PSW CEO named Emerging Leader runner-up at the 2026 Smart Energy Council Awards

On 6 May 2026 in Sydney, Nicole Bilman was named runner-up for Emerging Leader of the Year at the Smart Energy Council Excellence Awards. The category is judged by an independent panel from the national industry body. Nicole represented an outnumbered Western Australia in the category.

For a Perth homeowner choosing a solar company, here is what that means.

Bite

  • A runner-up placement is top two in the country, judged by a national industry panel against published criteria. Not a popularity vote, not a marketing exercise.
  • The recognition is for how Nicole runs the business. That covers the standards behind every install: training, accountability, the audit benchmarks that have to hold up year after year.
  • Perth Solar Warehouse was also a national finalist for Smart Employer of the Year on the same night. We did not place as runner-up or winner in that category. Finalist standing alone, alongside companies from across Australia.

When you choose a solar company in Perth, most of the trust signals are about the product. Panel brand, inverter brand, battery brand. Those matter. But the part that determines whether your system actually works well in five and 10 years is who runs the company that installs it.

A national leadership recognition is a signal that decisions at the top are being made correctly. Tesla Premium Certified Installer status held every year from 2022 to 2026. ISO 9001 quality, 14001 environment and 45001 safety certified through Bureau Veritas. NETCC Approved Seller, renewed through to May 2027. SolarQuotes Legendary status held three years running. Those credentials do not renew themselves. They are reviewed on a fixed cadence, and they require documented evidence to maintain.

Nicole points to a team effort

Leadership awards land on one name. The standards behind them are held by the team. Installers, electricians, designers and customer service. The independently audited 4.8 out of 5 Tesla satisfaction score, set during the busiest year the industry has ever seen, was held by them.

Being recognised twice in one night, on a national stage, is something we are sharing with the people who actually do the work.

Image: Derek McKercher (Director), Nicole Bilman (CEO), John Grimes (Smart Energy Council, CEO)

If you are comparing quotes for solar, a battery upgrade, or an EV charger right now and would like to talk to the team behind the recognition, request a free quote, and we will scope it against your actual roof and energy usage.

For a detailed wrap of the award, our PSW Energy companion piece goes deeper on what the recognition reflects about how the business runs.

Solar and battery troubleshooting for Perth homes

Something’s not right with your solar or battery, and you want to know if it’s serious before you ring anyone. Most of the solar troubleshooting calls the PSW Tech Support team handles for Perth homeowners turn out not to require a technician. They land in one of four categories, and most of them have a quick self-check worth running first.

For the full diagnostic, including every fault code category and the technical detail for harder problems, the full solar and battery troubleshooting guide on PSW Energy covers it properly. That’s the comprehensive version. This page is the quick one.

My app isn't showing any data

This is the most common one we hear, by a long way. Nine times out of ten, it’s a Wi-Fi issue, not a system issue. Your inverter is probably working fine; it just lost its connection to your router.

Quick fix:

  • Check your home Wi-Fi is actually working. Phone test, the usual.
  • Reboot your router. Wait five minutes.
  • If the app still isn't updating, work through the Wi-Fi reconnect guide for your inverter. It takes about five minutes and the steps vary by brand.

If Wi-Fi is fine and the reconnect didn’t help, that’s when to flag it with us.

System generation looks lower than it used to

Check the season before assuming something’s wrong. Perth output in June runs at roughly 40% of what the same system produces in December: same panels, same home, same inverter. A 6.6kW system generating 32kWh/day in midsummer and 14kWh/day in winter is behaving exactly as it should.

Compare like-for-like: the same month last year, not last month. Then look at the roof. New tree growth, dust build-up, bird mess on the panels, or a pergola that went up next door can all cut output noticeably. Coastal homes pick up salt spray and generally need cleaning more often than properties further inland.

If output is down more than 20% across several sunny days compared to the same period last year, and the roof looks clean, it’s worth getting a professional to take a look.

The battery isn't doing what I expected

A couple of common ones here:

  • Battery not charging during the day? Usually means there's no surplus solar after your household loads. Running air conditioning, a pool pump, and the oven at 11am on a hot day often leaves nothing left over for the battery. Check your app: if you're exporting to the grid but the battery isn't charging, that's a different problem worth reporting.
  • Battery not discharging in the evening? Often a settings issue. Check the operating mode (it should be Self-Powered or similar) and check the backup reserve isn't set too high. A 20% reserve is a sensible starting point for most Perth homes.
  • Battery charged from the grid unexpectedly? Usually a tariff-arbitrage schedule that came enabled by default. Switch the operating mode to Self-Powered if that's not what you want.

