The solar system for home energy production someone chooses to install at their property should be selected based on a households annual electricity needs, whether battery storage is going to be added, and the size restrictions set in the households location.
The most commonly installed grid-connected solar system size for homes in Australia ranges between 5kW-7kW, with 6.6kW the most common. This is because a 5kW-7kW solar system can produce enough energy for a household to run during the day and reduce electricity bills enough to see a fast return on investment.
If you’re looking at a solar system for home, the bigger it is, the more electricity it can generate,the less reliance a household will have on the electricity grid and energy retailers. The less reliance you have on the electricity grid and energy retailers, the bigger the reduction on your energy bills!
See our below table that compares different solar system sizes, the number of panels installed (based on average solar panel sizes in Australia), estimated production, and approximate prices in today’s market.
Please note: Energy production will differ from State to State depending on how many sunlight hours the location receives. See average daily production in Australian major cities here
| System Size | Number of Panels | Estimated Production Annually | System Price (Approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2kW | 8 | 3,000 kWh | $2,510 – $4,860 |
| 3kW | 14 | 4,900 kWh | $2,550 – $6,950 |
| 5kW | 20 | 7,100 kWh | $3,120 – $9,510 |
| 6.6kW | 26 | 10,600 kWh | $3,470 – $10,990 |
| 7kW | 27 | 12,320 kWh | $5,160 – $10,990 |
| 10kW | 36 | 14,380 kWh | $7,660 – $14,100 |
| 12kW | 48 | 16,900 kWh | $14,000 |
What Size Solar System Do I Need?
The best way to determine what solar system size is suited to you is to look at three key factors: physical space, energy requirements and price.
Physical Space – Solar Panel Size Australia
The space available on your roof may be the deciding factor of what solar system size you opt for. Solar panel sizes in Australia mean you will require approximately 1.3m2 of space per solar panel. With that in mind an average 6.6kW solar system for your home will have 26 panels in the solar array. That’s 33.8m2 of required roof space.
So before deciding on a solar system size it’s best to ensure you know how many panels you can fit on your roof. Solar installers usually provide home visits in the quoting process to assist with determining this.
Solar System For Home Energy Requirements
With residential solar, systems size in Australia should vary based on need (turns out you can have too much and too little solar!)..
A well sized system is one that produces energy that closely matches the real usage of the household.
This way the solar system can cover the majority, if not all of your electricity bill..
The best way to determine if you’re getting enough solar is to look at old energy bills you’ve received throughout the year and select a solar system size that has an estimated production that matches your bill average or exceeds it.
To close off this guide to solar panel size in Australia, you can use the table below to see what solar system size most closely matches your energy needs.. Your average daily consumption per billing period should be displayed on your electricity bill.
| Months | Daily Average (kWh) units |
|---|---|
| September – February | 4.6 – 5.9 |
| March – April | 4.4 – 4.9 |
| May – August | 3.1 – 3.9 |
Pricing of A Solar System For Home Energy Production
How much you are willing to pay for a solar system for home use can be the limiting factor on what solar system size you select. However these days solar systems are becoming more affordable due to a drops in prices, Government rebates remaining available and the ready access to green loans to help assist with the upfront costs.
See our solar system pricing page to view estimated prices in today’s market.
Learn more about the different system sizes below
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