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Solar Guide

The Solar Guide

No jargon. No sales pitch. Everything you need to understand solar energy and decide if it’s right for you, written by people who install it every day.
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EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP

How Much Can Solar Actually Save You?

The average Australian household cuts their electricity bill by 60-80% after
going solar. Here’s what drives that number, and what to realistically expect.

60–80%

Average bill reduction for
residential solar

3–6 yrs

Typical payback period in years

25yr

Panel performance warranty
(Zoom backed)

3.5M+

Australian homes already running
on solar

HOW IT WORKS

From sunlight to savings in four steps

A solar system isn’t complex. At its core, it converts light to electricity, uses what your home needs, stores the rest, and sells the surplus.
1
Panels Generate
Solar panels convert sunlight into DC electricity. The more sun, the more power.
2
Inverter Converts
An inverter transforms DC into AC — the type your home actually uses.
3
Home Uses First
Your property draws from solar before touching the grid, saving money immediately.
4
Surplus Stored or Sold
Excess power charges your battery or exports to the grid for feed-in credits
IS SOLAR RIGHT FOR YOU?

Four questions that give you the answer

Solar makes strong financial sense for most Australian property owners. These are the factors that matter most
  • Your bill is over $150/month. Below that threshold, payback periods stretch and the numbers get less compelling. Above it, solar is almost always a strong investment.
  • Your roof is relatively free from shade. Shading from trees, structures, or neighbouring buildings is the most common factor that affects solar performance. A site assessment will identify any shading issues before you commit.
  • You own the property, or have a long-term lease. The payback on solar typically spans 3-6 years. Owner-occupiers capture the full benefit. Long-term tenants with landlord approval can also benefit meaningfully.
  • You use power during the day, or plan to add a battery. Solar produces during daylight hours. Households home during the day, or those willing to run appliances on timers, self-consume more and save more. Is having power during blackouts important to you? If so, a battery with backup capability is worth considering from day one.
WEATHER & PERFORMANCE

Australia's climate is genuinely ideal for solar

Panels don’t need direct sunshine to generate — they need daylight. Here’s what actually affects output.

Cloudy daysStill generating, just less

Overcast conditions reduce output by 10– 25%, not 100%. Diffuse light still reaches the panels. Australia's average of 5–6 sun hours daily is well above what's needed for strong performance.

Cloudy daysStill generating, just less

Overcast conditions reduce output by 10– 25%, not 100%. Diffuse light still reaches the panels. Australia's average of 5–6 sun hours daily is well above what's needed for strong performance.

Cloudy daysStill generating, just less

Solar panels are semiconductor devices — they're actually more efficient in cool, bright conditions than in peak summer heat. A mild sunny winter day often outperforms a scorching January afternoon.

ZOOM'S SOLAR PANEL RANGE

Only Tier 1 panels. Backed by real warranties.

Every panel Zoom installs is Tier 1-rated — meaning it’s manufactured by a company with a proven financial track record and independently verified quality. Here’s what we supply and what backs it.

TOPCon Bifacial
Gokin Solar

High-efficiency TOPCon bifacial panels generating 440–620W per panel. Capture light from both sides for additional output on reflective surfaces.

  • 12yr Product warranty
  • 30yr Performance warranty

Tier 1
JinKo Solar

One of the world's largest solar manufacturers. High-efficiency panels at 400–620W, with strong Australian market presence and support.

  • 12yr Product warranty
  • 30yr Performance warranty

Tier 1
Trina Solar

Consistently rated Tier 1 for over a decade. Output range of 415– 500W with a long-standing reputation for reliability across Australian conditions.

  • 15–25yrProduct warranty
  • 25yr Performance warranty

TOPCon Tier 1
JA Solar

One of the world's largest solar manufacturers. High-efficiency panels at 400–620W, with strong Australian market presence and support.

  • 25yr Product warranty
  • 30yr Performance warranty

COMMON QUESTIONS

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

SECTION 2

Battery Storage — Do You Need One?

A battery stores the energy your panels generate during the day so you can use it at night, during peak tariff hours, or when the grid goes down. Here’s what you need to know before deciding.
WITHOUT A BATTERY

Solar saves you money when the sun shines

Any surplus generation exports to the grid at the feed-in tariff rate — typically 5–10c/kWh. You then buy that same power back at night for 28–35c/kWh. That gap is money left on the table.

WITHOUT A BATTERY

You capture that surplus and use it yourself

Instead of selling cheap and buying expensive, you store at zero cost and use it when it's worth most. A well-sized battery can push selfconsumption above 90%, slashing grid dependency almost entirely.

ZOOM BATTERY TIERS

Three tiers to match your needs and budget

Every home is different. Zoom offers three battery tiers — from cost-effective entry storage through to AI-powered whole-home systems — all backed by our ZoomCare+ aftercare.
SILVER TIER

Cost Effective Storage

Entry-level reliability

LIB ESS & FOX ESS

An affordable, reliable battery ideal for homeowners new to solar storage. Simple, effective and built to last.
  • LFP chemistry — safe, stable
  • Ideal for smaller households
  • ZoomCare+ 10-year aftercare
GOLD TIER

Premium Storage

Enhanced capacity & smart monitoring

Alpha ESS & GoodWe

Premium solutions for growing energy needs. Enhanced capacity, smart monitoring, and built for the modern solar home.
  • Higher capacity options available
  • Smart monitoring built-in
  • ZoomCare+ 10-year aftercare
DIAMOND TIER

Diamond Performance

Entry-level reliability

LIB ESS & FOX ESS

Top-tier AI-powered performance — the ultimate whole-home battery solution for maximum energy independence.
  • AI-powered energy management
  • Maximum grid independence
  • ZoomCare+ 10-year aftercare
WHAT TO LOOK FOR

The specs that actually matter

Capacity (kWh)

How much energy it can store. Average Australian home uses 16–20kWh/day. A 10– 13.5kWh battery covers most evening loads comfortably.

Power Output (kW)

How much it can deliver at once. Low output means some appliances may exceed what the battery can supply simultaneously.

Round-Trip Efficiency

Energy recovered vs energy stored. Look for 90%+. Lower efficiency means 10–15% of every stored kWh is lost as heat.

Cycle Life

How many charge/discharge cycles before significant degradation. LFP at 6,000+ cycles = ~16 years of daily use before hitting 80% capacity.
BATTERY QUESTIONS

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

SECTION 3

Inverters — The Brain of Your System

Your panels generate DC power. Your home runs on AC. The inverter bridges that gap — and it’s one of the few components where quality genuinely separates good systems from bad ones.
Most Common

String Inverter

All panels connect in series to a single central unit. Cost-effective and proven. Best for simple roofs with no shading issues. One unit means one point of failure, but also one thing to monitor and maintain. Output is limited by the weakest panel in the string.
Shading Solutions

Microinverters

One inverter per panel. Each panel operates independently, so shading on one doesn’t drag down the rest. Higher upfront cost, but worth it on complex roofs or homes with partial shading. Excellent panel-level monitoring out of the box.
Battery Ready

Hybrid Inverter

Manages both solar panels and battery storage in one unit. Essential if you plan to add a battery — now or later. More expensive than a standard string inverter, but avoids the cost of replacing your inverter when you upgrade. This is what Zoom typically installs for new builds.