Before buying a solar system:
Know which brand to choose so you don’t pay ‘BMW’ prices for a ‘KIA’
-
Discover the most reputable solar brands
-
See how much you should pay
-
Avoid getting ripped off
Independent Advice Since 2009
By Finn Peacock – Chartered Electrical Engineer,
Solar brands – What’s a “Kia” and what’s a “BMW”?
%20(1).jpg)
.jpg)
Imagine buying a new car, without realising that paying BMW prices for a Kia is a really bad deal.
(I’m not trying to say that Kia is bad compared to BMW – I know a lot of people that are thrilled with their Kias – but I think we can all agree that you wouldn’t want to pay a BMW price for one!)
It sounds crazy – but in the solar industry, this is happening every day around Australia. Just the other day, I got an email from someone who had been quoted $10,000 for a system I wouldn’t pay more than $6,000 for.
The fact that I’m answering emails like that all the time tells me that the average Aussie doesn’t know much about solar – and why should they?
That’s why I decided to write this article, to get people up to speed about solar and set some basic expectations for a solar quote.
A new solar system is made up of two major components – the solar panels, which go on the roof (duh!), and the solar inverter, which will either go on the wall (if it’s a ‘string’ inverter) or on the back of each individual solar panel (if they’re what’s known as ‘microinverters’).
Part of what makes buying solar hard for the average Aussie is that there are bucketloads of reputable brands of both solar panels and solar inverters out there – as well as a minefield of crap ones.
It can be quite difficult to make a decision on which brand to go with when everyone’s claiming theirs is the best. “What brand should I choose?” is probably the most common question that I get every day.
This is where my “Grandmother rule” comes in to play. Simply put – if I wouldn’t recommend a solar panel or inverter to my grandmother, I won’t recommend them through SolarQuotes.
To make it easy to visualise a) whether a brand has passed my “Grandmother rule” test and b) where it then sits on a spectrum of budget-end (‘Kia’) to top-end (‘BMW’), I’ve put together these two charts.
Solar Panel Brands I’d Recommend
Solar Inverter Brands I’d Recommend
You can see how it would be a problem if you got a quote that was charging top-end prices for budget-end brands!
If you use my website to get quotes for solar from installers that I trust, chances are extremely high that your quote will include brands featured on the charts above.
(I could also have put together a “stay away from these brands at all costs!” chart, but my lawyers are busy enough!)
If you ask me about brands not on the above charts, my reply is most likely going to be “I’m not familiar with that brand, so to be on the safe side, go with a brand listed on my chart”. But as new products come into Australia, I do update these lists when I get enough feedback from installers I trust that the products are decent.
If you’re looking to get quotes for solar from installers within our trusted network, that are looking out for your needs (and not just over their own wallet) then simply
What’s a fair price to pay for a system using these brands?
The charts show brands that I trust, as well as where they sit in a spectrum of budget-to-top-end.
If you’re quoted these brands, what kind of prices should you expect to pay?
Well – it depends on a couple of things. But for ballpark figures for a fully installed solar system:
- 1.5kW (around 4 panels): $2,500 – $4,000
- 2kW (around 5 panels): $3,000 – $4,500
- 3kW (around 7 panels): $3,500 – $5,000
- 4kW (around 10 panels): $4,000 – $6,000
- 5kW (around 12 panels): $4,500 – $8,000
- 5.4kW (around 14 panels): $4,700 – $8,500
- 6kW (around 15 panels): $5,000 – $9,000
- 6.6kW (around 16 panels): $5,500 – $9,000
- 7kW (around 17 panels): $6,500 – $10,000
- 8kW (around 19 panels): $7,500 – $11,000
- 10kW (around 24 panels): $8,000 – $13,000
- 15kW (around 36 panels): $13,000 – $18,000
- 20kW (around 48 panels): $17,000 – $22,000
You might be wondering why 5.4kW and 6.6kW are only marginally more expensive than a 5kW system.
This is due to the way the ‘solar rebate’ works. The solar rebate is based on how many panels you have. You are allowed to add panels over and above the inverter capacity (up to 33% more).
