Let’s dive right into it. Absolutely, it’s a wise decision to install solar panels in Perth, WA.
After all, Perth is renowned for its abundant sunshine, averaging around 8.8 hours of sunlight per day, ensuring a rich source of renewable energy for your solar power system.
Additionally, in Perth, it’s easy to find certified solar installers, and you’ll see a return on your investment quicker than anticipated, all the while making substantial savings.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into everything about the solar panels Perth households can benefit from. Here’s a list of topics I’m covering:
- How much power can a PV system in Perth produce?
- How much money can Perth customers save with solar panels?
- Incentives from the WA government for your solar panel installation
- What is the cost of Perth solar PV systems?
- Are these photovoltaic panels worth it?
- What about solar batteries?
How much power can Perth solar panels generate?
Western Australia is second only to the Northern Territory when it comes to peak sunshine hours. This automatically makes Perth a great place to invest in the best solar panels the world has to offer.
Heck, even standard-quality solar panels generate a significant amount of power here, leading to significant savings on electricity bills.
Bearing this in mind, the table below outlines the estimated power generation from standard-quality systems in Perth.
| System Size (kW) | Daily output (kWh) | Monthly output (kWh) | Annual output (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.61 | 140.33 | 1684 |
| 2 | 9.23 | 280.67 | 3368 |
| 3 | 13.84 | 421.00 | 5052 |
| 4 | 18.45 | 561.33 | 6736 |
| 5 | 23.07 | 701.67 | 8420 |
| 6 | 27.68 | 842.00 | 10104 |
| 7 | 32.30 | 982.33 | 11788 |
| 8 | 36.91 | 1,122.67 | 13472 |
| 9 | 41.52 | 1,263.00 | 15156 |
| 10 | 46.14 | 1,403.33 | 16840 |
Note that the figures presented are calculated using the PVWatts calculator, assuming a roof pitch of 22.5% and an inverter efficiency of 96%.
Can a solar panel installation in Perth help save money? By how much?
It’s hard to quantify the exact savings you can have with a solar PV system in Perth because there are so many factors that come into play. These include:
- The space available on your roof
- The initial cost of the panels
- The cost of electricity
- If a solar battery storage is installed
- The value of feed-in tariffs
For simplicity’s sake, though, below are sample savings profiles based on the following assumptions and averages from our data:
- The average cost per kWh in Perth is approximately 28.33 cents.
- Households use about 4,000 kWh of electricity per year, leading to a monthly usage of around 333 kWh, based on the average quarterly electricity bill being around $350.
- A 1 kW system generates 140.33 kWh monthly and 1684 kWh per year.
- All excess solar power is stored in a battery, and all generated electricity is used.
Based on these assumptions, savings from feed-in tariffs and the impact of weather variations aren’t factored in.
| System Size (kW) | Monthly Savings ($) | Yearly Savings ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 39.76 | 477.08 |
| 2 | 79.51 | 954.15 |
| 3 | 119.27 | 1431.23 |
| 4 | 159.02 | 1908.31 |
| 5 | 198.78 | 2385.39 |
| 6 | 238.53 | 2862.46 |
| 7 | 278.29 | 3339.54 |
| 8 | 318.04 | 3816.62 |
| 9 | 357.80 | 4293.70 |
| 10 | 397.55 | 4770.77 |
Government Incentives
Rebates for Perth and Western Australia
Western Australia has recently celebrated a significant milestone in renewable energy, achieving an impressive 72% of its electricity needs met through rooftop solar. This success is in part thanks to the attractive solar panel rebates available in WA, which have made the installation of solar systems more affordable for homeowners.
Having said that, your solar rebate will be based on small-scale technology certificates, or STCs for short. The more STCs your system is eligible for, the higher your rebate. Now, you might be asking, “How many STCs am I eligible for?”
Well, that depends on a few factors, including your system size, your deeming period, and your postcode.
All this to say that the larger the system size, the sooner you install your solar panels, and the more sunshine hours you get where you live, the higher your rebates are going to be. Also, the Australian government has a free STC calculator that you can use.
Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS)
The Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) is Western Australia’s alternative to traditional feed-in tariffs, designed to compensate households for exporting surplus solar energy back to the power grid.
The key difference is that DEBS rates depend on the time of day. Peak rates (3-9 PM) have lower values; off-peak rates (9-3 PM) have higher values.
These values also depend on whether you’re a Horizon Power or Synergy customer.
For more information on said rates, please visit your respective power retailer’s website.
