Solar guides, in plain English.
Straight answers to the questions Australian homeowners actually ask before going solar, costs, payback, lifespan, batteries and EVs. No jargon, no sales pitch.
Battery figures: Clean Energy Regulator data, to 1 July 2026; "1 in 17" is derived from it.
Free Power 11am-2pm: Is the Solar Sharer Offer Worth It?
From 1 July 2026, NSW, SE Queensland and SA households can get 3 hours of free electricity a day on the Solar Sharer Offer, up to 24 kWh. Who it suits, how to shift loads, and the caveats.
Is solar worth it in Australia in 2026?
For most owner-occupiers, yes: a 6.6 kW system costs $5,116-$7,416 after the federal rebate and pays back in about 4.3 to 7.6 years. When to wait.
How long do solar panels last?
Quality solar panels last 25-30 years and keep producing beyond that. Here's how fast they degrade, what fails first (hint: the inverter), and how to make them last.
Solar payback period in Australia (2026)
How long solar takes to pay for itself in Australia: about 4.3 to 7.6 years for a 6.6 kW system on our calculator. The formula, an example, what moves it.
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla in Australia?
Charging a Tesla at home costs about $15-$25 a full charge on grid power, or close to free from your own solar. The maths, grid vs solar vs off-peak, and cost per km.
Average electricity cost per kWh in Australia (2026)
2026-27 default offers price household power at 39.8c to 58.4c per kWh, supply charges included. Bills and usage by network from the AER and ESC.
Is 10 kW solar enough to run a house?
A 10 kW system makes about 14,500 kWh a year, about 40 kWh a day. It covers daytime use for most homes; nights need a battery. Payback on two bills.
How long will a 10 kWh battery last?
A full 10 kWh battery runs an average home for about 20.2 hours, longer on essential circuits. Runtime by load, plus warranty years and cycles by model.
What happens after 25 years of solar?
Panels keep generating after the 25-year mark, just below their warrantied output. SunPower Maxeon carries the longest warranty we track, at 40 years.
How many solar panels do I need?
From 11 panels for a small home to 45 for a very large one. The right count comes from your bill, not a guess.
Is a solar battery worth it?
A 10 kWh battery costs about $9,232 after the federal rebate and pays back in 13.2 to 20.1 years on bill savings, by state. VPP income shown separately.
Heating water is the other half of a home's energy bill, and it runs on a different rebate to the panels: our solar hot water guide covers solar thermal, heat pumps and running an electric tank off your own rooftop solar, with installed price bands and the state rebates that are still open.