Where do you service?

We are based in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast and service the entire Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Northern NSW, Brisbane, Ipswich, and the Scenic Rim. For specialist off-grid projects, we regularly travel further afield — just get in touch and we will let you know if we can help.

Are you accredited and fully licensed?

Yes. Steven Hord is a licensed Master Electrician and an SAA-accredited solar installer, and Evolved Solar is a New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) Approved Seller. SAA accreditation is what lets us apply the federal rebates on your behalf. Being a Master Electrician means all electrical work — including switchboard connections and grid tie-in — is completed in-house by our own qualified team, not subcontracted. This matters for safety, warranty, and accountability.

What is the difference between a solar installer and a solar electrician?

A solar installer is accredited to design and mount solar systems. A solar electrician holds a full electrical contractor licence and can legally carry out the grid connection, switchboard work, and all associated electrical tasks. Many solar companies subcontract the electrical work to a third party. At Evolved Solar, Steven Hord is both an SAA-accredited installer and a licensed Master Electrician, meaning the same team handles every part of your installation. This keeps accountability clear and eliminates the gaps that arise when two separate businesses share a job.

How long have you been in business?

Evolved Solar & Electrical was founded by Steven Hord in 2016. We have been installing solar and battery systems on the Gold Coast for nearly a decade, which means we have seen how systems perform over time — not just at installation. That long-term perspective shapes how we design and spec every system we install.

How long does the installation process take from quote to switch-on?

Typically 2 to 4 weeks from the time you approve your quote. That window covers stock procurement, Energex grid connection approval, and scheduling our installation team. The installation itself takes one day for a standard residential solar and battery system. The installation day itself usually takes 1 day for a standard residential system.

Is a solar battery worth it on the Gold Coast?

For most Gold Coast homes, yes — and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program has significantly improved the economics. Queensland's solar feed-in tariff currently sits between 5 and 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, which means energy exported to the grid earns you very little. A battery lets you store that energy and use it at night, when grid electricity costs three to five times more than the export rate. The payback period for a well-sized battery system in South-East Queensland typically falls between 5 and 8 years. Gold Coast homes also benefit from backup power during storm-related outages, which adds practical value beyond the bill savings.

What is the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program and how does it work on the Gold Coast?

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a federal discount on eligible battery installations. It works through the same certificate scheme as the solar rebate, so the discount comes off your price at the point of sale and there is no paperwork for you. The amount depends on how much solar and battery you install. As a guide, our customers save between $6,000 and $12,000 off the upfront cost, as at October 2026. To qualify, the battery must be installed by an installer accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), using CEC-approved products. Evolved Solar is SAA-accredited and applies the rebate on every eligible installation. Every price we quote is what you pay after the rebate.

What size solar system do I need for a Gold Coast home?

For a typical Gold Coast household using 20 to 25 kWh per day, a 6.6 kW to 10 kW solar system is a common starting point. The right size depends on your daytime usage patterns, roof orientation and available space, whether you are planning to add a battery now or later, and whether you have an EV or pool pump that can be timed to run during solar generation hours. We assess all of these factors before recommending a system size — we do not use a one-size formula.

Can I add a battery to my existing solar system?

In most cases, yes. The main considerations are whether your existing inverter is battery-ready or compatible with a battery retrofit, the age and condition of your current system, and your switchboard's capacity. We assess existing systems before recommending a battery addition and will tell you honestly if a retrofit is not worthwhile. In some cases, replacing an ageing inverter as part of the battery upgrade is the better long-term option.

What battery brands do you install?

Every battery system we install is Sigenergy. We use Sigenergy's Gateway, which gives you full home backup, and the same system can run on the grid as a hybrid now and go fully off grid later if you want to. Every Sigenergy battery package includes 12 months of Energy Pilot. Energy Pilot monitors how you use your battery, then advises you on the best current retail or VPP deal and can set it up for you. Energy Pilot has no affiliation with any of those companies.

How do I monitor my solar system after installation?

