The cost of solar panels has continued to change over the past decade behind different government incentive schemes and increased diversity in the panels, inverters and suppliers on the market.

Being an informed consumer is increasingly important. Similar to buying a car or a computer, you’ll want to be sure that your system is a sound investment that best meets your needs at a reasonable price.

It is important to be clear on what you want from your solar PV system. Are you after a system that will partially offset your energy consumption for 5-10 years before requiring a system upgrade? Or do you want a system that will completely offset your household’s electricity use for the next 25 years? Like buying a second-hand car as opposed to a brand-new sports car, these two solar PV systems are both sound investments depending on your needs, but will vary significantly in price.

The price of your solar PV system can also be affected by variables including:

• Government rebates and support schemes (these vary in each state)
• Location
• Number of panels
• Orientation of panels
• Type of panels
• Type of inverter
• System design and configuration
• Shipping costs for equipment and parts
• Contractor installation costs
• Removal of trees or other shading
• Type of roofing (for example, tiled or tin)
• Height of roof
• Site preparation needs (for example, condition of roof or ground)
• Structural engineering, architectural, and other professional services (for commercial systems)

Here are the latest figures on the average price of a range of different sized solar systems, by State:

Source: https://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/solar-power-system-prices

For more information on how much solar costs in your area, check out the regularly updated Solar Choice PV Price Index.