a reminder that solar upgrades do not need to be complicated. With the right assessment and the right components, an existing system can be brought up to a standard that actually matches how the household uses power today.
Rethink Green Energy is a local, family owned solar company working across Queensland and New South Wales, backed by CEC accredited installers and a 25 year workmanship warranty. The team designs every system around actual usage rather than pushing the biggest package available, and stays involved after installation with monitoring, maintenance and support.
For homeowners who already have solar but feel like it is not pulling its weight, or who are ready to add a battery for the first time, the approach is the same: assess the property, design a system that fits, and back the work with a warranty that means something.
If your solar system feels like it is not doing enough, or you are ready to add battery storage for the first time, Rethink Green Energy offers a free, no obligation assessment for homes and businesses across Queensland and New South Wales. Book a free assessment today and find out what your roof could actually be doing for your power bill.
We're your local green energy partners, deeply devoted to brightening our community with sustainable power solutions.