We set every customer up with a smart monitoring app connected to their inverter. This lets you see in real time how much energy your panels are generating, how much you are using, and how much is going to or coming from the grid. If we install a consumption meter — which we strongly recommend — you can also track your household's total energy usage patterns. We walk you through the app on installation day and are available if you have questions afterwards.

Do solar panels need cleaning on the Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast's regular rainfall means panels installed at a standard pitch of 10 degrees or more are largely self-cleaning under normal conditions. If you have significant tree coverage, live near a construction site, or notice bird droppings accumulating, a professional clean every 12 to 18 months will protect your system's output. We can advise on cleaning services if needed.

Do I need a switchboard upgrade to install solar or a battery?

Not always, but often. Older switchboards — particularly those with ceramic fuses rather than circuit breakers — are generally not compatible with modern solar inverters and must be upgraded before installation can proceed. Even newer switchboards sometimes lack the spare capacity or correct configuration for a battery system. We assess your switchboard as part of every site visit and include any required upgrade in your quote upfront, so there are no surprises on installation day.

How much does a switchboard upgrade cost on the Gold Coast?

It depends on the board you have now. Every battery we install uses Sigenergy's Gateway for full home backup, so the whole installation must meet the current battery standards. That means correctly sized circuit breakers on the mains and sub-mains, and Type A RCBOs with pulsating DC protection on every circuit. We include any upgrade this needs in your battery quote once we have seen a photo or two of your switchboard. For a switchboard upgrade on its own, we provide a fixed-price quote before any work begins.

Can any electrician do a switchboard upgrade for solar?

A licensed electrical contractor can carry out a switchboard upgrade, but for solar installations specifically, the work needs to be coordinated with the solar system design and Energex grid connection requirements. Having the same team handle both the solar installation and the switchboard upgrade — as we do at Evolved Solar — avoids the miscommunication and liability gaps that arise when two separate trades share a job.

How much does an off-grid solar system cost in Queensland?

A full off-grid system typically costs $60,000 to $120,000, after the rebate. The price depends on how much battery storage you need to get through cloudy weather, the backup generator, single, dual or three phase power, a tin or tile roof, the number of storeys, site access, and whether we trench or run overhead mains. Prices are current as at October 2026. We provide a full site assessment and detailed quote before any commitment is required.

What finance options are available for solar and battery systems?

We work with Brighte, a specialist green finance provider that offers loans for solar and battery installations. Brighte offers competitive rates with terms that can align repayments with your expected energy bill savings. Finance is available for solar-only, battery-only, and combined installations. We present the options and let you decide — we do not push finance as a default.

What warranties come with a solar or battery installation from Evolved Solar?

Your installation comes with two types of warranty. The product warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers the equipment itself — typically 10 years for inverters, 10 to 12 years for batteries, and 25 years for solar panels. The workmanship warranty is our promise to you and covers the installation — the cabling, mounting, switchboard connections, and electrical work. If anything we installed fails due to our workmanship, we fix it at no cost. We stand behind every job we complete.

Do I need to be home on installation day?

Ideally yes, at least for the start and end of the day. We need access to your switchboard, which is often inside or in a locked area, and we want to walk you through the monitoring app and system shutdown procedure once the job is done. If being home all day is not possible, we can work around your schedule — just let us know when you book.

Off-Grid or Hybrid Solar: Which Suits Your Property?

Oct 23

Written By Steven Hord

Hybrid solar suits a property that can stay connected to the grid. Off-grid solar suits a property where a grid connection costs too much, or where there is no connection at all. Three things decide the choice: your connection quote, the loads you need to keep running, and whether you want income from exports.

Our off-grid solar systems page compares both options side by side. This post walks through the decision, one question at a time.

Key Points

Hybrid solar keeps the grid connection and adds a battery for the evening.
Off-grid solar has no network connection, so it needs a battery and often a generator to carry the whole property.
Steven Hord's price for a full off-grid system is $60,000 to $120,000, after the rebate.
Steven's price for a new solar and battery system is $22,000 to $45,000, after the rebate.
Off-grid systems earn no feed-in credits, because there is no grid to export to.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program covers households and businesses, but eligibility for an off-grid battery is still to be confirmed.

