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How much power will my system generate?
The output of a solar PV system depends on its size. The most common household systems are either 1 kilowatt or 1.5 kilowatts, although some property owners have installed systems of up to 10 kilowatts. The table below shows the average daily production of some common grid‐connected systems throughout Australia.
Average Daily Production
| City | 1 kW system | 1.5 kW system | 2.0 kW system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 4.30 kWh | 6.45 kWh | 8.60 kWh |
| Alice Springs | 4.56 kWh | 6.84 kWh | 9.12 kWh |
| Brisbane | 3.86 kWh | 5.79 kWh | 7.72 kWh |
| Cairns | 3.70 kWh | 5.55 kWh | 7.40 kWh |
| Canberra | 3.97 kWh | 5.95 kWh | 7.94 kWh |
| Darwin | 4.30 kWh | 6.45 kWh | 8.60 kWh |
| Hobart | 3.24 kWh | 4.86 kWh | 6.48 kWh |
| Melbourne | 3.38 kWh | 5.07 kWh | 6.76 kWh |
| Perth | 3.71 kWh | 5.56 kWh | 7.42 kWh |
| Sydney | 4.00 kWh | 6.00 kWh | 8.00 kWh |
PV‐GC spreadsheet based on the CEC GC Design Guidelines
PV Array 1kWp facing true north and a tilt angle of 20° with an average inverter / wiring efficiency – 0.92, using long term average solar irradiation and temperature data from the Australian Solar Radiation Data Handbook
A typical Australian house consumes around 18 kilowatt hours per day so a 1‐2 kW system displaces an average of 25‐50% of your average electricity bill. Solar panels produce more energy in summer than they do in winter.
Source: Clean Energy Council Australia
How much do solar panels cost?
The cost of solar panels has continued to change over the past decade behind different government incentive schemes and increased diversity in the panels, inverters and suppliers in the market.
Being an informed consumer is increasingly important. Similar to buying a car or a computer, you’ll want to be sure that your system is a sound investment that best meets your needs at a reasonable price.
It is important to be clear on what you want from your solar PV system. Are you after a system that will partially offset your energy consumption for 5‐10 years before requiring a system upgrade? Or do you want a system that will completely offset your household’s electricity use for the next 25 years?
Like buying a second‐hand car as opposed to a brand‐new sports car, these two solar PV systems are both sound investments depending on your needs, but will vary significantly in price.
The price of your solar PV system can also be affected by variables including:
- Government rebates and support schemes (these vary in each state)
- Location
- Number of panels
- Orientation of panels
- Type of panels
- Type of inverter
- System design and configuration
- Shipping costs for equipment and parts
- Contractor installation costs
- Removal of trees or other shading
- Site preparation needs (for example, condition of roof or ground)
- Structural engineering, architectural, and other professional services (for commercial systems)
It is also important to note that if you have a solar PV system installed, your electricity rates will change from an off‐peak tariff to a time‐of‐use (TOU) tariff. This will particularly affect your dedicated off‐peak loads, such as hot water, space heating and air‐conditioning. You should check with your electricity retailer whether the benefits of the time‐of‐use (TOU) tariff outweigh the benefits of staying on your off‐peak tariff. This needs to be considered before your install your solar PV panels.
Keeping in mind the variables mentioned above, the table below shows the estimated price range for grid‐connected solar PV systems in the major capital cities. Government rebates such as Renewable Energy Certificates, Solar Credits and Feed‐in Tariffs can be deducted from these figures.
Source: Clean Energy Council Australia
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