Getting solar panels installed in Victoria has always been a bit of a headache. Grid-connected systems often cop restrictions, and zero-export limits are pretty common. From October, things have gotten even trickier. Now, solar systems have to be hooked up to the internet so they can communicate with grid operators, who can shut them down whenever they feel like it.

It’s the same drama if you’ve got a battery hooked up to the inverter. If the inverter gets shut down, your battery’s useless too. Picture this: it’s a cracking sunny day in Victoria, your panels are pumping out power, and you’re thinking you’re saving a heap while running the air-con as much as you like. Next thing, the grid operator flicks the switch, and suddenly you’re buying power at peak rates. What a stitch-up!

The best way to dodge all this is to go off-grid. Set up your solar and battery system to work independently, with a transfer switch to automatically reconnect your house to the grid only if your solar system goes down. The key is making sure the grid doesn’t charge your battery or interfere with your solar setup. It’s like being on a fully off-grid property where a generator kicks in to keep things running and charge the battery. Even if the grid’s available, it shouldn’t be tied into your system. That way, you stay in control and don’t have to deal with any of this nonsense.

Check out the photo—a stunning 12kW off-grid solar system installed on a property still connected to the grid. The setup features top-notch Aiko 470W panels and a Sigenergy battery system, delivering 12kW of power and a 16kWh battery bank. It’s the perfect example of how to build a system that could go off-grid and avoid all the hassles of grid interference.

More reading:

Off grid solar system Victoria

Solar Victoria: An Unjustified Waste of Taxpayer Money

The Solar Energy Paradox: How Government Policies and Retailers Are Undermining Solar Adoption

Victoria’s emergency backstop mechanism for solar