We had the pleasure of sitting down with Anthony Phillips, our LG Solar Account Executive, to discuss the new addition to LG’s solar panel family: the LG NeON H+ 415W panel.
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So solar energy has come a long way in the last 10 years. What are consumers looking for in the solar industry today? Are there key questions they ask or features they expect?
I’ve been in this solar industry for 12 years now and I’ve seen a lot of changes. So probably when you say a lot has changed in 10 years I’m like wow yeah and there’s been a lot of cheap solar going through the industry and everything is cheap. It’s risky, it’s risky. So if you’re asking what people are looking for now, what questions are being asked, the features, etc. I would refer to well-known brands and assurances around because it’s a new industry and people don’t know what’s there outside.
Some of the questions I see are who are the retailers, who are the manufacturers and the consumers trying to get guidance on this. In terms of those features, look, every time it seems performance and performance are the expected features and what’s being asked, but that’s not necessarily all it’s about, but it’s certainly where the question starts.
Absolutely. We’ve watched LG release solar panel after solar panel with higher performance and better efficiency. But now you’ve broken that 400-watt barrier with a new 415-watt panel in the new NeON H+. That must be an exciting milestone for LG?
Oh, Krissie, we are very happy. Look, absolutely delighted. We are launching this panel, it is a completely made in Korea panel. It’s for the residential market and to be able to peak at 415 watts there is just fantastic. So we’re definitely excited about this end and really about this panel, it’s an achievement, it’s reliable and it’s all backed by LG Electronics.
What does it mean for people looking to install solar to have a 415 watt rooftop panel versus a standard panel?
Impressive. Okay, that’s actually a good question. Which is what it boils down to, because when we’re talking 415 watts, that’s more panels or, sorry, more power for fewer panels on a roof. That’s what it means. Now if you look at a standard panel out there, say 370 watts, for a 6.6 kilowatt system, we’re putting two panels down.
Now if we look at your very first point that you made about solar in the last 10 years, if you, we used to sell, or the industry sold 1.5 kilowatt systems, and then it was four kilowatts, and then it was five, then 6.6. The average system size in the private customer market is now almost nine kilowatts. – Wow, that’s a big jump.
It is. So this really points to a fundamental question of how much roof space is up there and that roof space is a factor in choosing your solar array and the panels you have there. So if we’re able to offer a highly efficient 415 watt panel, fewer panels up there, or more power for the same number of panels, where is this market headed with this kind of trajectory?
Is it 15 kilowatts that people need and we know that the energy demand is actually only growing, air conditioning, pool and so on. So the actual roof demand and the solar demand and the electricity demand in general, everything just goes up.
Absolutely. – So it’s actually a good question because we’re well positioned for these larger systems that are coming.
People talk a lot about efficiency, but actually solar is much more than just efficiency. So what are the main reasons people should buy a top-of-the-line panel from LG Solar, like the NeON H+, over the cheaper, entry-level panels available in the Australian market?
What you’re really saying is efficiency, and that can be viewed as panel size or peak power, but it’s really a lot more than that. It really is. It depends, well you’re wondering, why would you buy a top-of-the-line LG versus cheaper systems and cheaper panels out there? I would start with that, so if we’re talking about 21.2% efficiency on this 415, that’s best-in-class efficiency, but we really need to dig deeper.
So what you get is what you pay for. That’s really a saying in life. So our LG panels, they’re made in Korea, they’re built to perform, they’re built to last, and I’d like to think we’re actually selling peace of mind. So, all these features add up to a reassuring solution for customers.
Absolutely, and I can probably agree with that from a customer perspective. Before I actually worked at Solaray, I was a Solaray customer. I had them install LG panels on my roof. I have a 6.6 kilowatt system at home.
I love that.
And a big reason my family decided we wanted to spend more and go with the LG panels at the higher end of the scale was the performance guarantee. I see a lot of great product warranties out there, but the fact that LG was willing to guarantee that after 25 years my system would still work over 90% compared to the industry average, which I think is around 82%. Mark, but that really, that really sold me.
