Solar PV system prices held steady in Adelaide for November, while ACT prices saw an increase. Average system installation prices for Brisbane and Melbourne fell, while Perth and Sydney remain the two cities with the lowest average installation prices, even as prices in both increased slightly. Figures from Hobart/Tasmania were compiled using data from only 1 installer, resulting in what appears to be a decrease across all system sizes there.
Average prices by solar system size and location
All prices in the table below are inclusive of GST and the federal STC (small-scale technology certificate) discount. All Australian capital cities besides Darwin are included. Prices for Tasmania for this month came from a single installer, and as such are not actually an average.
*All prices include GST & federal STC discount
Solar system prices for November 2013: $/W averages, highs & lows
The table below contains the average, high, and low price per watt (incl STCs & GST) for the 7 capital cities and 5 system sizes included monthly. Canberra was home to the most expensive 3kW, 4kW, and 5kW solar systems, while Melbourne had the dearest 1.5kW and 2kW systems. Special, time-limited deals on 4kW and 5kW systems in Perth resulted in unusually low bottom-end $/W installation costs. Sydney was home to the least expensive 1.5kW, 2kW, and 3kW systems.
About STCs
Where available in installer data (not all installers include a detailed price breakdown), STCs accounted for a discount of approximately 71c per watt (W) for Zone 3 cities (Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane), whilst this discount was around 59c/W for the ACT. (STC data was not available for Tasmania, but STC discounts there are usually in line with the ACT).
Solar system components
The table below contains the brands of components used in each of the cities included in installer pricing details.
| City | Panel brands used | Inverter brands used |
| Adelaide, SA | Trina, ReneSola, BenQ/AU Optronics, Sun-Earth, Hanover, Q-Cells, Munchen | Power-One Aurora, Fronius, SMA, EnaSolar |
| Brisbane, QLD | Trina, REC, Q-Cells, ZNShine, DaQo, EC Solar, ReneSola, Perlight, Seraphim, Canadian, LG, Sun-Earth, BenQ/AU Optronics, AU Optronics | Power-One Aurora, SMA, Samil, Sharp, ThinkPower, JFY Zever, Eltek, SolarMax, Eurosolar |
| Canberra, ACT | Trina, ReneSola, Sun-Earth, Q-Cells | SolarMax, Fronius, Growatt, Samil, SMA, Power-One Aurora |
| Hobart, TAS | Sun-Earth | Fronius, Power-One Aurora |
| Melbourne, VIC | Trina, ReneSola, Solarworld, Phono Solar, Ulica, BenQ, BenQ/AU Optronics, Sun-Earth, Q-Cells, NESL, CEEG, Tianwei, Winaico, Aleo Solar | Sharp, Power-One Aurora, SMA, SolarMax, Fronius, Growatt, Samil, Solivia |
| Sydney, NSW | Trina, Munchen, Yingli, Phono Solar, GermanSolar, ReneSola, Conergy, Canadian, Schott, Hareon, Hanover, Jinko, Sun-Earth | Power-One Aurora, SMA, Sungrow, Growatt, KStar, Delta, SolarMax, Samil |
| Perth, WA | Yingli, GY, Solarworld, REC, DaQo, Hanover, Sun-Earth | Growatt, SMA, JFY, PowerOne, Sharp, GoodWe, Fronius |
Solar PV system prices to date
Solar Choice has been publishing the Solar PV Price Index monthly since August 2012. As can be seen in the charts below, solar system prices have largely fallen since this time, especially for 3kW, 4kW and 5kW solar systems, which offer the best value across all the capital cities. Note that Tasmanian average prices (not included in calculations until Nov 2012) are the most prone to seemingly erratic variance; this is due primarily to fluctuations in the number of installers included in price comparisons.
About this data
Tables and charts included in this article were compiled using data from Solar Choice’s installer network database, which contains regularly-updated pricing and product details from over 125 solar installation companies across Australia. Prices do not ordinarily incorporate meter installation fees or additional costs for difficult installations. The discount available to Solar Choice customers is also excluded from calculations, as are prices for ‘premium’ installer offerings.
About Solar Choice
Solar Choice is a solar PV installation and advice service based in Sydney, NSW, providing free Solar Quote Comparisons for residential solar customers Australia-wide. Solar Choice’s commercial wing, Solar Choice Commercial, manages tenders for medium- to large-scale solar projects for a wide range of clients. Solar Choice also develops large-scale and utility-scale solar projects of its own.
© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd
He is now the communications manager for energy technology startup SwitchDin, but remains an occasional contributor to the Solar Choice blog.
James lives in Newcastle in a house with a weird solar system.
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great article and statistics thanks for posting