The increased affordability of solar systems and increase in Government incentives has seen Australia’s uptake in residential solar skyrocket. Dependent on your energy needs and roof space, the size and price of your Solar PV System may vary. Below is a pricing estimate of what to expect when being quoted.
These estimated prices are inclusive of the Solar Federal Government Rebate which entitles individuals and small businesses large subsidies when installing eligible small-scale renewable energy systems (under 100kW) such as solar PV systems.
System Size
Price Estimates
1.5kW system
$2,724
2kW system
$3,400
3kW system
$3,500
4kW system
$4,900
5kW system
$5,000
6kW system
$5,500
7kW system
$7,500
10kW system
$10,800
These prices are based on averages throughout Australia, however prices can vary dependent on supplier, promotions, demand, location etc. In some instances, you may find a 6kW system for as low as $2,500.
What makes up the cost of installing a solar system?
Panels
The panels generate this sunlight into Direct Current electricity (DC electricity). The quantity of panels needed may change depending on your energy needs. You can also add extra panels in the future (depending on your inverter size), should you require to generate more energy.
Mounting System
Your mounting system is what physically connects your new solar panels to your existing roof. This is an integral component of your solar PV system, as not only is your system designed to stay on your roof for a minimum of 25 years, it will be subjected to major environmental stresses including hail, wind and heat waves during this time.
It’s important to invest in a good quality, corrosion resistant mounting system to ensure the longevity of your investment.
Electrical Components
The total cost of installing a solar PV system also includes an assortment of wires, cables, isolators, breakers, switches, and an inverter, which is often referred to as BOS or Balance of System.
An inverter lies at the heart of a solar PV system, and is the workhorse that converts the DC electricity your panels generate, into AC electricity the appliances in your home use.
The additional electrical components in the BOS ensure your new solar PV system works safely and efficiently.
Manual Labour
It’s a condition of most panel warranties that your panels are installed by a qualified electrician. Paying for an experienced electrician ensures your system performs safely and as expected for years to come.
Why does the price vary so much between different brands and models?
Prices can fluctuate greatly between solar panels of the same or similar wattage, this disparity usually comes down to the quality of the panels chosen. This is not to say all panels on the cheaper end of the scale are of a poor quality.
You’ll find that panels on the higher end of the pricing scale may come with better warranties, higher quality components, lower degradation rates, and perform better in shaded areas, whilst it may be of the same quality and wattage of a cheaper panel.
How to Get the Best Price on Solar Panels
It’s not uncommon for competing solar providers to quote different prices for identical panels. To ensure you get the lowest price possible, we recommend shopping around and not settling on your first and only quote. Like any major purchase, it pays to shop around.
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For some households a battery system can be of great benefit and minimise a home’s reliance on the grid. However, it’s important to understand for a battery to be useful your solar system needs to be generating excess energy for the battery to store, which you can then use at night or when the sun is not out.
When selecting a battery, you’ll want to invest in a system that is most suited to your home and can drive the best return on investment (ROI). Despite a larger upfront cost, a higher quality battery may significantly increase your ROI.
Battery systems start from $6,000 and costs can vary greatly based on the following factors:
Cycle Life-Time
The number of times a battery can fully charge and discharge.
Battery Power (kW)
How fast it can be charged or discharged.
Storage Capacity (kWh)
The maximum amount of energy a battery system can store.
Battery Management System (BMS)
An electronic ‘smart’ system that gathers data and manages the battery ensuring it does not overload or operate outside of its safe functioning zone..
Inverter
Battery systems require their own inverter if your solar system does not have a hybrid inverter.
'All-In-One Unit’
A system which includes the battery, BMS and an inverter all in one unit.
Warranty
Length of time or cycles the battery system is under guarantee.
Blackout Protection/Backup
It’s important to note this is not a common feature of a battery system and could cost thousands of dollars to include. Blackout protection not only requires additional components but also a specialised installation and rewiring. For grid-connected homes, the cost for blackout protection can outweigh the benefit.
Additionally, if your purpose for adding battery is to go Off-Grid and become completely independent from the grid you will need to ensure your solar system can generate enough energy to power your home and your battery system is large enough to store this energy. For homes in metro areas going Off-grid is not cost effective and is only recommended for those in remote areas with limited access to the grid. Off-grid solar systems with battery start at approximately $30,000.
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