This means that if you have a 5kW inverter, the rebate actually covers most of the cost of adding an additional 1.6kW to bring it up to 6.6kW total.
And to be clear – the upper end prices are for high-end system installations, installed by a solar energy ‘craftsman‘. Using absolute top-end gear – such as Sunpower Maxeon panels – will increase costs above the upper end price ranges. Think ‘Ferrari’.
Prices on the lower end are for budget-end systems installed by a ‘no frills’ solar company. Think ‘Kia’.
Prices in the middle of the above ranges will be for a midrange-to-premium system installed by an experienced solar team. Think ‘BMW’.
Also note that the above prices include the discount from the federal solar ‘rebate’, but not the Victorian state rebate (if you’re in Victoria).
Costs can increase if you need a switchboard upgrade or other electrical work to make your home suitable for solar power, or if the design of your home makes the system installation more difficult.
If you decide to go with micro inverters over a string inverter, costs will also increase by approx. 20%.
Installing battery storage (for an off-grid or hybrid system) will at least double the price of the system.
If you’re quoted much less than these price ranges by a solar energy salesman, their margins are likely very slim (and potentially unsustainable), or they may have to cut corners – whether that is with their customer service or elsewhere.
If you’re quoted much more than these price ranges by a solar energy salesmen, you’re most likely dealing with a rip-off merchant who employs the industries most persuasive sales people (who they can afford to hire due to the high margins), and who is praying you won’t seek additional quotes for comparison.
The quickest, easiest way to be put in touch with installers that I trust who charge fair prices for reputable brands
Since I founded SolarQuotes in 2009, I’ve made it my personal mission to only recommend reputable solar companies in Australia – ones who charge ‘Kia’ prices for ‘Kia’ gear, ones who charge ‘BMW’ prices for ‘BMW’ gear, and all those in-between.
The fastest way to be put in touch with them is to request quotes through my website – I’ll do my absolute best to connect you with up to 3 quality pre-vetted solar installers (ones I’d be happy to recommend to my grandmother!).
So – decide what type of system you are in the market for:
- Budget, but reputable
- Good mix of quality and price
- Top, quality, most expensive, bespoke service.
Then use my free service here to request quotes.
And of course – you can email me at any step of the way if you need anything clarified.
See what others say about SolarQuotes:
The three quotes I got from SolarQuotes’ recommended provider/installers were excellent. All were small-scale, personal approach entities with copious and thorough information on my solar needs. Genuinely impressed with SolarQuotes, and I’m a research-savvy academic, not given to over-effusive praise!
Dr Rob RobertsonVery convenient for me as a solar panel ignoramus. With so many installers to choose from, the three referrals obtained proved ideal.
Marcia AttwoodSolar quotes helped me to navigate the minefield and weed out the cowboys. Made a final decision based on information and advice from the website. Certainly not the cheapest however confident I have a system that will last at least 25 years with minimal issues. Without Solar quotes would probably ended up with a ‘too good to be true’ offer and all the accompanying issues
Mark RatclffeSolar Quotes is a “must use” site for anyone planning to install a solar system. The solar installers suggested by Finn were prompt in contacting us and arranging a visit to gauge our needs. The quotes given to us were competitive. We have accepted a quote and hope to have the system installed in the next 2 weeks.
StuartThis is the second time I have used SolarQuotes. The first a few years ago was for a solar panels rooftop system. I received 3 excellent recommendations and my system was installed well. This time I am looking at adding a battery. Again 3 recommendations all of which appear to be excellent. Well presented quotes and communication to establish what I have and my needs.
John Wylie
9,000+ 5-star reviews combined
About Finn Peacock
I’m a Chartered Electrical Engineer, Solar and Energy Efficiency nut, dad, and founder of SolarQuotes.com.au. My last “real job” was working for the CSIRO in their renewable energy division.
Since 2009, SolarQuotes has published 64,704 uncensored reviews of 2,517 solar installation companies and provided the solar quotes for over 617,268 Australians to find the right installer.