CASE STUDY · SOLAR · KELSO
Replacing old solar in Kelso without losing the 44 cent feed-in tariff
The owner's old panels needed replacing, but he is on the old 44 cent feed-in tariff and wanted to keep it. We matched the system's capacity with new dual-glass panels so the tariff stays, and designed it to take more panels and a battery later.
Replacing an old solar system in Kelso. 1 min 46 sec, filmed on site on 1 July 2026.
Read what is said in the video
Ben G'day, I'm Ben from Mountain Man Electrical. I'm out at Kelso and I'm going to take you through what we're doing out here for a customer. It's a rip and replace, come and have a look.
Ben This customer's got an old system, but he's still on the 44 cent tariff and he wants to keep it. So today we've taken down his old panels, and we've got to match the capacity so he keeps his 44 cent feed-in.
Ben We've pulled the old panels down and we're putting these new bifacial panels up, with tempered glass on both sides. He's going to stay on that 44 cent tariff for the next two years, with the intention of adding more panels and a battery later on, so we've designed the system so it can be added to.
Ben Come through here and I'll show you the inverter and switchboard work. [Our electrician] is doing the switchboard work today, and the new inverter goes in place of the old one, a like-for-like replacement.
Ben We've got two of the boys on the roof, putting the new rail up and pulling the old rail down. It's a full replacement of the panels, the rails, the penetrations and new cabling. New everything up there on the roof.
Ben We should be packed up and finished by the end of the day. All our rail gets cut up at the workshop and we recycle that, and we take the old panels down to Bohle to be recycled. It's all done and dusted in a day.
Lightly edited for reading. Crew names are left out.
The job.
Why the Kelso owner called us
An old solar system that needed replacing, and a 44 cent per kWh feed-in tariff he wanted to keep for the next two years. Changing the system's capacity would have put that tariff at risk.
What we recommended
A full replacement at matching capacity, so the tariff stays, using panels with tempered glass on both sides. We designed the system so more panels and a battery can be added later, when the owner is ready to move off the old tariff.
Why we fit solar panels with glass on both sides ↗What we did
- 1Took down the old panels, rails and roof penetrations.
- 2Installed new dual-glass bifacial panels on new rails, with new cabling.
- 3Replaced the inverter like for like, with the switchboard work done at the same time.
- 4Took the old panels to Bohle for recycling, and cut up the old rail for recycling at our workshop.
- 5Finished and packed up in one day.
FROM THE JOB
Photos from the day.
AT A GLANCE
Job details.
- Panels
- Bifacial, tempered glass on both sides
- Inverter
- Like-for-like replacement
- Feed-in tariff
- 44 cents per kWh kept
- Ready for
- More panels and a battery later
- Old panels
- Recycled in Bohle
- Time on site
- One day
QUESTIONS FROM THIS JOB
Keeping the 44 cent feed-in tariff.
These rules come from the Queensland Government's Solar Bonus Scheme policy guide, March 2026.
Read the policy guide ↗Can I replace old solar panels and keep the 44 cent feed-in tariff?
Yes, as long as the system does not get bigger. The new inverter cannot be larger than the size Ergon approved when the system was connected, and the new panels can add no more than 5 per cent to the total panel capacity. At Kelso we matched the old system's capacity for that reason.
Can I add a battery and stay on the 44 cent tariff?
Only if the battery discharges at night, when the panels are not producing. A battery that can run at the same time as the panels, or send power to the grid, ends the 44 cent rate. That is why the Kelso system is set up to take a battery later, once the owner comes off the tariff.
When does the 44 cent feed-in tariff end?
The scheme ends on 1 July 2028. It ends sooner for a home if the name on the power account changes, for example when the house is sold or rented out.
On an old feed-in tariff and need new panels?
Tell us what system you have and what tariff you are on. We will tell you what can be replaced without losing it.
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See the service ↗GUIDEWhy do we fit solar panels with glass on both sides?
Why the plastic backing on older panels breaks down, and how long a dual-glass panel lasts.
Read the guide ↗GUIDEThe home battery rebate, explained
What the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program takes off the price, and when the discount drops next.
Read the guide ↗