Solar Power (PV) System: Key Attributes

Key Features

Solar power panels need the sun’s light to generate electricity during the day, so it’s most economical to install a system that can supply your expected daytime electricity usage. Our smallest solar power system needs just 10 sqm of roof space to generate around 30% of the average Australian household’s energy use. The more power you would like to generate, the bigger the roof space you need.

Our new high-performance Solahart Silhouette® N-type Bifacial panel, with striking all-black finish, is the ideal solution for Australian homes thanks to its innovative and premium rectangular cell technology. 30-Year Solahart Product Warranty for peace of mind, plus, 30-Year Performance Guarantee for long term returns.* Download Datasheet here.

The Enphase range of microinverters are well suited for most  rooftop installations. This rugged outdoor microinverter has been designed as a completely sealed unit to withstand the harshest environmental conditions. Benefits of the Enphase microinverter include: 

1. Ideal solution for homes with limited roof space, complex roofs, multiple dwellings, and where customers want to maximize roof utility.

2. Up to 25-year warranty, standard 15-year warranty.

3. 0.05% failure rate. 

4. Enphase IQ Microinverters use AC current (just like your home) versus DC current. AC architecture means greatly enhanced electrical safety and adds an element of flexibility during design.

5. Enphase IQ Microinverters have a very low start up current and boost mode, meaning they work efficiently in conditions many other solar systems would struggle in.

 

Our extensive network of Solahart Experts is qualified to assess your home and provide you with the best systems to meet your family’s needs. Our installers are trained to the highest standards to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your system. All this is backed by our comprehensive warranties and the peace of mind you’ll get from dealing with Australia’s solar pioneer.

  •  Trouble-Free - designed and engineered for Aussie conditions
  •  Solahart Silhouette 440W N-Type All-Black Bifacial panels
  •  Solahart Silhouette 30 Year Australian Product Warranty
  •  With Solahart Silhouette 30 Year Performance Guarantee, at least 87.4% nominal power at 30 years

 

† Solahart Warranty Details:

  • Solar Panels: 30 years, 
  • Microinverter: Up to 25 years.
  • Racking and Balance of System components: 5 years,
  • Labour: 5 years,
  • For full warranty details, please visit the warranty page here.

Solahart Silhouette Specifications

 

Solahart Solar Panel Specifications

 

Panel Electrical Characteristics
Maximum Power (Pmax)
Power Class
440Wp
0/+5W
Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) 39.00V
Short Circuit Current  (Isc) 14.10A
Maximum Power Voltage (Vmp) 33.05V
Maximum Power Current (Imp) 13.31A
Module Efficiency (%) ≥22%
Temperature Coefficients  
PMPP
VOC
ISC
-0.29%/ K
-0.25%/ K
+0.043%/ K
Maximum System Voltage  ( IEC ) 1500V

 

Panel Specifications 
Dimensions 1762 mm x 1134 mm x 30 mm
Weight 21.5 kg 
Cell Type and configuration 6 x 18 n-type monocrystalline solar half-cells
Glass 1.6 mm front and 1.6 mm back, thermally pre-stressed glass with anti-reflection technology
Back sheet Composite film
Frame Black Anodised Aluminium
Temperature range -40°C to + 85°C
Junction Box Protection Class IP 68, with bypass diodes
Connectors Stäubli MC4 EVO2A connectors, IP68
Part Number SOLAHART440BRB2
Solahart Warranty 30 years on panels*

 

Solar Microinverter Specifications

Microinverter specification details can be found by downloading the Enphase microinverter data sheet. Download

How Solar Power (PV) Systems Work

Solar power panels generate electricity from sunlight. The roof-mounted solar panels are made up of many photovoltaic (PV) cells. These cells collect the sun’s light and convert the energy into DC electricity. This is fed through an inverter and converted to 240V AC electricity to power your home.

The amount of electricity you can produce depends on the number and efficiency of the panels, the size of the inverter and the amount of sunlight in your location. Your home remains connected to the electricity grid, so when you generate more than you need, you can feed it into the grid or purchase more from the grid when you are not producing enough to meet your requirements.

