How Much Does Solar Cost?

It's one of the first questions we get asked when someone is considering solar for their home or business.

While it’s great to gain an understanding of the cost of solar, it’s important to consider the costs in conjunction with the savings generated. For example, while a 3kW system may cost $3,490 to $7,000 upfront, the payback period can be as little as three years thanks to energy savings of up to $200 per bill cycle.

At Infinite Energy we only offer quality solar components from manufacturers with a significant presence in Australia – we refuse to offer cheaper, bottom Tier products. The prices quoted below include a fully installed system, associated warranties and Infinite Energy’s five year whole of system warranty.

The Cost of Solar for Your Home

Pricing within this section includes GST and is net of the STC discount (i.e. the price you see is your out of pocket price).

As a general rule the smallest system Infinite Energy offers is 1.5kW. This used to be a popular size for many households as until 2013, the maximum solar rebate was given to 1.5kW systems. This is no longer the case (the incentives are still available but they increase as the system size increases) and we are now finding larger systems, around 3-5kW, are more popular.

1.5kW Solar Cost

If your household’s daytime usage is on the low side, a 1.5kW solar PV system may still be suitable and will cost in the range of $2,490 - $5,490, depending on the brand of panels and inverter chosen.

3kW Solar Cost

A 3kW solar PV system, which is a more reasonable size for the ‘average’ household, costs between $3,490 - $7,000. The higher end of the range is for the most premium panels and inverters available on the market, although around $5,000 will still get you a very high quality system.

5kW Solar Cost

The cost for a 5kW solar PV system, suitable for homes with higher daytime energy usage, is in the range of $4,990 - $10,990.

Factors to Consider

The variation in prices is partly due to the range of products we have available, but also due to factors specific to your home that can influence cost. These include:

• If you roof is tile or tin
• If the electricity supply to your home is single or three phase
• If your home is single or double storey (or higher)

Monitoring Costs

Some inverter models are Wi-Fi enabled allowing you to monitor the performance of your solar system from your Smart Phone or computer. Other inverters require additional components or cabling to enable this monitoring, which typically costs between $400 - $600.

Many households become more aware of their power usage once they install solar, in particular the time of day they consume the most electricity. In the last couple of years, many inverter manufacturers have released meters that enable you to not only monitor your solar PV system, but also your home’s total electricity usage. When this type of monitoring is in place you can see what your solar system is producing, along with how much is being drawn from (or exported to) the grid. This optional upgrade costs between $490 - $1,500, depending on the inverter brand and if your home is single or three phase.

The Cost of Solar for Your Business

Pricing within this section excludes GST and is net of the STC discount.

The solar pricing below details the up-front costs for the installation of commercial solar systems. However, there are a variety of financing methods available including PPAs and Solar Leasing, which allow businesses to install a solar system without the need for capital outlay.

Infinite Energy’s commercial team works with a variety of business, some with relatively low energy demands and others with much higher energy demands. As a result, we have installed a wide range of commercial solar systems sizes, the most common of which are listed below:

10kW Solar Cost

A 10kW solar PV system with quality components costs between $11,000 - $17,000 depending on the brands selected. A 10kW system is a ‘small’ commercial system and would suit those businesses with low energy usage, for example a small office building.

20kW Solar Cost

A 20kW solar system costs in the range of $21,000 - $35,000.

30-40kW Solar Cost

Our most common commercial solar system size is around 30kW. A 30kW system, with 30kW of inverter capacity, costs around $32,000 - $55,000. Many of our customers decide to increase the panel capacity to 40kW, whilst keeping the inverter capacity at 30kW. This option costs between $42,000 - $71,000. In WA, keeping the inverter capacity at (or below) 30kW has the advantage of a simpler, cheaper network connection process.

100kW Solar Cost

For a business that is more energy intensive, for example a manufacturing facility or a large office building, a 100kW system may be suitable. A 100kW solar system costs between $130,000 - $200,000.

Monitoring Costs

As with residential systems, our commercial systems also have the option to be monitored. In our opinion you should always choose to monitor your system as it allows you to check your system is performing in line with expectations.

Some inverters come with inbuilt Wi-Fi monitoring and no extra costs are associated with this. The cost of monitoring for inverters that don’t have this functionality is an extra $250 per inverter.

As electricity costs increase we are finding many businesses are becoming more aware of their energy usage. As well as monitoring the production of your solar system, it’s possible to monitoring your building’s overall energy usage, including the amount of solar production consumed on site and the amount of electricity drawn from the grid. This optional extra costs $1,500 and includes any solar monitoring costs detailed in the previous paragraph.

The Bottom Line

At Infinite Energy we understand that solar is a substantial investment and aim to provide all the necessary information you need to make an informed decision, as well as encourage you to do your own research on reputable solar suppliers.

We’ve tried to include as much detail as possible in this article, however it should be noted the pricing given is a general guide only. For a price that is specific to your home or business, simply contact us for a no obligation quote.