Simply put, Hybrid systems are ones that mean your house or business is still connected to the electricity grid. You can still install solar panels and a battery to substantially decrease your power bills but you'll still be connected. Off-Grid means you're totally self sufficient and have no connection to mains power at all. Off-Grid systems are often connected to a back-up generator.

Starting from July 1, there's a new solar battery rebate from the Federal Government. This means batteries will be cheaper for eligible households and businesses. Find out how.

In the majority of cases, it's a fairly simple choice. Off-Grid makes sense if there's no option for your home or business to be connected to the grid (new regional/rural developments) or it's cost prohibitive to do so. If your home or business is already connected to the grid, Hybrid is typically the simpler energy solution.

We get this question a lot! The answer is that the smaller the system (and your needs), the smaller the cost. The more power you need, the more it costs! Rainbow Power Consultants are trained to help you reduce your energy consumption too so you're running a more energy efficient household. We've created a systems calculator to help you figure out what size you need. We've also got finance options available if that helps.

We totally understand that working out the correct system size can be overwhelming - it's the most common question from our customers. Rest assured, our team are here to help and designing systems is our passion. You can check out our full FAQs or here's some shortcuts below:

1. Take a look at your latest power bill and see how many kWh per day you use. From there, you can match to our Off-Grid or Hybrid system specifications.
2. Use our calculator to help you figure out how much electricity you use (or plan to use).
3. Get in touch with us and we can help you figure out the best plan.

Short answer is...a lot! The average Aussie household only uses 30% of their total daily power during the day. If you've just got solar panels and no battery, that means that at night time when you use 70% of your power, you're paying for it! A battery means you can store that precious energy for use the evenings.

There have been a heap of energy rebates and schemes over the years and they continue to change depending on which state you're in and what purpose you need the energy for. We can help you maximise the rebates available to you when you choose us to design your system. Here's a link with the latest information from the federal governement:

https://www.energy.gov.au/rebates

Depending on the system you choose, you could be up and running anywhere from a week (for off the shelf Off-Grid systems) to six months for big commercial overseas projects.

There are so many reasons for choosing Rainbow Power but here are just a few:

1. We've been around since 1987 when there were only 8 other registered providers and we're here for the long haul
2. We manufacture and design our systems right here in Australia
3. Our passion about renewable energy is second to none. We live renewables.
4. Our products are high quality, robust and high tech. You always get what we promised in terms of cost and parts.
5. Our after sales service is uncommonly good. We call it the Rainbow Way and you're our customer for life.

Yes—but only if your system is set up for backup power. Not all solar batteries provide blackout protection by default. Read more on the topic here.

The best solar batteries depend on your setup, usage, and goals. For grid-connected homes in the Northern Rivers, top picks include the Sungrow SBR for everyday value, the Sigenergy SigenStor for all-in-one solar + EV integration, and the Tesla Powerwall 3 for sleek full-home backup. Off-grid properties often favour ZYC for rugged capacity or Pylontech Pelio for compact, scalable storage. Read more on the topic here.