If you’re on Synergy’s DEBS rate and your battery behaviour seems off, it’s worth a closer look before assuming there’s a hardware issue. Export strategy settings can interact with DEBS in ways that aren’t always obvious in the app. The home battery options page also covers how different models handle DEBS, which is worth a look.

My inverter is showing a red light

Or an error code

Take a photo of the screen before you do anything else. The exact code is what matters, and the PSW Tech Support team can identify the issue from a photo far faster than working through a description over the phone.

Most error codes on Perth systems are grid-related. The most common is grid over-voltage: when too many rooftop systems in the area are exporting at the same time, Western Power’s network voltage rises above the permitted threshold, and inverters are required to disconnect. It’s not a fault with your system; it’s the inverter doing exactly what the standards require. These errors almost always clear within minutes.

If the same code keeps appearing through the day, or the screen shows arc fault, over-temperature, or anything labelled as an internal hardware fault, stop resetting it and call us. The inverter is flagging something for a reason.

Still stuck?

Contact PSW Tech Support

Phone: (08) 6171 4111

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm AWST

If you see smoke, smell burning plastic, or notice physical damage to any component, do not troubleshoot. Use the emergency shutdown procedure in your solar and battery operation guide and call us straight away. Call 000 if there’s any risk to life or property. 

PSW Tech Support is included with every Perth Solar Warehouse install. No subscription, no call-out fee for warranty-covered diagnostics. We look after our customers after the install, not just before it.

Perth Solar Warehouse wins four 2026 SunWiz Awards

Perth Solar Warehouse has been recognised with four 2026 SunWiz Awards, including the #1 Local Solar Hero spot for Perth, South West region. The awards are based on installation volumes, customer review data, and regional performance across the 2025 calendar year, independently compiled by SunWiz.

TLDR

  • Perth Solar Warehouse has won four 2026 SunWiz Awards based on 2025 installation volumes and customer review data, independently compiled by SunWiz.
  • The four wins: ESS Top 5 WA (battery storage), PV Top 5 WA (solar installs), Most Popular #2 WA (customer review volume and rating), and #1 Local Solar Hero Perth South West.
  • The Most Popular category only considers companies with 50+ verified reviews averaging 4.8 stars or higher, placing the field in the top 2.5% of all solar businesses in Australia by SunWiz's own methodology.
  • Local Solar Hero for Perth South West means more households in our home region chose PSW than any other installer in 2025, a different kind of credential from a national badge. National rankings tell you about scale; local rankings tell you about trust.
  • Awards were presented at the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney, May 2026.

The four wins

  • ESS (battery), Top 5 WA: among Western Australia’s top five battery storage installers by volume
  • PV (solar), Top 5 WA: among the state’s top five solar PV installers by volume
  • Most Popular, #2 WA: based on customer review volume and rating across multiple platforms
  • #1 Local Solar Hero, Perth South West: the company that installed the most solar in our local region in 2025

Most Popular award

What it measures

The Most Popular category is the one we are quietly proudest of. SunWiz only considers companies with 50 or more verified customer reviews averaging 4.8 stars or higher across major review platforms. By their published criteria, that places the field in the top 2.5% of all solar businesses in Australia. Coming in at #2 in WA against that filter is something we did not engineer for. It is the result of years of customers writing honest reviews, and our team treating every install like it matters.

Perth's, South West

Local Solar Hero

The Local Solar Hero category recognises the company that installed the most solar in a defined local region in the previous calendar year. For us, that is Perth South West — the region we have served from our Bibra Lake base since 2004.

This award says something specific. It says that in our own backyard, more households chose us than chose anyone else. That is a different kind of credential to a national badge. National rankings tell you about scale; local rankings tell you about trust.

Thank you

We are not going to spend a thousand words on this update. The awards are real, the criteria are public, and the people who earned them are not a logo. The thanks belong to two groups.

Our customers. Every install in 2025 was someone’s home, someone’s power bill, and someone’s decision to trust us with both. We do not take that lightly.

Our team. The installers on the roofs, the design crew, the office, the service techs. Awards like these are not won by a brand. They are won by the people who do the work.

The four awards are in the office at Bibra Lake. The work that they earned does not change.
 
If you are considering solar, batteries, or an EV charger for your Perth home, the offer is the same as it has been since 2004: come in, get a real conversation, get an honest quote. The awards are nice. The work is what matters.

Related

Sunwiz: Perth Solar Warehouse — 2026 SunWiz Award Winner

McKercher Corporation: Perth Solar Warehouse receives four SunWiz Awards 2026

PSW Energy: The night four badges got our sibling’s name on them

Canadian Solar panels for Perth homes: specs, warranty, and the all-black advantage

Canadian Solar is one of the five largest solar module manufacturers in the world, shipping panels since 2001 and operating in the Australian market since 2011. Scale and longevity matter because a 30-year warranty means nothing from a manufacturer that won’t exist in 15.

