Solar Victoria Rebate:

Victorian households may be eligible for Solar Victoria support on solar systems. This includes a $1,400 rebate and an optional additional $1,400 interest-free loan. Eligibility is means tested based on your income and property value. We can help to check your eligibility, handle the applications and apply the rebate directly to your quote.

Solar STCs:

Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are part of a federal government incentive

When you install a renewable energy system, the Australian Federal Government rewards you with digital tokens called Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) based on how much clean electricity your system is expected to generate.

To save you from dealing with government compliance paperwork and online STC trading platforms, you simply transfer these tokens to your accredited solar installer by signing your installers STC form at the time of installation. In return, the installer applies the value of the STCs as an immediate, upfront discount that deducts thousands of dollars off your invoice.

Yes, STCs apply to both solar panels and batteries. Under the federal government’s expanded Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, they operate as two separate upfront discounts on your quote.

Solar Panel STCs: These are calculated based on the total power capacity of your panels and your geographic location in Australia.

Battery STCs: Funded through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, these are calculated purely on the usable capacity of your battery, providing an additional upfront discount on your quote.

Combining both Solar and Battery STCs allows you to claim a substantial, dual federal discount directly through your installer.

We are based in Mordialloc and install across Bayside and Melbourne's South-East and inner East, North and Western suburbs. We also take on work across greater Melbourne extending to the majority of outer suburbs. If you are unsure whether we cover your area, submit an online enquiry or call us on 1300 466 936 and we'll be happy to discuss your job.

A typical residential solar or solar and battery installation takes one to two days on site.

The full process, from accepted quote through distributor pre-approval, installation, inspection and grid connection, usually runs for approximately four weeks depending on distributor processing times.

Yes. We repair, extend and upgrade existing systems, including orphaned systems where the original installer has closed down. This can include adding more solar panels, replacing old or undersized inverters or adding a battery.

We also relocate, or safely remove and recycle, systems for homeowners who are renovating or moving.

Yes. Slate, terracotta, Butynol and heritage roofs are common throughout Melbourne and they each need a different mounting approach to standard Colorbond or concrete tile.

Our electricians are experienced with these roofs and we offer a dedicated slate roof solar service, along with Butynol and terracotta. We assess the roof condition first and will provide expert advice and detailed explanation of the installation process.

The main difference between the two systems is how the electricity travels from your solar panels into your battery.

DC Coupled (Direct Power): Solar panels naturally produce DC electricity, and batteries store DC electricity. In a DC-coupled system, the solar energy goes straight into the battery in a direct line, making it highly efficient.

AC Coupled (The Detour): Panels produce DC energy, which your main solar inverter converts into AC energy for your home appliances to use. If you have excess energy to store, an AC-coupled battery has to take that AC power and convert it back into DC power to store it, adding an extra step to the journey.

Omzen designs DC coupled battery systems.

When you are upgrading an existing solar system, removing the old inverter, installing a new premium hybrid inverter, and DC-coupling the system is by far the superior choice.

Taking a shortcut by simply adding an AC-coupled battery onto an old inverter is considered a poor, compromised installation for several critical reasons:

1. The "Triple Conversion" Efficiency Tax

When an installer cuts corners with AC coupling on an old system, your clean energy is forced through a brutal, inefficient cycle:

The old inverter turns panel DC power into household AC power.

The new battery inverter takes that AC power and converts it back into DC to store it.

When you use the power at night, it has to be converted again from DC back to AC.

This wasteful loop inflicts a 5% to 10% energy loss entirely as wasted heat. By contrast, a hybrid inverter allows the solar power to flow directly into the battery (DC to DC), preserving nearly every drop of generated electricity.

2. Compromised Blackout Protection

Many clients buy a battery specifically for energy security during power outages. If an installer AC-couples a battery to an old solar inverter, your panels may completely shut down during a blackout.

Standard grid-tied inverters require the main electrical grid to operate. If the grid goes down, the old inverter goes dark, meaning your solar panels cannot recharge your battery during a prolonged multi-day blackout. A modern hybrid inverter acts as an intelligent command centre, keeping your solar panels active and charging your home even if the entire grid is down. 

3. Splitting Your Software and Support

By leaving an aging inverter in place and adding a separate battery inverter, your home's premium system becomes a clunky Frankenstein setup. You will be forced to use two completely different mobile apps to track your energy, manage two separate manufacturers for technical support, and rely on a ticking-clock warranty on an old piece of hardware that is likely already past its prime.

Omzen only designs and installs DC coupled battery systems.

Wherever possible Omzen only designs and installs DC coupled battery systems.