Property sale or settlement
Sometimes a property changes hands and the new owner doesn't want the existing solar system, or the system has outstanding Energex connection issues that need to be resolved before settlement. We handle solar deregistration with Energex as part of the removal process, so there are no loose ends on the network connection side.
End-of-life systems
Most solar panels carry a 25-year performance warranty, but plenty of systems installed in the early 2010s during Queensland's solar boom are now reaching the end of their practical life. Failed inverters, degraded panels, and corroded wiring are all signs that a system has reached the point where removal and replacement makes more sense than repair.
Solar Panel Removal
DJ Edwards Solar and Electrical; providing Solar panel removal services across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast
Last year we got a call from a homeowner in Capalaba who'd just been told by a roofing company that they couldn't touch the roof until the solar system came off first. Simple enough — except the roofing company had already quoted for the job, the tiles underneath were failing, and nobody had thought to factor in the solar removal until the tradie was standing in the driveway. The job ended up delayed by two weeks because they couldn't find a licensed electrician at short notice.
It's one of the most common scenarios we deal with. Solar panel removal in Brisbane comes up more often than most people expect — and it almost always comes up at an inconvenient moment. Roof replacements, storm damage, system upgrades, property sales, and end-of-life systems are all driving a steady stream of removal jobs across southeast Queensland. Knowing what's involved before you need it done saves a lot of stress.
Last year we got a call from a homeowner in Capalaba who'd just been told by a roofing company that they couldn't touch the roof until the solar system came off first. Simple enough — except the roofing company had already quoted for the job, the tiles underneath were failing, and nobody had thought to factor in the solar removal until the tradie was standing in the driveway. The job ended up delayed by two weeks because they couldn't find a licensed electrician at short notice.
It's one of the most common scenarios we deal with. Solar panel removal in Brisbane comes up more often than most people expect — and it almost always comes up at an inconvenient moment. Roof replacements, storm damage, system upgrades, property sales, and end-of-life systems are all driving a steady stream of removal jobs across southeast Queensland. Knowing what's involved before you need it done saves a lot of stress.
Solar Panel Removal Brisbane | DJ Edwards Solar & Electrical
Why Solar Panel Removal Needs a Licensed Electrician
This is the part most homeowners don't know until they're already in the middle of a roofing or renovation project. Solar panels cannot legally be removed by a roofing contractor, a handyman, or anyone who isn't a licensed electrician. In Queensland, disconnecting a solar system from the grid and isolating the DC wiring is electrical work — and electrical work requires a licensed tradesperson and a compliance certificate.
There's also a safety reason that goes beyond compliance. Solar panels generate DC voltage any time there's light hitting them — including on overcast days. The DC cables running from your panels to your inverter can carry voltages of 300–600V on a standard residential system. That's not something to handle without proper training and equipment.
DJ Edwards carries out solar panel removal safely and correctly. We isolate the system, disconnect from the grid, remove the panels, inverter, and associated wiring, and issue all the necessary compliance documentation. No shortcuts, no grey areas.
When Do You Actually Need Solar Panels Removed?
There are five situations we see regularly across Brisbane and the Gold Coast:
Roof replacement or major repairs
This is the most common one. If your roof needs new tiles, a full Colorbond replacement, or significant structural repairs, the solar system has to come off first. Roofers can't work safely around a live solar installation, and attempting to do so risks panel damage, roof damage, and serious safety incidents. We work with roofing contractors across Brisbane and can coordinate timing to minimise delays to your project.
Storm or hail damage
Queensland's storm season produces a steady stream of insurance claims involving damaged solar panels requiring proper assessment and removal before repairs can proceed. DJ Edwards issues makesafe reports for insurance purposes that document the condition of the solar system after a weather event — accepted by all major Australian insurers. If your property has been damaged in a storm, see our storm damage and makesafe inspection service for what to do first.
System upgrades
Older systems — anything more than eight to ten years old — may need to come down entirely before a new system goes up. This is common when the original mounting hardware no longer meets current Australian standards, or when the roof layout needs to change to accommodate a larger or differently configured new system. If you're upgrading, we assess whether any existing components are worth retaining as part of the removal process.
What Happens to the Panels?
This is a question we get fairly often. Old solar panels can't just go in a skip bin they contain materials that require proper disposal, and some panels from older systems may contain small amounts of lead solder.