As if I would be in my house for a long time and I want a panel that I can rely on for a long time and after 12 months with my solar system I have already produced about eight megawatts of power and I can already see it, however, compared to my neighbors that have the same sizing system but with a cheaper panel that I’m already outperforming them and getting more bang for my buck.
Yes.
And imagine how that will be in 10, 20 years, when my system has degraded much less than average. I know this investment will pay for itself tenfold over the life of the product.
So I’m really glad the Solaray team was able to explain the differences to me because I’m already seeing those returns and I know that’s only going to increase exponentially in the years to come, and I like having that confidence, you know , from the customer’s point of view.
You raised some good points there, because you’re actually solar energy, it’s a cost-cutting exercise. They offset your electricity bills and the only way to do that is by actually generating kilowatt hours per day. That’s the measure. So we can talk about peak power and system sizes, but it’s actually about how much power it produces.
So look, an LG solar panel is a high-performance panel. It will bring out customers and delight them and what we really stand behind is when we say we build for performance and longevity, we sell peace of mind, but what really stands behind it is the performance of the LG. So here we are in Australia with one of the best performing temperature panels. In high temperature situations, our LG panel, this NeON H+ 415 watt panel, performs. Even in low light, it will perform exceptionally well.
The reliability of the panel. So hail is a common factor that we are all aware of. We test plates up to a hail size of 35 millimeters shot at high speed, which is more than the 25 mil required by IEC standards. So we build panels that are strong and durable. That reliability factor is backed by 25 years of LG Electronics, that’s this deal you see here in Australia. 25 year product replacement guarantee. That includes the work, the transport, the product itself for 25 years.
We will tell you that 25 years from now this module will still be producing over 90% of that peak power. It’s a pretty damn good statement and that figure of merit even at 90.6 is very, very impressive. So that’s a degradation, right, still running at 21.2% efficiency. So those are excellent numbers for anyone to look at in the datasheets.
But to your point, it’s really the kilowatt-hours of production that we’re looking for, because that’s what your electricity bill calculates. What I put behind this is that as LG we have been making things here in Australia for 25 years, but as a manufacturer we have 60 years of manufacturing experience so we can make these things well and then so behind that warranty assurance is the strength and stability of LG Electronics in Australia.
Yeah, LG isn’t going anywhere. (laughs)
Well we have 300, I’m based here in an office here in Sydney and we are over 300 staff in Australia and New Zealand. As I said, 30 years in Australia. We are a trusted brand. We are a multiple solar award winner for trust and awards for innovation on this panel and yes, this largest consumer solar brand in Australia is the one to back your warranty. The same goes for all the other products you see around me. So you are in good hands.
Absolutely. Absolutely. I can confirm the hail test. I’ve had a couple of severe hailstorms at my house in the last 12 months and my panels are intact despite having car windows smashed down the street.
wow, here we go.
So I can vouch for the panels to withstand our beautiful Sydney hailstorms.
That’s excellent.
There is a lot of talk at the moment about global supply chain issues and certain solar panels being no longer available in Australia due to some of these challenges. I guess what I wanted to ask is what does the future hold for LG Solar and will people be able to have these new NeON H+ panels installed once they place an order?
Well, another excellent question Krissie, and one I’m happy to answer because these NeON H+ 415s, all made in Korea, are in the country right now. In fact, they’re sitting here behind me in the warehouse. So we’re ready to sell along with Solaray when you’re ready to go.
Excellent. Well I know here at Solaray we pride ourselves on being LG’s number one solar installer year after year. And we’re proud to stand behind the LG NeON range because we know these warranties are warranties our customers can rely on for years and decades to come.
Yes, you can.
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If you are interested in an LG NeON H+ 415w solar panel powered system, speak to one of our customer service teams at 1300 525 451 or visit our contact page to request a call back.
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