This guide covers the one Canadian Solar panel that matters for residential installations in Western Australia: the TOPHiKu6 with N-type TOPCon cell technology. Not every panel in the Canadian Solar catalogue belongs on your roof. Most don’t. We’ve cut through the range and landed on the residential-format module that earns its place on Perth rooftops, with the specs, warranty detail, and local context to back it up.

TL;DR

  • Canadian Solar is a top-five global manufacturer (NASDAQ-listed, BNEF Tier 1) shipping since 2001, scale and financial backing matter on a panel sold with a 30-year performance warranty.
  • Our pick for Perth homes is the TOPHiKu6 all-black (CS6.2-48TD-470). N-type TOPCon cells, 23.5% module efficiency, dual-glass construction, -0.29%/°C temperature coefficient. The all-black variant delivers a clean, uniform roofline with no visible frame contrast, and at 470W the real-world generation difference versus the 475W black frame variant is negligible. Aesthetics and curb appeal win here.
  • Warranty: 25-year product warranty and 30-year performance warranty, matching the coverage offered by similar residential mainstream solar panels (Australia). Canadian Solar maintains an Australian office and a local warranty claims process.
  • Availability note: Canadian Solar panels at PSW are delivered through the Kleenheat Spark partnership, a dedicated product line combining Kleenheat's product assurance with PSW's installation expertise, not sold through standard retail.

Contents

The panel to consider: TOPHiKu6

Canadian Solar’s residential line has moved on from the older HiKu6 PERC modules. The TOPHiKu6 uses N-type TOPCon cells, which outperform P-type PERC on efficiency, degradation, and temperature response. If you’re comparing Canadian Solar panels in 2026, this is the only product line worth your attention for a home installation.

Two variants exist in the residential format. Both use the same CS6.2-48TD model series and share identical dimensions, weight, and cell technology. The key difference is appearance, and it matters more than the spec sheet suggests:

Specification
TOPHiKu6 (black frame)
TOPHiKu6 (all-black)
Model series
CS6.2-48TD
CS6.2-48TD
Power range
455–485W
440–470W
Cell technology
N-type TOPCon
N-type TOPCon
Cell arrangement
144 half-cut cells (2 × (12 × 6))
144 half-cut cells (2 × (12 × 6))
Module efficiency (at top bin)
24.3% (485W) / 23.8% (475W)
23.5% (470W)
Temperature coefficient (Pmax)
-0.29%/°C
-0.29%/°C
Dimensions
1762 × 1134 × 30mm
1762 × 1134 × 30mm
Weight
24.6kg
24.6kg
Glass
Dual glass (2.0mm front + 2.0mm rear)
Dual glass (2.0mm front + 2.0mm rear)
Max system voltage
1500V (IEC/UL)
1500V (IEC/UL)
Load rating (snow / wind)
5400 Pa / 2400 Pa
5400 Pa / 2400 Pa
Hail resistance
35mm ice ball
35mm ice ball
Connector
Stäubli MC4-EVO2
Stäubli MC4-EVO2
Product warranty
25 years
25 years
Performance warranty
30 years
30 years
Datasheet
Download
Download

Our recommendation: the 470W all-black. On a residential rooftop, panels are visible. They’re part of your home’s street presence for the next 25 years. The all-black TOPHiKu6 eliminates the white backsheet contrast that makes standard panels stand out against dark roof tiles, delivering a cleaner, more integrated look.

The power difference is minimal. At 470W, the all-black electrical specs are: 45.6V Vmp, 10.32A Imp, 53.7V Voc, 10.96A Isc, and 23.5% module efficiency. On a 14-panel system, choosing the all-black over the 475W black frame costs you 70W total, roughly 0.3kWh per day in Perth conditions. You won’t notice it on your bill. You will notice the difference on your roofline.

The black frame variant ranges up to 485W (24.3% efficiency at top bin) for homeowners who prioritise maximum output over appearance, but at the residential scale, the generation uplift rarely justifies the visual trade-off.

Warranty structure

Canadian Solar offers a two-part warranty on the TOPHiKu6:

Warranty type
Product warranty period
Product warranty
25 years: covers manufacturing defects and materials
Performance warranty
30 years: first year ≤1% degradation, subsequent years ≤0.4% annually

A 25-year product warranty puts the TOPHiKu6 on par with the strongest residential panel warranties available in Australia. Combined with a 30-year performance warranty, Canadian Solar is backing this panel for the full useful life of a rooftop system. That’s confidence in the product, and it removes warranty duration as a differentiator when comparing against other premium N-type panels.

Canadian Solar maintains an Australian office and a local warranty claims process. That’s not universal among panel manufacturers, and it matters when you’re 15 years into a system and something fails. The Australian entity handles claims; you’re not filing paperwork with a factory overseas.

Always confirm the specific warranty document for the exact panel model quoted to you. Warranty terms can vary between model codes within the same product family.

Why residential-format panels matter

The TOPHiKu6 uses 144 half-cut TOPCon cells in a panel that measures 1762 × 1134 × 30mm and weighs 24.6kg.

Canadian Solar also makes 72-cell panels exceeding 580W. They’re physically larger, heavier, and designed for commercial rooftops and ground-mount arrays. Some installers will quote them for homes because the per-watt cost looks lower on paper.

Perth’s residential rooftops aren’t commercial expanses. They have hips, valleys, ridge caps, whirlybirds, and vent pipes. At 1762mm long, the TOPHiKu6 is compact enough to fit layouts that larger commercial-format panels simply can’t. You’ll often get more total capacity from more smaller panels than from fewer large ones that don’t fit the available space. At 24.6kg, the TOPHiKu6 is heavier than some competitors in the same class (LONGi’s Hi-MO X6 range sits around 20.8–21.5kg), but still within a comfortable single-installer handling range on a pitched roof.

Performance in Western Australia

Perth sits in STC Zone 3 with among the highest solar irradiance levels in Australia. That’s excellent for generation, but it also means high cell operating temperatures for much of the year.

Temperature response. The -0.29%/°C coefficient means the TOPHiKu6 handles Perth’s heat about as well as the best panels on the market. No residential panel thrives in extreme heat, but N-type TOPCon loses less output per degree than PERC technology.

Dual glass construction. Both the black frame and all-black variants use glass-glass construction rather than glass-backsheet. Dual glass panels resist moisture ingress and potential-induced degradation (PID) better over time. For Perth homes near the coast where salt mist is a factor, this construction offers a practical durability advantage.

Generation estimate. A well-oriented 6.6kW system using TOPHiKu6 panels in Perth is estimated to generate between 27 and 32kWh per day averaged across the year, depending on roof orientation, tilt, and shading. North-facing arrays at 20–25° tilt will track toward the upper end. These are estimates based on typical Perth irradiance data and should be confirmed with site-specific modelling during the quoting process.

STC discount for Perth installations

Solar panel installations in Perth (Zone 3 under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme) are eligible for Small-scale Technology Certificates. STCs reduce the upfront cost of your system at the point of sale. They’re tradeable certificates created by the installation, not a government rebate in the traditional sense.

The value of STCs fluctuates with market conditions and reduces each year as the scheme’s multiplier decreases. Your installer will calculate the exact STC value based on your system size, location, and installation date, and apply it as a discount on your quote.

For current STC values and how they apply to your system, see our solar rebate Perth guide.

Common questions

Yes. Canadian Solar is consistently rated BNEF Tier 1 and has been among the top five global manufacturers by shipment volume. They’re listed on the NASDAQ (CSIQ) and maintain manufacturing facilities across multiple countries.

Canadian Solar panels are available through our Kleenheat Spark partnership, which delivers exclusive home electrification packages combining Kleenheat’s product assurance with Perth Solar Warehouse’s installation expertise. This is a dedicated product line not available through our standard retail channel. For Canadian Solar availability and pricing, contact our team or explore the Kleenheat Spark program.

At 470W per panel and a Voc of 53.7V, string sizing for the TOPHiKu6 all-black is straightforward with most mainstream inverters. For a 6.6kW system (14 panels at 470W = 6.58kW), a quality string inverter from Tesla, iStore, Fronius, Goodwe, Sungrow or Sigenergy handles the array comfortably within MPPT voltage windows. Your installer will confirm the string configuration based on your specific inverter selection and roof layout.

We install panels from several leading manufacturers. The TOPHiKu6 sits in the high-efficiency N-type TOPCon category alongside panels from LONGi, Trina, and Jinko. Each has trade-offs in efficiency, warranty terms, and pricing. For a side-by-side comparison, see our compare solar panels page or request a tailored quote.

The takeaway

The Canadian Solar TOPHiKu6 all-black is a well-specified residential panel from a manufacturer with the scale and financial backing to honour its warranty commitments. N-type TOPCon cell technology, dual glass construction, 23.5% efficiency, and a 30-year performance warranty make it a strong option for Perth homes, and the all-black finish means your system looks as good as it performs.

The panel is available through our Kleenheat Spark partnership rather than our standard retail channel, which is worth knowing when you’re comparing quotes. With a 25-year product warranty, 30-year performance warranty, and dual-glass construction as standard, the TOPHiKu6 is built for long-term performance on Perth rooftops.

If you’re considering Canadian Solar for your home, get in touch and we’ll walk you through how it compares to the rest of our residential range for your specific roof and energy profile.