20 AIKO Panels and a 16 kWh Sigenergy Battery at Federal: Case Study

Twenty all-black AIKO panels on the corrugated roof of an old weatherboard home at Federal, the small village in the green hills between Bangalow and Lismore, a 10 kW Sigenergy controller, and a 16 kWh Sigenergy battery with two modules under the verandah.

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

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An old timber home among the palms

This weatherboard home sits in a rainforest garden of palms and big trees, with a corrugated roof and a flue through it. The layout puts the 20 panels in rows on the faces that see the most sun, set out around the flue so nothing sits over it. Under the verandah there was a sheltered, level spot for the battery on a concrete base.

System at a glance

• Solar: 20 all-black AIKO panels (465 W each)
• Energy controller: a 10 kW Sigenergy single-phase SigenStor controller
• Battery: two Sigenergy battery modules, about 16 kWh, with room to add more
• Blackout backup, monitoring and app training

How the day went

Before install day we came out to agree the battery spot under the verandah, look at the roof and the switchboard, and settle what stays on in a blackout. On the day, the rails went onto the old roof frame, the panels went on in rows, and the SigenStor went in on its base. Monitoring, grid connection and a sign-off call followed.

Solar in the Federal hills

Federal’s rainforest gardens mean shade is the thing to plan around. Panel placement comes from the roof faces that actually get sun through the year, which we check on site. Nearby: 20.9 kW of Jinko solar and a Sigenergy battery at Federal and a two-stage Sigenergy system at Federal.

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 a battery go under a verandah?

Often, yes: it is under cover and out of direct sun. Clearances to doors and windows still apply, and we check them on the site visit. See where a home battery can be installed.

Is an old timber house a problem for solar?

Not usually. We check the roof frame and sheets on site, and fix the panel rails to the structure so the roof stays sound.

Why a 10 kW controller with a 16 kWh battery?

The controller size is about how much power the home can draw and how much solar it can take in at once. It leaves room to add battery modules later.

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 Bangalow and solar and batteries in Lismore, 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.