What is the difference?

Hybrid solar uses panels, a battery and a hybrid inverter, and keeps the grid connection. It stores daytime solar for the evening. With a backup circuit, it runs the circuits you choose when the grid fails.

Off-grid solar uses panels, a battery and any generator to supply the whole property. It has no network connection and no grid bill.

Standard solar without a battery shuts down in a blackout for safety. A battery and backup circuit change that for the circuits you pick.

Which one suits my property?

Hybrid suits most suburban homes. Off-grid suits a rural property where a network connection costs more than the system, over the same period.

Compare the two paths using written quotes, not estimates. Hybrid keeps the grid as a backup, so the battery can be smaller. Off-grid has no grid behind it, so the battery and generator must carry the whole property.

Our Sigenergy systems can run as a hybrid now and go fully off grid later with the same equipment. That lets you start with the grid and keep the option open.

What does a hybrid system cost?

Prices for a hybrid system, after the rebate, are $16,000 to $30,000 for a battery added to existing solar. A new solar and battery system costs $22,000 to $45,000.

Your price depends on single, dual or three phase power, roof type, storeys, site access, and whether we trench or run overhead mains.

How do I price the grid path?

Ask your network distributor, Energex or Ergon Energy, for an itemised connection quote. Then ask your electrician to price the private works on your side of the connection point.

Compare that total with the off-grid quote over the same period. Do not compare an off-grid quote with a bare connection figure.

What does off-grid cost?

Steven's price for a full off-grid system is $60,000 to $120,000, after the rebate. The price depends on the battery storage you need for cloudy weather, the generator, single, dual or three phase power, roof type, storeys, site access, and whether we trench or run overhead mains.

Prices are current as at October 2026. We give a written quote before any work begins.

What does the switchboard need?

A battery on a full-home backup system needs a switchboard that meets the current standards. Off-grid needs the same work on your switchboard.

Ask for that work in writing with the quote. Our switchboard upgrades and solar guide explains what the work involves.

Can I claim the battery discount?

The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program offers households and businesses around 30% off batteries from 5 kWh to 100 kWh. The battery must be connected to new or existing solar.

We have not yet confirmed whether an off-grid battery qualifies, so ask us to confirm it in writing before you count the discount.

Does off-grid earn feed-in income?

No. Feed-in credits only arise when you export to the grid. An off-grid system has no grid connection, so it earns none.

A hybrid system can earn feed-in credits under your retailer's plan. Our Queensland solar feed-in tariff guide explains how those rates work.

What happens in a long cloudy spell?

An off-grid system needs enough battery to carry you through poor weather, and many add a generator for the longest runs. A hybrid system draws on the grid when its battery runs low.

Ask your installer how many days of backup the design gives you, and where a generator fits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between off-grid and hybrid solar?

Hybrid solar stays connected to the grid and uses a battery for the evening. Off-grid solar has no grid connection, so the battery and generator must carry the whole property.

Which is cheaper, off-grid or hybrid?

It depends on your connection quote. Compare both paths over the same period, using written quotes from your distributor and your installer.

Can a hybrid system become off grid later?

Yes, according to Steven Hord. Our Sigenergy systems can run as a hybrid now and go fully off grid later with the same equipment.

Does an off-grid system earn feed-in credits?

No. An off-grid system has no grid connection to export to, so it earns no feed-in credits.

Ready to see which system suits your property?

Send us your property address and your power bills, and we will talk through which system fits. Get a quote at /get-a-quote, or call us on 1300 153 011.

Sources

Cheaper Home Batteries Program

Business.gov.au

Steven Hord

Steven Hord is the director of Evolved Solar and Electrical, a licensed Master Electrician and an SAA-accredited solar installer. He has installed solar, battery and off-grid systems across the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers.