Solar panels in Mandurah

Where the installs are going

The city has a large retired population and a lot of households that are home through the day, which suits solar well because more of the power is used as it is made. Lakelands and Meadow Springs have been the growth areas, with new estates on Colorbond roofs, while Halls Head and the canal suburbs have larger homes with larger bills and a strong interest in batteries.

Roofs and homes in Mandurah

Salt is the issue on almost every Mandurah roof: the ocean is on one side and the estuary on the other, so coastal-rated mounting and fasteners should be specified across the whole city. Most homes are single storey brick with tile or Colorbond, on flat blocks with little shade, which is close to ideal. The sea breeze keeps summer temperatures below Perth's, which helps panel output. Two-storey canal homes often have the best roof space on an upper level and need an installer comfortable with height and access. Newer homes at Lakelands often have a hip roof that splits the north face into small sections, so ask for a layout drawing rather than a panel count.

The network: Western Power

Western Power runs the network and Synergy is the retailer, so the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme applies: exports earn much more in the late afternoon and evening than in the middle of the day. For a retired household that uses power all day, that mostly means sizing the system to daytime usage; for a working household, it means a west-facing array or a battery to move solar into the paid window. Single-phase homes have an export limit, and larger systems need approval.