Solar & Battery Pricing for Australia Design, Cost & Payback Calculator
Design solar and battery systems across Australia using Photonik's professional design platform. Australia leads the world in rooftop solar adoption with over 3.5 million installations, and the federal SRES provides STCs that reduce installation costs by 25-30%.
Solar Planning & Design
To size your system, start with two questions: how much electricity you use, and how much roof space you have.
1. Energy usage
The average Australian household uses between 15–20 kWh of electricity per day, though this varies significantly by state and household size. Homes in Tasmania and the Northern Territory often exceed 23 kWh daily, while Victorian and South Australian homes average closer to 13–14 kWh. Air conditioning drives summer peaks across northern states, while southern states see higher winter demand from heating. Pool pumps, electric hot water systems, and electric vehicles all push usage higher. We start with daily energy usage because it directly determines how many panels you need — the higher your consumption, the larger the system required to offset a meaningful share of your bill.
Note: These are simplified estimates. For detailed tariff inputs and advanced calculations, use the full Photonik app.
Representative flat export rate (feed-in tariff). What you earn per kWh of surplus solar exported to the grid. Your actual rate depends on your provider, plan, and time of day.
Estimated at 75% of the retail grid rate. A battery lets you store daytime solar and export during expensive peak hours, so each exported kWh is typically worth more than a flat feed-in tariff. Real returns depend on your time-of-use tariff and battery efficiency.
2. How many panels can fit on your roof?
How many panels fit depends on your roof type and house design. A typical 3-bedroom home has 30–50 m² of usable north-facing roof, fitting around 10–16 panels (4–6.6 kW). Single-storey homes often have more accessible roof area than two-storey designs, and large bungalow-style homes across Queensland and regional areas can often accommodate 20+ panels. Hip roofs reduce usable area compared to gable roofs, and obstructions like whirlybird vents, skylights, and satellite dishes further limit available space. Panels must be set back from roof edges and ridge lines.
Australian roofs are commonly Colorbond or Zincalume metal, concrete tile, or terracotta tile — all suitable for standard solar mounting. Metal roofs use rail-less clamp systems requiring no roof penetrations, while tiled roofs use hook-and-rail brackets. Installations must comply with AS/NZS 5033 for PV array safety and AS 4777 for grid connection, and must be completed by a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer to qualify for STC rebates.
Loading panel placement tool...
This is a simplified panel layout tool — if you hit issues here, or need multiple groups, shading, or generation calcs, use the full Photonik design tool.
System sizing Australia
System Costs
The overall price of a solar and battery system depends on equipment quality, installation complexity, and any available rebates or incentives.
Estimated price
A 9.9 kW solar system in Australia costs approximately $11,137, while adding a 10 kWh battery increases the total to around $17,278. Australia has some of the lowest solar installation costs globally, averaging around $0.89 per watt, significantly lower than the US and Canada, thanks to high competition and the federal STC rebate scheme. Solar-only systems typically pay for themselves in around 5.8 years in Australia, whilst adding battery storage usually extends payback but significantly improves energy independence. The STC scheme reduces upfront costs by 25-30%, and many systems achieve payback in under 5 years, making solar one of the best renewable energy investments available.
The cost breakdown shows estimates for equipment costs, installation labour, and GST. Adjust system size and battery storage to see how it affects total investment and payback periods. Australia has excellent installer coverage nationwide, with Clean Energy Council (CEC) accredited installers operating in all states and territories, providing competitive pricing and quality installations.
Tiers follow the same scale as the Photonik app. Browse the panel product directory.
Rebates & incentives
The federal solar rebate works through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), which are created when you install a system and applied as a point-of-sale discount by your installer. For a typical 6.6 kW system installed in 2026, STCs are worth approximately $1,500–$2,000 depending on your location zone. The deeming period drops each year — from 6 years in 2025 to 5 years in 2026 — so the rebate shrinks annually until the scheme ends in 2030. Your installer must be Clean Energy Council-accredited and the system must use approved components to qualify. Some states offer additional rebates — check your state page for details.
Payback
Simple payback is the system price divided by annual savings. The price side depends on equipment quality, installation complexity, and rebates. The savings side depends on your electricity usage, the buy rate per kWh, and the feed-in tariff for exported energy.
Simple payback calculation
Electricity rates & feed-in tariffs
Australian residential electricity rates range from 25–38c/kWh depending on your state, with South Australia the most expensive and the ACT the cheapest. Feed-in tariffs have declined sharply as rooftop solar has saturated the daytime grid — most retailers now offer just 3–7c/kWh for exported energy, with some time-of-use plans paying slightly more during evening peaks. The wide gap between what you pay for electricity and what you earn for exports means self-consumption is far more valuable than feeding back to the grid, making batteries increasingly worthwhile for maximising savings.
STC Rebates Australia
For Australia, we default to STC Zone 3 because it covers the highest-population areas. See Solar Design & Savings in Australia's regions below for details.
Use our full design tool for detailed system design, panel placement, and professional proposals.
Solar Design & Savings in Australia's regions
Canberra & ACT
Design and pricing assumptions for Canberra & ACT use region-level sun data and local incentive settings.
Sydney & NSW
Design and pricing assumptions for Sydney & NSW use region-level sun data and local incentive settings.
Darwin & NT
Design and pricing assumptions for Darwin & NT use region-level sun data and local incentive settings.
Brisbane & QLD
Design and pricing assumptions for Brisbane & QLD use region-level sun data and local incentive settings.
Adelaide & SA
Design and pricing assumptions for Adelaide & SA use region-level sun data and local incentive settings.
Hobart & TAS
Design and pricing assumptions for Hobart & TAS use region-level sun data and local incentive settings.
Melbourne & VIC
Design and pricing assumptions for Melbourne & VIC use region-level sun data and local incentive settings.
Perth & WA
Design and pricing assumptions for Perth & WA use region-level sun data and local incentive settings.
