Agile Advantage Ed. 14 - The 2026 solar health check: From legacy systems to strategic assets

At a Glance

By mid-2025, Australia had installed about 26.8 GW of rooftop solar across 4.2 million systems, with ~1.1 GW added in the first half. (pv magazine International+1) Battery adoption is accelerating-over 7,200 systems were paired with rooftop solar in Q1 2025 alone. (Australian Energy Council) As many systems approach their 10-15 year mark, 2026 presents a timely juncture: do these assets remain high performing, or risk becoming underutilised liabilities?

Why 2026 Matters

• Aging systems entering mid-life - Panels degrade (~0.4-0.5% p.a.); inverters and wiring begin showing faults

• Economic regime evolving - With feed-in tariffs diminished in many states, self- consumption, storage, and load-shifting become critical

• Compliance & safety catch-up - Legacy systems may no longer meet new standards or fire risk mitigation guidelines

• Storage & smarter tech gaining ground - Battery integration, advanced monitoring, and intelligent inverters are more feasible than ever

‍

Addressing these pressures early offers a chance to convert risk into value.

Options That a Health Check Uncovers

• Audit & remediation - Benchmark real vs expected generation, replace or service failing modules and inverters, rewire or reoptimise to recapture lost output

• Compliance retrofit - Ensure systems meet AS/NZS 5033:2021 and current safety standards

Battery retrofits - Capture surplus generation, reduce peak demand charges by 30-50%, and gain resilience with reasonable payback potential

• Commercial repositioning / PPA buyback - Where remediation or retrofit isn't viable, options like structured buyback or repowering under a PPA framework allow asset owners to release capital, remove future risk, and secure energy supply continuity

System Remediation and Performance Audits

A comprehensive solar health check begins with a detailed performance audit:

• Output benchmarking: Comparing actual generation against expected output for system age and size-accounting for Australia's typical 0.4-0.5% annual degradation in premium panels.

• Component inspection: Identifying failing inverters, faulty panels, or degraded cabling, which contribute to up to 80% of underperformance in mid-life systems.

• Compliance review: Checking against current Australian Standards and safety regulations, including updated fire risk mitigations under the Clean Energy Council's guidelines.

• Financial analysis: Assessing whether the system is still delivering contracted savings, especially as rooftop solar's 26.8 GW national capacity underscores the scale of potential underutilisation

Where issues are identified, remediation, such as inverter replacement, rewiring or re- optimisation, can return systems to peak performance and extend their operational lifespan by 5-10 years

Buybacks and Battery Retrofits

For systems at end-of-life or no longer performing economically, businesses face strategic choices:

Buybacks: Some operators choose to divest old systems, freeing capital and removing liability. Specialist firms will decommission and recycle equipment while paying owners for residual value, aligning with Australia's circular economy push where over 90% of PV materials are recyclable

Battery retrofits: Others choose to enhance existing systems by integrating storage. Retrofitting batteries allows businesses to capture surplus solar, cut peak demand charges by 30-50%, and increase resilience. With payback periods of 7-10 years and lifetime ROI often exceeding 200%, these upgrades are projected to drive a boom in commercial storage, adding 1-2 GW annually by 2030

With electricity prices volatile and demand for flexibility rising, battery retrofits are increasingly becoming the most attractive path forward, bolstered by 2025's federal incentives.

Turning Risk into Opportunity

Aging solar does not automatically translate into a sunk cost. With the right strategy, legacy systems can be transformed into a foundation for future energy opportunities. Proactive remediation not only reduces downtime and mitigates safety risks such as the low but notable 1.5% of residential fires linked to PV systems that highlight the need for commercial vigilance-but also enhances overall reliability. Battery integration enables businesses to shift consumption to off-peak times, maximising solar self-use and generating greater savings of up to $500,000 over 20 years for mid-sized installations. When paired with smart controls, storage also opens the door to new revenue streams through demand response and participation in Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). Beyond financial returns, refurbishing or recycling equipment reinforces a company's sustainability credentials by demonstrating a genuine commitment to circular economy principles.

How Agile Energy Supports You

• Audit & diagnostics based on site-specific data

• Remediation and compliance planning

• Battery & system design tailored to load, site, and regulation

• Comparative modelling of remediation vs buyback vs retrofit

• Project management and oversight through execution

Conclusion: The Solar Checkup Your Business Can't Afford to Miss

2026 will test whether solar plants installed in past decades continue as assets—or become burdens. A thoughtful health check ensures they remain operational, efficient, and aligned with current energy economics. Whether the path is remediation, upgrade, or structured transition, the right choices now can preserve and even enhance value for the next decade.

Agile Energy is here to help navigate those choices.

‍