6.79 kW AIKO Solar and a 16 kWh Sigenergy Battery in East Lismore: Case Study

An old solar system taken out and replaced with 6.79 kW of all-black AIKO panels, a 16 kWh Sigenergy battery and a Sigenergy Gateway for blackout backup, for a home in East Lismore.

Our own in-house team designed and installed the system in October 2026.

See if you qualify · Call 0483 903 020

★★★★★ Rated 5.0 from 60 Google reviews · read them on Google · read them on our reviews page

The job

An East Lismore home with a terracotta tile roof, palms in the garden and an old solar system that had done its time. The household wanted new panels, a battery for the evening and backup when the grid goes down. The old system came off and a new one went on: AIKO panels, a Sigenergy hybrid inverter and battery, and a Gateway.

What we installed

• Solar: 14 all-black AIKO Neostar panels (485 W each), 6.79 kW in total, on the tiled roof
• Battery and inverter: a Sigenergy SigenStor with an 8 kW single-phase hybrid inverter and two battery modules, about 16 kWh of storage (16.12 kWh in the design)
• Blackout backup: a Sigenergy Gateway with a generator input
• Old system removed as part of the job
• Smart load control with a Shelly controller, plus monitoring and app training

How it went

Before install day we met on site to agree the battery position, check the switchboard and RCBOs, and confirm what stays on in a blackout. The SigenStor sits in a sheltered alcove on a tiled floor, with the isolator and conduit on the wall above and the safety signage fitted beside it. The new panels went on in straight rows on the terracotta tiles. Then came monitoring set-up, grid connection and a sign-off call.

Solar and batteries in Lismore

Lismore homes range from floodplain streets to the hills of East Lismore, Girards Hill and Goonellabah, and many have older solar systems. Whether to keep, add to or replace an old system is one of the first things we work out from your bills and the site visit.

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

10-year battery, 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

Should I replace an old solar system or add to it?

It depends on its age and condition. On this East Lismore home the old system was removed and replaced with new panels and a hybrid inverter. On other jobs we keep the old panels. We check on the site visit. See how long panels and inverters last.

Can solar go on a terracotta tile roof?

Yes. We use tile hooks under the tiles and check the roof on the site visit. Old tiles can be brittle, so we take care getting on and off the roof.

Is a battery a good idea in a flood-prone town?

Placement matters. Batteries must go in allowed locations, and in Lismore we look at where the battery can sit to keep it as safe as practical from water. Read where a home battery can be installed.

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 in Lismore?

We install across the Northern Rivers. See solar and batteries in Lismore and Goonellabah, or compare Sigenergy, GoodWe and Sungrow, Solax and Tesla.

Get a free energy assessment · or call 0483 903 020

Find us on Google Maps to read our reviews, or follow our installs on Facebook and Instagram.

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.