Solar Panel Calculator for Australia
Australia has one of the world's highest rooftop-solar uptakes, driven by great sun, high power prices and an up-front rebate. This free solar calculator estimates your system size, payback and savings in Australian dollars using local rates and sun hours.
Calculate my solar payback in Australia →
Solar at a glance in Australia
Strong sun, high tariffs and the STC discount mean payback is often in the roughly 3–6 year range.
| Currency | Australian dollars (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Typical electricity rate | A$ 0 per kWh |
| Installed cost | ≈ A$ 1 per watt |
| Peak sun hours | ≈ 5 hours/day |
| Rooftop subsidy / credit | ≈ 30% (indicative) |
| Export / buyback | ≈ A$ 0 per kWh |
Indicative 2026 starting points — every figure is editable in the calculator, and results depend on your own bill, roof and installer quotes.
A typical 6 kW system in Australia
At around A$ 1 per watt, a 6 kW rooftop system costs roughly A$ 7,800 and produces about 8,541 kWh in its first year at Australia's 5 peak sun hours a day. Your real numbers depend on your roof, shading, panel choice and how much power you use during the day — run your own figures in the calculator to see your exact payback, net savings and ROI.
How the solar calculator works
- Your setup. Australia and Australian dollars are pre-selected, with local electricity rate, install cost and sun hours filled in. Enter your monthly bill, or size the system from your appliances.
- Your roof. Search your address or tap “use my location”, then draw your roof on the satellite map — or just type its area. We check the system fits and read local sun hours from NASA data.
- Your results. Instantly see your payback period, net savings, ROI, system size, year-1 production and lifetime CO₂ offset — compare cash vs. a loan, and download a PDF report.
Common questions — solar in Australia
How many solar panels do I need in Australia?
It depends on your electricity use, roof space and local sun hours (about 5 peak sun hours/day here). A 6 kW system of high-wattage panels is a common starting point for a home — enter your bill or appliances and the calculator gives your exact panel count and system size.
Does Australia have net metering?
Australia uses feed-in tariffs rather than net metering — you're paid per exported kWh at a rate that varies by state and retailer, while self-consumed solar offsets your retail price. The calculator models this as buyback.
Are there solar subsidies or incentives in Australia?
The federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (STCs) gives an up-front discount worth roughly a third of a typical system's cost; some states add battery incentives. Enter your effective rebate percentage.
How much does a solar system cost in Australia?
A typical 6 kW system is around A$ 7,800 after the STC discount at about A$ 1 per watt installed. The calculator prices your own size.
Is solar worth it in Australia?
For most homes, very much so — high sun and the up-front rebate give some of the fastest paybacks anywhere. Enter your bill to see yours.
Work out your system size
Not sure how big a system you need? These guides work back from your monthly usage:
500 kWh/month 1,000 kWh/month 1,500 kWh/month 2,000 kWh/month 2,500 kWh/month 3,000 kWh/month
Solar calculator by country
Pakistan India Bangladesh Nigeria South Africa Philippines Kenya United States Canada United Kingdom Germany Spain United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia Qatar Egypt Sri Lanka Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Singapore Turkey Brazil Mexico Japan China New Zealand France Italy Netherlands Ireland Switzerland Sweden Norway Poland