The Science Explained

The amount of energy from the sun that falls on Earth's surface is enormous. All the energy stored in Earth's coal, oil, and natural gas reserves is matched by the energy from just 20 days of sunshine. Outside Earth's atmosphere, the sun's energy contains about 1,300 watts per square meter. About one-third of this light is reflected back into space, and some is absorbed by the atmosphere (in part causing winds to blow).

By the time it reaches Earth's surface, the energy in sunlight has fallen to about 1,000 watts per square meter at noon on a cloudless day. Averaged over the entire surface of the planet, 24 hours per day for a year, each square meter collects the approximate energy equivalent of almost a barrel of oil or 4.2 kilowatt-hours of energy every day. Deserts, with very dry air and little cloud cover, receive the most sun—more than six kilowatt-hours per day per square meter

How does a solar cell turn sunlight into electricity?

The sun's light (and all light) contains energy. Usually, when light hits an object the energy turns into heat, like the warmth you feel while sitting in the sun. But when light hits certain materials the energy turns into an electrical current instead, which we can then harness for power. Solar technology uses large crystals made out of silicon, which produces an electrical current when struck by light. Silicon can do this because the electrons in the crystal get up and move when exposed to light instead of just vibrating in place to make heat. The silicon turns a good portion of light energy into electricity.

The most important components of a PV cell are two layers of semiconductor material generally composed of silicon crystals. On its own, crystallized silicon is not a very good conductor of electricity, but when impurities are intentionally added—a process called doping—the stage is set for creating an electric current. The bottom layer of the PV cell is usually doped with boron, which bonds with the silicon to facilitate a positive charge (P). The top layer is doped with phosphorus, which bonds with the silicon to facilitate a negative charge (N).

When sunlight enters the cell, its energy knocks electrons loose in both layers. Because of the opposite charges of the layers, the electrons want to flow from the n-type layer to the p-type layer, but the electric field at the P-N junction prevents this from happening. The presence of an external circuit, however, provides the necessary path for electrons in the n-type layer to travel to the p-type layer. Extremely thin wires running along the top of the n-type layer provide this external circuit, and the electrons flowing through this circuit provide the cell's owner with a supply of electricity.

How PV Cells Work

Most PV systems consist of individual square cells averaging about six inches on a side. Alone, each cell generates very little power (approximately four watts), so they are assembled together with panels encased in glass and plastic to provide protection from the weather. These panels are either used as separate units or grouped into even larger arrays to form a solar power (PV) system.


Solar Power System Design

The Solahart Solar Power system is comprised of two main components; a string or array of photovoltaic panels and an inverter. The photovoltaic (PV) panels transform solar radiation into electrical energy in the form of direct current (DC). In order to utilise this energy and feed it back into the grid, the direct current is transformed into alternating current (AC) by the inverter. This conversion is also known as DC to AC inversion.

The alternating current generated by the inverter is fed into the main switchboard, which in turn is connected to the electricity grid. If the energy generated exceeds that required by property demands, your electrical network operator may allow the difference to be directly injected into the grid and become available to other users. Energy injected into the grid can be measured by electricity network operators as either gross (everything generated) or net (excess generated). Injected energy may or may not be purchased by the local electrical network operator according to national and local standards and regulations.

Solahart Canberra Alt Tag

PV Panel Orientation & Inclination

To maximise system output, install panels at optimum orientation and inclination (tilt) angles. The specifics of this will depend on the installation location and must be calculated by a qualified system designer. The ideal angle for mounting a panel should result in the sun’s rays falling perpendicular (i.e. at a 90° angle) to the panel surface.

Panels should be installed in a shade-free position. Even minor or partial shading of the panels/array will reduce system output. A panel is considered shade free when it is both:

  • Free from shade or shadows all year round.
  • Exposed to several hours of direct sunlight, even during the shortest days

Brochures

Solahart Silhouette® Solar Panel (440W): Download

Solahart Solar Power (PV) Enphase Microinverter range : Download

Owner's Guide

Solahart PV Systems Owner's Guide: Download

Installation Manuals

Solahart440BRB2 Panel's Installation Instructions: Download

 

Warranty

Solahart Warranty