Solar energy equipment suppliers glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a solar energy equipment supplier provider in Perth Metropolitan.

What is a bifacial solar panel?: A bifacial solar panel captures sunlight on both its front and rear surfaces, generating additional energy from reflected light bouncing off ground or nearby surfaces (albedo effect).
What is a CEC accredited installer?: A CEC accredited installer is an individual who holds Clean Energy Council accreditation covering design and/or installation work on grid-connected solar systems and is legally permitted to sign off on systems claiming Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) under Australian law.
What is a DC optimiser?: A DC optimiser is a small electronic device installed on each solar panel that regulates voltage and current at the panel level, reducing power loss from shading or mismatch before the current reaches a string inverter.
What is a DC to AC oversizing ratio?: The DC to AC oversizing ratio is the proportion of total installed photovoltaic panel capacity (measured in watts DC) divided by the inverter's maximum output capacity (measured in watts AC).
What is a deeming period?: The deeming period is the number of years a small-scale solar system can claim Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) upfront, which decreases each year until reaching zero on 1 January 2030.
What is a feed-in tariff (FiT)?: A feed-in tariff (FiT) is the per-kilowatt-hour credit an energy retailer pays a solar system owner for surplus electricity exported to the Western Australian grid. The rate varies by retailer, time of export, and market conditions.
What is a hybrid inverter?: A hybrid inverter is a single device that converts solar DC power to AC electricity while also managing battery charging from solar or grid and discharge to power your home.
What is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery?: A lithium iron phosphate battery is a rechargeable battery using iron phosphate as the cathode material, chosen for home solar systems because of its superior thermal stability, longer cycle life, and reduced fire risk compared to other lithium chemistries.
What is a microinverter?: A microinverter is a compact power converter mounted on or behind individual solar panels to convert their DC output directly to AC electricity, rather than combining power from multiple panels through a centralized inverter.
What is a monocrystalline panel?: A monocrystalline panel is a solar module made from single-crystal silicon cells, recognisable by its uniform dark appearance and higher electrical efficiency than polycrystalline alternatives.
What is a PERC cell?: A PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) is a silicon solar cell with a reflective rear surface layer that redirects unused light into the active cell material, improving overall energy conversion efficiency.
What is a polycrystalline panel?: A polycrystalline solar panel contains multiple silicon crystals fused together, making it cheaper to manufacture than monocrystalline panels but typically less efficient at converting sunlight to electricity.
What is a Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC)?: Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are tradeable certificates issued under Australia's Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) for eligible solar and renewable systems, typically redeemed as an upfront discount on installation costs.
What is a string inverter?: A string inverter is a single inverter that converts direct current (DC) from a series-connected string of solar panels into alternating current (AC) for household use or grid export.
What is battery cycle life?: Battery cycle life is the number of complete charge and discharge cycles a battery can undergo before its capacity drops below a usable threshold, typically used to specify warranty periods and expected lifespan.
What is battery depth of discharge (DoD)?: Depth of discharge (DoD) is the percentage of a battery's total capacity that has been used, measured from full charge. Higher DoD percentages reduce battery lifespan, so most lithium batteries are rated for optimal performance at 80% DoD or lower.
What is Clean Energy Council approval?: Clean Energy Council (CEC) approval is certification that solar equipment and installers meet Australian safety and performance standards, required to access most state and federal rebates.
What is half-cut cell technology?: Half-cut cell technology involves bisecting individual solar cells within a panel to lower resistive losses and improve performance under partial shading and low-light conditions.
What is inverter clipping?: Inverter clipping happens when the DC power from a solar array exceeds the maximum AC output capacity of the inverter, causing power loss during peak sunlight hours.
What is maximum power point tracking (MPPT)?: Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is an algorithm used by solar inverters to continuously adjust the voltage and current at which a panel string operates in order to extract the maximum available power output at any given moment.
What is panel efficiency rating?: Panel efficiency rating is the percentage of incident sunlight that a solar panel converts into usable electricity under standard test conditions.
What is the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS)?: The Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) is Western Australia's feed-in tariff framework that compensates solar export customers at time-of-day rates set by Synergy and Horizon Power, replacing the earlier REBS arrangement.
What is usable vs nameplate capacity?: Nameplate capacity is the total energy a battery can hold when fully charged; usable capacity is the actual energy available for daily use after accounting for depth of discharge (DoD) limits that protect battery lifespan.
What is zone rating (solar postcode zone)?: Zone rating is the classification of a postcode into one of four Australian solar zones (1 to 4), determined by average annual solar irradiance, which directly affects the number of STCs generated and the rebate value of a solar system installation.