Brisbane solar panels: Prices and installers

Installing solar panels in Brisbane is a financial no-brainer. With a high number of sunshine hours year-round and two federal solar rebates on offer, installing panels on a Brisbane roof can reduce household emissions and lead to some great savings.

Even compromised roof structures and orientations can deliver compelling financial savings.

Installing a good home solar system in Brisbane that lasts is the key to preserving your investment in solar panels. Our guide to solar in Brisbane, explains everything you need to know about panels and batteries, output, prices, financial payback and we connect you with expert installers to carry out the all-important installation.

Generating solar in Brisbane

Conditions for generating solar power in Brisbane are ideal. High average sunshine hours, especially in winter, give its residents a distinct advantage for generating solar electricity when compared to Sydney and Melbourne.

A 6.6kW system in Brisbane can generate on average 27.7 kWh of electricity per day. For households looking to electrify, or add a battery, a larger 10kW system that generates 42 kWh of solar energy per day is more suitable – though it really depends on your individual circumstances.

The table below shows the average solar panel output for different system sizes in Brisbane:

Brisbane solar panel output

Panel installation for Brisbane conditions

The orientation and angle that panels are installed, impacts the energy produced by the system. However, in Brisbane, nearly every combination of panel angle and orientation can generate enough solar electricity to deliver great savings.

Panel orientation for Brisbane

It is best to orient your solar panels to the north facing sun in Brisbane. However, if you’re not able to do this, an east or west orientation is fine. For comparison, a west-facing orientation in Brisbane will generate as much solar power as north-facing panels in Melbourne.

Optimum panel angle for Brisbane

Unless your roof is flat, the existing slope of the roof is likely fine for generating solar power. If the angle of your roof is less than 10°, its recommended you install panels on a tilt frame.

To maximise solar production, it is best to angle your panels at the latitude of the location, for Brisbane, that means an angle of 27.5° is optimal. The installation angle does not vary results too much though. And there are benefits to a higher pitch, for example, in winter the sun travels at a lower arc, and panels may generate more energy in the cooler months.

Solar panel prices in Brisbane

Solar panel prices in Brisbane vary depending on the size and quality of the system you choose to install. Our site publishes average install prices for quality installations, so they may be a bit higher than you see advertised – but we recommend paying a bit extra so that your system lasts. You can read our guide as to why solar costs vary.

As a guide, the price for a good 6.6kW system in Brisbane is between $5,000 - $8,500.

The table below shows prices for different system sizes in Brisbane:

Solar panel and battery prices in Brisbane

Many households in Brisbane will likely benefit from installing a battery with their solar panels. The table below shows average prices for solar panel and battery systems in Brisbane:

Resist buying cheaper systems

If you buy a good solar system and have it installed by a reputable company, you can expect it to operate safely, as it should, for as long as 25 years.

Buying a cheap system from a company you are unsure about, may see you looking to replace it well short of its expected lifetime.

Solar incentives for Brisbane households

The federal STC rebate is available for the installation of new solar panels in Brisbane. The new federal home battery rebate is also available on both additions to existing panel systems and new hybrid systems.

Federal solar panel rebate

Brisbane residents receive a larger STC rebate than Victorian residents – due to the higher number of sunshine hours. An 8kW system can attract a rebate of around $2,640.

The panels and inverter of the system you install, must be appear on the Clean Energy Council’s list of approved products.

For more information you can read our in-depth guide to getting the solar panel rebate in QLD.

Federal home battery rebate

The federal government home battery rebate is available to Brisbane residents that install a new solar battery. The rebate brings the average cost of a 13.5 kWh battery down to just over $10,000, if it is installed at the same time as new panels. If adding a to an existing system, expect to pay a little bit more.

For both federal rebates, you need to make sure your system is installed by a Solar Australia Accreditation (SAA) accredited installer.

Feed-in tariffs in Brisbane

In the greater Brisbane area, solar feed-in tariffs are set by electricity retailers. Rates typically vary between 4 – 10c per kWh of exported solar energy.

The highest solar feed-in tariff in Queensland is currently 10c / kWh. The rate is available with a host of electricity retailers as part of their maximum tariff deal.

Typical payback and savings in Brisbane

The average electricity bill in Brisbane is around $200 per month. This equates to about $15.75 kWh of electricity per day. Using these figures as a guide, we can calculate the savings and payback potential of a solar system in Brisbane.

The table below shows the average savings and payback for different system sizes and electricity usage in Brisbane:

A payback of around 4.8 years is standard. However, individual circumstances differ and, we recommend you use our solar calculator to perform your own calculations and get a more accurate result for your property.

* Calculations assume a self-consumption rate of 37%

Adding a battery to a system in Brisbane

Adding a battery to a solar power system in Brisbane can help to increase savings, significantly lower bills and reduce emissions. To see the financial impact of adding a battery, we’ll perform the same savings and payback calculations:

A system with batteries significantly increases savings. The payback is longer at around 7 – 8.5 years, but still well inside the benchmark 10-year mark.

* Calculations assume a self-consumption rate of 37% and use average battery prices

The graphic below shows payback and savings results from our calculator for a typical 6.6kW system in Brisbane:

Brisbane solar panel installers

Choosing a good solar installer is the most important decision you need to make when going solar. A high-quality installation and good components are vital the longevity and performance of a system.

A good solar company will guide you through the system selection and install process and recommend the best solar panel brands for Australian homes. Below is a list of tips for selecting a solar installer in Brisbane:

• Compare product and system warranties
• Assess the accreditation and credentials of each company
• Consider longevity in business
• Assess their sales conduct: Do they feel right?
• Be mindful where you source your quotes

Getting solar quotes in Brisbane

When Solar Calculator started back in 2015, we approached solar installers to join our network. The first 30 companies that we partnered with are all still in business today. Many of these solar installers service the Brisbane are remain part of our network.

You can take the guesswork out of choosing an installer and compare quotes from 3 companies that have all been in business serving the Brisbane area for a long time.

Installers in our network:

• Are all SAA accredited
• Use CEC approved products
• Provide entire system warranties
• Have passed our thorough vetting process