Buying Solar Power or Home Batteries

If you're looking to invest in solar panels or add a battery to your home, there's a lot to think about — from system design to installation quality, pricing, and rebates. What you’ll find below is a brief selection of key points drawn from the 2025 edition of the SolarQuotes Solar Buying Guide — one of the most detailed and trusted resources available for Australians researching solar. The full guide (linked below) is strongly recommended reading if you're serious about making a well-informed decision.

Good System Design and Installation Matters

Even high-end solar components can underperform or fail if the system isn’t installed properly. A poorly installed solar power system can lead to unreliable performance, safety issues, and disappointing returns.

Here’s how to avoid dodgy installations:

• Read independent solar reviews across multiple platforms – look for consistent scores across sites like Google, Facebook, and SolarQuotes. Be wary of companies with widely varying ratings.
• Pay close attention to 1-star reviews – these often reveal underlying problems that don’t show up in 5-star praise.
• Avoid review manipulation – if a company has a 4.9-star average on one site and 3.7 on another, it's a red flag.

A safe, efficient and long-lasting solar panel installation depends not just on the gear you buy but also on the people installing it.

What Size Solar System Should You Install?

When it comes to sizing your solar power system, the best advice is simple: install as many panels as your roof can fit and your budget can handle.

Most regrets come from under-sizing. Expanding an existing system later is often expensive and complex. Installing a larger system now gives you flexibility in the future — especially if you plan to add a battery or an electric vehicle.

Smart installers can help maximise system size by working around roof space constraints and local network rules. Whether you think you “need” a big system or not, it’s better to plan ahead and build in room for growth.

Solar Rebates Still Available in 2025

Despite rumours, the federal solar rebate is alive and well in 2025. Officially called the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), it reduces the upfront cost of solar panel installation by around $300 per kilowatt installed, depending on your location.

Example: A 6.6 kW system attracts about $2,000 off the total price through the rebate.

Eligibility is simple:

• The system must be under 100 kW.
• It must be installed by a Clean Energy Council (CEC) accredited professional.
• All equipment must be CEC-approved.

The rebate is automatically applied at the point of sale, and it’s still available even if you’ve claimed it in the past. However, it will reduce incrementally each year until it ends in 2030.

Victorian bonus: Victoria also offers a state rebate of up to $1,400, which stacks on top of the federal discount.

Cheaper Home Batteries Program

In a move to boost battery uptake, the Australian Government has launched the $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program. While rooftop solar is thriving—now installed on more than 4 million homes—battery adoption remains low, with only around 1 in 40 households using storage. The high upfront cost has been a major barrier, but this national scheme aims to change that.

Under the program, households, businesses, and community organisations can access a government-funded discount of around 30% off the cost of installing small-scale battery systems between 5 kWh and 100 kWh. The subsidy applies whether the battery is added to an existing solar power system or installed with a new one.

• The discount is based on usable battery capacity and calculated using the number of small-scale technology certificates (STCs) the system is eligible for.
• It’s fully funded by the government, with no added costs for consumers.
• Discount rates will be reviewed yearly and reduced gradually through to 2030.
• The program is managed by the Clean Energy Regulator.

This program also benefits the wider community by lowering peak demand and enhancing grid reliability.

Eligibility highlights include:

• Battery must be permanently installed (not portable) and between 5–100 kWh nominal capacity.
• Upgrades are eligible if adding at least 5 kWh and the total system remains below 100 kWh.
• Only one rebate per property and only for first-time battery installs or upgrades.
• Battery and inverter must be Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved at the time of installation.

Note: EV batteries and portable storage are not covered under this program.

The scheme complements existing state rebates, meaning some households may qualify for support under multiple programs. Additional finance options may also be available through the Household Energy Upgrades Fund (HEUF).

How Much Does Solar Cost?

In 2025, here’s what you can expect to pay for a fully installed, good-quality solar panel system in Australia (after federal rebates):

• 5 kW: $4,500 – $8,000
• 6.6 kW: $5,500 – $9,000
• 10 kW: $8,000 – $13,000
• 13.3 kW: $10,000 – $15,000

Higher prices usually reflect premium components or installations by top-tier professionals. Additional costs may apply for:

• Electrical upgrades or complex installation work
• Using microinverters or optimisers (adds ~20%)
• Adding home battery storage, which can double the system cost

Cut-price systems might look attractive but often lead to reduced performance, shorter lifespan, or costly repairs.

Solar Power System Price Explorer

The table summarises the average prices paid by Australian homeowners for two common rooftop solar configurations—a 6.6 kW system and a 10 kW system—across five states in May 2025. It’s intended to give a snapshot of how costs vary regionally at that point in time.

All figures are drawn from the SolarQuotes Price Explorer, which aggregates real, installer-provided quotes submitted by consumers around Australia. Because it compiles hundreds of live quotes each month, the Price Explorer delivers a reliable, market-based benchmark for comparing typical system costs by state.

Solar System Payback Time

How quickly your system pays for itself depends on:

• System size and output
• How much solar electricity you use vs send to the grid (self-consumption ratio)
• Feed-in tariff rate
• What you pay for grid electricity

Self-consumed solar power is far more valuable than exported energy. For example, in Perth, grid electricity might cost 31c/kWh, while the export rate is only 3.5c/kWh — so every kWh you use directly from your solar panels saves you up to nine times more.

Estimated payback times for a 6.6 kW system (2025):

• Adelaide: 5.00 years
• Brisbane: 6.17 years
• Canberra: 6.58 years
• Darwin: 5.00 years
• Hobart: 5.92 years
• Melbourne: 7.17 years
• Perth: 6.50 years
• Sydney: 6.08 years

For a precise estimate, use a solar calculator with your actual usage and tariff data.

Are Home Batteries Worth It in 2025?

Batteries give you control over your energy use and protect against grid outages and price hikes. A properly designed and installed system with a home battery can cut grid usage by up to 95%.

Key benefits include:

• Protection from blackouts (if the system is designed for backup)
• Reduced reliance on retailers and peak pricing
• Peace of mind as electricity markets fluctuate

The downside is cost — a typical 10 kWh battery starts around $10,000 installed. However, support schemes in states like NSW and the NT can help reduce that cost. And as time-of-use tariffs become more common, battery payback times are improving.

Importantly, solar is still worth it even without a battery. Just choose the right energy plan and shift as much usage as possible into daylight hours.

And no, you don’t need a special solar power system to prepare for a future battery install — virtually all systems are compatible with AC-coupled battery upgrades.

If you’re ready to explore your options, Scroll Back Up to get free, no-obligation quotes from trusted local installers. Make the switch to smarter clean energy today!