In Australia, PV Industries operates a national solar panel recycling scheme that recovers glass, aluminium, silicon, and other materials from end-of-life panels. We can arrange for removed panels to be directed to the Reclaim PV program rather than landfill worth considering if you're removing an older system.
Panels that are still in good condition — physically undamaged and generating well — may have resale value. We can advise on condition after removal.
What the Solar Removal Process Actually Involves
Here's what happens when DJ Edwards carries out a solar panel removal job:
Site assessment first
Before anything comes off the roof, we assess the system — panel condition, mounting hardware, inverter status, and wiring condition. This tells us what we're dealing with, what can be salvaged, and whether there are any complications to plan around. If you're getting a new system installed afterwards, we note the roof condition so your roofer knows exactly what they're working with.
Safe electrical disconnection
We isolate the system from the grid at the meter, shut down and disconnect the inverter, and isolate the DC string cables before any physical work begins on the roof. This is non-negotiable and can't be skipped — even if someone tells you the system is already "off."
Panel and hardware removal
Panels come off the roof carefully — not dropped, not slid off, not left to the roofing contractor to deal with. Mounting rails and brackets are removed from the roof penetrations, which are then sealed properly to restore the roof's weatherproofing. This is where cheap removal jobs often cut corners and cause bigger problems later.
Inverter and wiring removal
The inverter, isolators, and associated DC and AC wiring are removed from the building. Cable penetrations through the roof and walls are sealed, and the switchboard is restored to its pre-solar configuration.
Energex deregistration
Your solar system is registered with Energex as a generating unit on their network. When it comes off, that registration needs to be cancelled — otherwise you may continue to have obligations on the network connection. DJ Edwards handles this paperwork as part of every removal job. You can read more about Queensland's solar grid connection requirements at Energex's solar connection page.
Compliance documentation
Every solar removal job completed by DJ Edwards includes the relevant compliance certificates for the electrical work. These are required for insurance claims, building permits, and property transactions.
New Solar System vs Upgrading an Existing System
If your system is more than eight to ten years old, a full replacement almost always beats patching it. Panel efficiency has come a long way — a modern 6.6kW system generates more power than a 2012-era 3kW system ever could, and costs less in real terms than that original system did at the time.
That said, if your panels are still in good condition but your inverter has failed, a replacement inverter can extend the system's useful life by five to eight years at a fraction of full replacement cost. If panels are degraded past 80% output or mounting hardware no longer meets current Australian standards, start fresh.
Not sure which camp you fall into? Find out what's involved in a solar system upgrade before committing to anything.
How We Install Solar — Residential and Commercial
We design a system specific to your roof and energy behaviour, handle all Energex paperwork and STC rebate processing, and install with our own licensed team. No subcontractors.
Residential systems are typically done in a day. Commercial installations run three to seven days. After commissioning we walk you through your monitoring app — then we're on the same number if anything comes up.
Residential solar installation Brisbane —
Commercial solar installation Brisbane
— call 0400 571 610.
DJ Edwards carries out solar removal jobs across all of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, and Moreton Bay. We've removed systems from homes in Capalaba, Redcliffe, Wynnum, Aspley, Kenmore, and right across Brisbane's inner suburbs and outer growth corridors.
If your roofer, builder, or insurance assessor has told you the solar system needs to come off before they can proceed — call DJ Edwards on 0400 571 610. We move quickly, issue the right paperwork, and coordinate with your other trades to keep your project on track.
Solar Panel Removal Across Brisbane and Southeast Queensland
DJ Edwards carries out solar removal jobs across all of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, and Moreton Bay. We've removed systems from homes in Capalaba, Redcliffe, Wynnum, Aspley, Kenmore, and right across Brisbane's inner suburbs and outer growth corridors.
If your roofer, builder, or insurance assessor has told you the solar system needs to come off before they can proceed — call DJ Edwards on 0400 571 610. We move quickly, issue the right paperwork, and coordinate with your other trades to keep your project on track.
DJ Edwards carries out solar removal jobs across all of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, and Moreton Bay. We've removed systems from homes in Capalaba, Redcliffe, Wynnum, Aspley, Kenmore, and right across Brisbane's inner suburbs and outer growth corridors.
If your roofer, builder, or insurance assessor has told you the solar system needs to come off before they can proceed — call DJ Edwards on 0400 571 610. We move quickly, issue the right paperwork, and coordinate with your other trades to keep your project on track.