How much do solar panels cost in Perth?
On average, our data suggests that the price per kW of a solar PV system in Perth is $1208.
Needless to say, that number is not set in stone, as there are numerous factors that can sway it toward the more affordable or more expensive side.
Brand and your installer’s fees, for example, are factors that we can’t quantify. All in all, though, larger solar systems tend to have a lower cost per kW than their smaller counterparts. For example, a 3 kW solar system might cost $1417 per kW, while a 10 kW one might only cost $1000 per kW.
And while we’re on the topic of solar installers, we have an established network of pre-vetted solar installers on the ready. As soon as you’re ready to make the switch, just let us know, and we’ll have them send 3 FREE quotes your way.
Are Perth solar panels worth it?
Now that you know the cost of solar panels, you also might have realized how pricey an investment it can be. It’s only sensible to wonder if it’s worth it.
I’m here to tell you that, yes, it certainly is. The return on investment (ROI) and the payback period solidly affirm their merit.
Let me show you.
Return on Investment (ROI) of solar panels in Perth
I’m not much of a math guy, but calculating the ROI of solar panels for Perth customers is straightforward using the following equations:
- ROI = (Net Savings / Total Cost) * 100.
- Net Savings = Annual Savings * Lifespan of the Solar System (25 years).
- Installation Cost = Cost per 1 kW * System Size.
In this case, let’s use a 6 kW solar system as our example since it’s the most commonly installed system size in all of Australia.
- Installation cost = $1208 * 6
- = $7248
- Net savings = $2862.46 * 25
- = $71,561.5
- ROI = ($71,561.5 / $7248) * 100
- 987.33%
Ask anyone who’s business- or finance-savvy, and they’ll tell you that ROI is exceptional for any investment, including a solar system. This also means that your solar system can pay for itself many, many times over during its operational lifespan.
Again, though, I need to give you the full disclosure. This computation doesn’t account for things such as fluctuating electricity rates, your electricity needs, your system’s performance, maintenance costs, degradation, and other things.
Payback period
This refers to the time it takes for you to pay off your solar panels. Naturally, shorter payback periods are going to be better for your pockets.
It’s even more straightforward than ROI to compute, too. Use this equation:
- Payback period = total system cost / annual savings
Again, let’s use 6 kW solar panel system sizes as our example.
- Payback period = $7248 / $2862.46
- = 2.5 years
In this scenario, you have roughly 22.5 years of no-cost solar energy for your home. That’s two plus decades of low electricity bills!
At the cost of repeating myself, however, this is computed under perfect conditions, which you are likely not going to get all the time, by the way. Nevertheless, a payback period of even 6–10 years is still considered good, if not great.
Are solar batteries necessary?
In Perth, the cost of solar battery storage can differ significantly depending on capacity and manufacturer. For example, a 13.8 kWh BYD battery is priced at approximately $14,100, whereas a Tesla Powerwall, with a capacity of 13.5 kWh, costs about $15,500.
On average, though, you’re looking at roughly $1250 per kWh. Similar to the cost of solar panels, however, larger batteries will have a lower cost per kWh than smaller-capacity batteries.
Circling back to the question…
Investing in a solar battery can be worthwhile, but it’s not always necessary.
Adding a solar battery to your solar power system comes with numerous benefits, mainly reducing your reliance on the grid. Thus lowering your power bills even more. You also don’t have to rely on low DEBS rates anymore because you can now fully maximize your solar system, leading to you saving money.
But let’s be real. Batteries are expensive. For those of us who don’t have money trees growing in our garden won’t make much financial sense, particularly if there’s not an abundance of excess energy anyway.
However, if you have plenty of excess solar power and have the cash flow to afford investing in batteries, go ahead and do so. We have a list of Australia’s best to help you choose, too.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, embracing solar power in Perth not only aligns with the environmental imperative of our times but also makes solid financial sense. The city’s abundant sunshine, coupled with state-backed incentives like the STCs and DEBS, presents a unique opportunity for homeowners to significantly reduce their energy bills.
But, truth be told, solar panels are a pricey investment. Add batteries to your solar system, and the cost of installation almost doubles.
Still, they’re beyond worth it, and the numbers speak for themselves. From saving money to ROI to payback periods, all the way to rebates and DEBS, everything about it screams worthy.
If you’re still on the fence because of the price, try asking a solar installer for a quote. As a matter of fact, ask for 3 quotes! We have a network of pre-vetted installers ready to give you those quotes—for FREE.
