Solar Panels in Canberra - 2026 Cost Guide
Reviewed by Leigh McInerney
In the past two decades, Australia has solidified its role as a major advocate for solar energy. Particularly, Canberra in the ACT has witnessed a noticeable increase in solar panel installations, with more and more homeowners opting for solar options to cut down on their power bills.
Table of contents
Solar panel cost in Canberra
The cost of a 5kW solar panel system will depend on the quality of panels and inverter installed and the company doing the job.
For the 6kW solar system in Canberra ACT (the most popular size Australia-wide), the average cost in Canberra is around $6,678.
The table below shows the average cost of solar PV systems of different sizes in Canberra.
| Service/ system | Size | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Solar cost per KW Canberra | 1.5 kW | $3,015 |
| National average cost per KW | 1 kW | $1,892 |
| 3kW solar cost Canberra | 3Kw | $4,018 |
| 5kW solar cost Canberra | 5kW | $5,692 |
| 6.6kW solar cost Canberra | 6.6kW | $7,003 |
Government rebate in ACT
Homeowners in Australia Capital Territory looking to invest in a solar power system are eligible to receive incentives through the Federal government rebate program.Â
These incentives are provided through Small-scale Technology certificates (STCs).
STCs are simply tradable certificates that can be exchanged for a discount on the price of your solar system. The number of STCs you’ll receive in the ACT will depend on the size of your solar PV system.
This means that you’ll receive more discounts on larger solar power systems, say a 6kW system than you would on a 3kW system.
Below is a list of solar rebates in the ACT depending on your system size. (These calculations are based on the ACT (zone rating 3) and with an STC value of $39.90).
| System Size | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| 2kW | $519 |
| 3kW | $798 |
| 4kW | $1,077 |
| 5kW | $1,357 |
| 6.6kW | $1,796 |
| 10kW | $2,753 |
It’s important to note that this federal government’s current rebate program will be phased out by December 2030. In the meantime, the total amount offered keeps reducing by a fifteenth each subsequent year.
ACT Government State Rebates
Besides the Federal government rebate, the ACT state government also runs several rebate programs in a bid to improve solar adoption by ACT residents and the state in general. The ACT government’s plan is to have Canberra homes enjoy the great investment of installing solar.
Residents can take advantage of the Solar for the low-income household program, which provides incentives of up to 50% of the total cost – with a $2,500 limit. You can check your eligibility and more details on their website. Additionally, there is also a sustainable household scheme that gives homeowners in the Australian Capital Territory interest-free loans for purchasing renewable energy products.
The Next Generation Energy storage program also focuses on providing solar battery storage incentives for nearly 5,000 households and businesses. The rebate is $825/kilowatt and is capped at batteries over 30kW.
Solar system output in Canberra
The average daily output of solar panels depends on several factors. This includes the number of daylight hours the panels are exposed to, the shading in your home, your roof’s orientation, and the type of panels you have.
A 10kW solar system in Canberra will produce 38.4kWh per day on average. This is enough power to run a very large home.Â
The table below shows Canberra’s average daily output of different solar power systems. These calculations are based on the Clean Energy Council’s GC Design guidelines.
| System Size | Output |
|---|---|
| 1kW | 4.3kWh |
| 1.5kW | 6.45 kWh |
| 2kW | 8.6 kWh |
| 3kW | 12.9 kWh |
| 4kW | 17.2 kWh |
| 5kW | 21.5 kWh |
| 6kW | 25.24 kWh |
| 10kW | 38.5kWh |
Solar Feed-in tariffs ACT
Feed-in Tariffs are a great way for homeowners to maximize their solar systems. The program involves feeding back to the grid the excess solar energy your rooftop solar panels generate in exchange for energy credits. In the end, your power bills will drastically reduce. The more solar options you have, the more electricity you produce which gives you the best deals when negotiating for feed-in tariffs.Â
By consuming most of the energy you generate and sending back the surplus electricity to the grid, your home edges closer to receiving a net-zero bill each month. You can invest in high-quality products including extra panels for your Canberra home if you want to produce enough electricity for self-consumption and for giving back to the grid. Â
Different utility companies will have different electricity plans for different prices per kilowatt hour, and this feed-in rate varies all over Australia. In ACT, you can get the best rates from Origin Energy. You can request the solar quotes from different companies and compare which is big on saving money.
Here is a comparison of the utility companies offering the feed-in tariffs and their rates.
| Company | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (cents/kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (cents/kWh) | Average (cents/kWh) | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Energy | 8.0 | 20.0 | 14.0 | 13 24 61 |
| Energy Locals | 9.0 | 16.0 | 12.5 | (02) 8294 2302 |
| Energy Australia | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 133 466 |
| ActewAGL | 8.0 | 11.0 | 9.5 | 61 2 6242 1150 |
| Powerclub | 0.0 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 1300 294 459 |
| Red Energy | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 131 806 |
Is Canberra a good climate for solar?
Yes! Canberra is one of the best Australian states to invest in solar energy, mainly because it receives one of the longest daylight hours. On average, Canberra receives around 8 sunlight hours each day. Even though Solar panels do work on cloudy days, sunny days are the best, and Canberra gets plenty of them.
With a good-quality solar panel, going solar in Canberra can therefore turn out to be a really profitable venture. Switch to solar and enjoy reduced electricity bills and reduce greenhouse emissions.Â
What is the payback period for solar installation?
Between 4-5 years. Most quality solar panels generally pay back after four years, but the exact period will depend on your energy consumption patterns, sunlight hours in your area, and the size of your solar system.
Usually, larger solar systems pay back faster than smaller solar systems. For instance, a 5kW solar system in Canberra has a payback period of 1.9 years, compared to the 4 years of a 1.5kW solar system.
Households that use most of their generated energy will also experience a faster ROI than those that export it.
Percentage of Canberra households with solar installed
According to the Australian Photovoltaic Institute, 20.7% of the homes in Australia have already installed and are using solar energy. This accounts for nearly 32,266 homes based on findings from the Clean Energy Council.Â
Optimal solar panel orientation and angle in Canberra
Optimal tilt is 30º at 35º of latitude due North. The best angle for solar panels is usually the angle of its latitude, which is 35º in Canberra. This angle is precisely between the sun’s highest point in summer and its lowest point in winter, maximizing the sun’s energy.
During summer, however, you’ll have to slightly adjust the panels a few degrees lower for best results.
FAQs
How long do solar panels last?
25 – 30 years. Most solar panels in the market can last up to 3 decades before they may need replacement. This is because they lose efficiency as they get older, with most of them hitting the 80% efficiency by the 30th year. However, with good maintenance, you can extend the solar panel’s lifetime by another 5 years.
Are solar panels worth it?
Absolutely! While the initial investment costs are relatively high, going solar in the right location is a good, long-term investment. Within 4 – 5 years, your solar system will have to pay you back, ensuring that you enjoy lower energy bills for decades.
There are also numerous rebates and incentives, including the federal rebate program, which drastically reduces solar panels cost.
What is the maintenance cost of solar panels?
Maintaining solar panels is almost cost-free since you can do most of the cleaning yourself. However, if you need to have them cleaned by professionals, you will spend between $3 – $7 per solar panel.
What is the payback period of solar panels?
4 years. Most solar panels have an average ROI of 4 years, but in some cases, the payback period may extend to 6 – 7 years. This exact period will vary depending on your location, solar system size, and power consumption patterns.
Solar panel prices by city
