If you have solar only then you may still pay an electricity bill, as you will still pay for the consumption at night and the supply charge, but it will be significantly lower.

If you choose a solar & battery combo and if you also have the option to go with a VPP then you could actually have very very low bills, be cost neutral or even receive a credit. These details depend on your final system size, consumption and local electricity and VPP pricing.

Solar batteries can certainly be worth it if you want to maximise energy independence, store excess power for later use, or protect against power outages.

With decreasing feed-in tariffs, a less reliable grid and rising electricity prices, batteries are becoming more cost-effective, but the initial investment can be as much as the initial solar cost.

A Feed-in Tariff (FIT) is a payment or credit you receive for the excess solar energy your system exports back to the grid. The rate varies depending on your energy provider and location, but it helps offset the cost of your solar system. As FITs getting lower and lower – adding a battery to your solar system helps keeping the energy you have created in the 1st place, instead of selling it for a low return.

Most roofs can accommodate solar panels, but factors like roof orientation, shading, pitch, and size impact system performance.

Ideally, elements of your roof should face north, north-east or north-west (as we are in the Southern Hemisphere) It also is beneficial if your roof is free from significant shading, in a good condition and it has enough space for the system size you need.

Standard solar systems do not work during a blackout unless they are paired with a solar battery and a backup inverter.

Solar systems with batteries can provide backup power during an outage, enabling you to use stored energy when the grid goes down.