Renew Energy Solutions took on the whole package at this Bribie Island home. We removed the existing solar equipment, installed a new 8.55kW Jinko array, added 16kWh of GoodWe battery storage and upgraded the meterboard with new RCBO protection. One team, one job for the homeowner. It was a reminder of why we always look at the electrical system before we talk about panels.
The project at a glance
Location: Bongaree, Bribie Island QLD
Project type: Solar replacement, battery storage and meterboard upgrade
Solar: 18 Jinko 475W Tier 1 mono panels, 8.55kW total
Battery: GoodWe 16kWh stack, two 8kWh modules
Battery inverter: GoodWe ESA
Monitoring: GoodWe smart meter and Wi-Fi monitoring
Other works: Removal of the existing solar system and a full meterboard upgrade with new RCBO protection
The brief
The homeowner had solar on the roof that was no longer doing what they needed, and they wanted to add battery storage. What they didn’t know yet was that the meterboard was the reason a straightforward upgrade wasn’t going to be straightforward. The existing system had to come off before anything new could go in, and the original board wasn’t built to carry modern generation and storage equipment.
Newer generation and storage equipment needs modern circuit protection. That meant the meterboard needed a complete upgrade, not a patch. On top of that, the panels were going onto a tile roof, the battery needed installing and connecting, and the metering and connection documentation all had to line up so the system could be signed off properly.
The homeowner wanted one point of contact for everything, rather than a solar installer, an electrician, and a paperwork headache to manage separately. That shaped how we planned the job from the start.
What we did
The old solar equipment came first. We safely removed the existing system before bringing in any new equipment, so the roof and board were clear to work on.
Next was the meterboard. The original board needed a full upgrade, so we replaced it with a new meterboard fitted with RCBO protection. An RCBO combines a circuit breaker and a safety switch in one device, so each circuit is protected against both overload and earth leakage. If you want the longer explanation of why this work matters, our page on switchboard upgrades covers it.
With the board sorted, we installed 18 Jinko 475W panels on the tile roof, which gave the home an 8.55kW array. For storage, we fitted a GoodWe battery stack made up of two 8kWh modules (16kWh total), run through a GoodWe ESA battery inverter. You can read more about how we approach these systems on our solar panel installation and battery storage pages.
We also fitted a GoodWe smart meter and set up Wi-Fi monitoring. The smart meter is what lets the system see what the house is drawing and what the solar is producing, and the monitoring puts that information in front of the homeowner.
Throughout the job, we coordinated the tile-roof solar replacement, battery installation, metering, and connection documentation as one package. Each piece depends on the others, so doing them in the right order and keeping the paperwork moving alongside the physical work is what kept the job tidy. As a licensed electrical contractor (EC82306), we are used to handling the electrical and solar sides together, so the homeowner only had to deal with one team.
The outcome
The Bongaree home ended up with a new solar and battery system connected to a safe, modern meterboard. The old equipment came off, the new equipment went in, and everything was connected through circuit protection that suits it.
For the homeowner, the day-to-day difference was visibility. With the smart meter and Wi-Fi monitoring in place, they could see solar production, household usage and battery performance without guessing. That made it much easier to understand how the home used its own power and how the battery behaved.
The other part of the result was what the homeowner did not have to do. The roof work, battery installation, metering, and connection documentation were handled together, so the homeowner dealt with one team from start to finish.
Why the meterboard upgrade mattered
It is easy to focus on the panels and the battery because they are the parts you can see and talk about. The meterboard is the part that makes the rest of the system safe to run.
Every circuit in the home, along with the new solar and battery connections, passes through that board. An older board may not have the protection modern equipment requires. By fitting new RCBO protection as part of the upgrade, we ensured the new generation and storage equipment connected to a board built for it, not one built for a very different set of loads.
Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office sets out safety switch rules for homes, and a licensed electrician can tell you what applies to your property. Doing the board and the solar at the same time also saves the homeowner from paying for two separate site visits and two rounds of coordination. If you have an ageing board and plan to add solar or a battery, raise it at the quote stage, not after the install has started. If you are comparing what another home went through, our Coes Creek case study shows a different supply upgrade handled the same way, as one job.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to remove my old solar system before adding a battery?
Not always. It depends on the age, size and condition of the existing equipment and what you want the new system to do. Ask us to look at what you have, and we will tell you whether it makes sense to keep it, add to it or replace it.
What is an RCBO?
An RCBO is a single device that does the job of a circuit breaker and a safety switch together. It protects a circuit from overload and earth leakage when electricity escapes along an unintended path. A new meterboard often uses them so each circuit has its own protection.
What is the difference between 8.55kW and 16kWh?
Kilowatts (kW) measure power, which is how quickly electricity is produced or used. Kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure stored energy. The 8.55kW figure is the combined rating of the 18 solar panels, and the 16kWh figure is the capacity of the two GoodWe battery modules.
Can solar panels be installed on a tile roof?
Yes. Panels on a tile roof are mounted on brackets fixed to the roof structure beneath the tiles, so the installer must work carefully to avoid damaging the tiles and keep the roof weatherproof. Tell us about your roof, and we will explain how we would approach it.
What does a smart meter do in a solar and battery system?
A smart meter measures how much power the home draws and how much moves to or from the grid. That information lets the monitoring app show solar production, household usage, and battery performance.
Will solar and battery storage reduce my power bills?
They can reduce the electricity you buy from the grid when the system suits how your home uses power. Actual savings depend on your usage, your tariff, and how you run the battery. Ask us, and we will talk through what is realistic for your home before you commit.
Planning a similar upgrade?
Every home is different, so we start with your electrical setup and the system you want. Whether you need new solar, battery storage, a meterboard upgrade or all three, Renew Energy Solutions can plan the electrical work and the installation together.
