14.72 kW AIKO Solar and a Sigenergy Battery in East Ballina: Case Study

An old solar system replaced with 14.72 kW of AIKO panels across a metal roof and a tiled roof, a 10 kW Sigenergy hybrid inverter, a five-module Sigenergy battery under the house and a Sigenergy Gateway for blackout backup, for a two-storey home in East Ballina.

Our own in-house team designed and installed the system in September 2025.

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In short: two kinds of roof, 32 panels, one system, and a battery under the house where it stays out of the sun and rain.

From an old system to a big one

This two-storey brick home had an older solar system that had done its time. The design replaced it with far more solar, a large battery and Gateway backup for blackouts. The old panels came off, and 32 new AIKO panels went across both roofs: a metal section and a grey tiled section. Each needed its own fixings, and the inverter brings both together.

Equipment list

• Solar: 32 AIKO Neostar panels (460 W each), 14.72 kW in total
• Inverter: a 10 kW Sigenergy single-phase hybrid inverter
• Battery: a Sigenergy SigenStor with five battery modules, about 40 kWh as claimed for the job
• Blackout backup: a single-phase Sigenergy Gateway, on and off grid, with a generator input
• Old system removal at no charge
• Monitoring, plus a lesson on choosing a retailer and tariff from the home’s own meter data

Under the house, beside the piers

The space under the house had room for a tall stack against the brick, out of the weather. We agreed the spot on the site visit, checked the switchboard and RCBOs, and settled what stays on in a blackout. The Sigenergy Gateway handles the switch to battery power when the grid drops out.

Older solar in East Ballina

Many East Ballina homes put solar on ten or more years ago, and those small systems are often outgrown once a battery is on the list. Swapping them for a modern array and adding storage is a common job for us here. See also a 40 kWh battery in an East Ballina garage and a GoodWe battery in Lennox Head.

How every job like this runs

1. Free energy assessment from one or two recent power bills, or a quick phone call on 0483 903 020.

2. Custom design sized from the household’s real usage, with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate and solar STCs taken off at point of sale. We handle the paperwork. See your rebates or try the battery rebate calculator.

3. Face-to-face site visit before install day: compliant battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, and agreement on what stays on in a blackout. No surprises on the day.

4. Install, usually one day, by our own electricians. No subcontractors. Then monitoring set-up, grid connection and a sign-off call.

Warranties

Every new install from us now comes with a 10-year battery warranty, 10-year inverter replacement, 25-year panel performance and our 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work. Equipment is covered by the manufacturer warranties.

The federal battery rebate steps down on 1 January 2027 and again on 1 July 2027, based on install date. If a battery is on your list, it’s worth getting your assessment done early.

Questions we get asked

Can one solar system use a metal roof and a tiled roof?

Yes. Here the panels sit on a metal section and a tiled section, each with the right fixings for that roof, and the inverter runs them as one system.

Can a battery go under the house?

Often, yes, where there is enough room, it is out of the weather and it is not in a spot that floods. See batteries, storms and floods.

Do you take the old system away?

If it is being replaced, yes. On this job the old system came off as part of the work at no extra charge.

What happens when the grid goes down?

The Sigenergy Gateway switches the home over to the battery and solar. A typical install backs up the whole home unless you ask us to leave circuits out. See blackout backup batteries.

Thinking about solar and a battery?

We’re based near Mullumbimby and install across the Northern Rivers. See solar and batteries in Ballina and Lennox Head, or compare Sigenergy, GoodWe and Sungrow, Solax and Tesla.

Get a free energy assessment · or call 0483 903 020

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More from Sun Connect Solar: your rebates; battery rebate calculator; customer reviews; FAQ; recent installs: 6.65 kW solar and 9 kWh Sigenergy battery, Mullumbimby · Solar and a 24 kWh Sigenergy battery, Mullumbimby area · 8.4 kW Jinko solar and 24 kWh Sigenergy battery, Ocean Shores · all recent installs.