Solar panels Melbourne: All you need to know

Solar power generation in Melbourne

Melbourne is a good location for generating solar power from your rooftop. The average Melbourne property consumes 18kWh of electricity per day, a 6.6kW system will generate on average 23.8kWh of electricity and is the most common system size in Victoria. The table below shows the average output of different solar systems in Melbourne:

Melbourne solar power output

There are site-specific variants that will affect the ability of your solar system to generate power in Melbourne:

• The angle of your panels
• The direction your panels face (orientation)
• If your panels potentially face shading issues

Panel angle

The optimum panel angle in Melbourne is 37.8°, the same angle as the latitude of the city. Many federation style houses in inner city Melbourne have roof pitches of 45° that are ideal for capturing maximum sunshine during the less productive winter months.

Panel orientation

As with all Australian cities, installing panels on a north facing rooftop will optimise the solar power output. However, if your household uses the majority of its power during the morning and afternoon peak periods, an east/west orientation may be advantageous.

Shading

Shading of Melbourne properties can occur from nearby buildings or trees. The addition of microinverters or power optimisers can overcome many shading issues.

Solar panels prices in Melbourne

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most competitive markets for solar panel installations, and prices reflect this. The table shows average prices for good solar panels in Melbourne.

Solar installation prices

The prices above include all system components, the Federal government rebate, the cost of installation and GST.

Melbourne average panel prices with Victorian rebate

If you are eligible for the Victorian solar rebate, you can save a further $1,400 of the purchase of new solar panels.

Prices with the Victorian rebate

Cheap solar panels in Melbourne: Beware!

While it is tempting to compare solar panel installations on price alone, it is not a selection method that we recommend. Many variants affect the price of panels in Melbourne, and you should consider each one:

• The quality of the solar panels
• The quality of the inverter and other system components
• The company that is performing the install
• The reputation of the solar company
• All product, system and install warranties
• After sales service

Melbourne solar rebates and feed-in tariffs

Federal government rebate

All Melbourne solar panel installations will receive the Federal government solar rebate providing the solar panels are approved by the Clean Energy Council, and an accredited installer performs the install.

Solar Victoria rebate

You may also be eligible for a refund through Solar Victoria’s rebate scheme. If your household income is less than $210,000 per year, you may be able to claim as much as $1,400 off the price of a new solar system. You must buy your system from a CEC Approved Solar Retailer to claim this rebate.

Victorian feed-in tariffs

A feed-in tariff is an amount you will be credited for every kWh of power your system exports to the grid. It is not a rebate; instead, it is paid by your electricity retailer to you in the form of a credit. The feed-in tariff varies between retailers, so it is best to shop around, but the average Melbourne feed-in tariff is around 5.0c / kWh.

Typical payback for a 6.6kW solar system in Melbourne

A typical north facing 6.6kW system in Melbourne can payback within 4 – 6 years. However, a 6.6kW system may not necessarily be the most suitable for your household. There are also several variables specific to your property and electricity consumption habits that will affect the payback of a solar system. These variables and the system size you select are all factored into our solar power calculator, and it will provide you with accurate results for your Melbourne property based on average electricity bills.

Below are the results for a typical 6.6kW north-facing solar system in Melbourne.

Melbourne’s best solar companies

Selecting a good solar installer is paramount to maximising the solar potential of your property. A good solar company should recommend:

• Suitable system components
• Confirm the most suitable system size
• Tailor a system for your specific electricity needs and property variables

Tips for selecting a good Melbourne company

Compare:

• System components
• Product warranties
• Installation warranties
• Entire system warranties

Assess:

• Level of accreditation
• Years in business
• Sales conduct

Use:

• A trusted quote service!

Solar quotes from top Melbourne installers

We specialise in referring customers to highly accredited and reputable solar companies. To receive free, no-obligation quotes from Melbourne solar companies on a quality solar system start by entering your postcode.