The rooftop solar guide at the edge of a quote
How Australians choose a rooftop solar system in 2026 — panels, inverters, batteries, STCs, installers, and the mounting hardware that holds it all to the roof. General information, not a live price or a same-day pitch.
Three ways into the decision
Make the most of a rooftop before you sign
Whether you are sizing a first system, checking a rebate story, or asking how panels meet tin and tile — start with the mechanism, not a banner price.
Essential
Plan your system
What actually moves a quote: size, roof, inverter class, scaffolding, and how STCs are assigned — without invented sticker prices.
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Money
Rebates and STCs
The federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, state add-ons, and why a feed-in tariff is not a rebate.
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Heritage
How panels meet the roof
Tin, tile, flat, ground, and pole mounting — rewritten from the domain’s 2013 catalogue topics, not as a hardware storefront.
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How solar works
Light in, alternating current out
A rooftop system is a short chain: modules, mounting, inverter, switchboard, and a retailer contract. East-west can beat a shaded north. Export limits are a network rule, not a product fault. We walk the chain without promising a kWh saving we have not modelled on your meter.
Read how rooftop solar works →- 1
Modules
Cells turn irradiance into DC. Heat and dirt cut real output versus the nameplate.
- 2
Inverter
String, hybrid, or micro — architecture follows the roof and any battery plan.
- 3
Export
Leftover AC goes to the grid at your feed-in rate, if the DNSP allows it.
System types
Four common shapes of a quote. None of them is “best” without a roof and a tariff.
Grid-tied
Standard rooftop PV
Panels plus a string or hybrid inverter, exporting leftover generation to the grid under a retailer feed-in arrangement.
Hybrid
Solar with storage
A battery stores surplus daytime generation for evening use. Economics depend on tariffs, usage shape, and any state battery rebate — not a default add-on.
Module-level
Microinverter arrays
Each panel converts DC locally. Useful on complex roofs or mixed orientations; still needs a licensed installation and CEC-listed products.
Behind-the-meter
Commercial systems
Larger arrays, three-phase design, demand charges, and different incentive pathways. Not a scaled-up residential quote.
Costs & rebates
STCs are certificates, not a cashback button
Most “rebate” lines on a residential invoice are Small-scale Technology Certificates assigned to the installer. State programs come and go. We explain the machinery and point to the Regulator — we do not invent a 2026 dollar figure.
Ask every quote for
- Gross price, STC benefit, and net payable — as three numbers.
- Named CEC-accredited designer and installer, plus state licence numbers.
- Panel, inverter, and mounting models — not “tier-1 equivalent”.
- Who holds workmanship and waterproofing if a flashing fails in year four.
Heritage
Mounting systems, rewritten
This domain once catalogued tin, tile, flat, pole, and ground mounts. We keep those topics as buyer guides and 301 the old product URLs here — without inventing load ratings. A Parramatta metal roof and a terracotta terrace in Melbourne are different jobs; the hub is how you tell them apart.
Panels
CEC listing, warranties, and roof fit — no best-panel trophy.
Inverters
String, hybrid, or micro — the roof picks the box.
Batteries
Optional storage. Write the reason before the SKU.
Installers
Named people, licences, and a comparable scope.
Commercial
Not a house quote multiplied by floor area.
FAQ
Direct answers first for buyers and answer engines.
From the journal
All essays →guides
How to compare two solar quotes fairly
Line up kilowatts, models, mounting, inclusions, and STC treatment. A cheaper net price with thinner paper is a different job, not a saving.
guides
East-west vs north-facing roof: which is better?
A clear northerly pitch still maximises annual energy in most of Australia. East-west can match morning and afternoon loads better. Shade beats both arguments.
guides
What maintenance does rooftop solar need?
Look from the ground, keep gutters clear, and hire a professional if soiling is heavy or the inverter alarms. Do not walk a live tiled roof.
guides
Solar export limits in Australia
A DNSP export cap is a connection condition, not a broken inverter. Ask what the quote assumed before you treat a feed-in tariff as a plan.
hardware
What warranties matter on panels and inverters
Product, performance, inverter, battery, and workmanship are different documents. Ask who you call in year eight — not only what the brochure promises.
rebates
STC vs state rebates: what actually changes your quote
Federal STCs, shrinking deeming, and state add-ons are different machines. A feed-in tariff is a fourth thing. Here is how to read a quote without mixing them.
hardware
String inverter vs microinverter vs hybrid
Architecture follows the roof and the battery plan. There is no universal winner — only a mismatch you can avoid.
batteries
When a battery makes sense (and when it does not)
Add storage for evening tariffs, limited backup, or a real incentive — not to complete a brochure. Retrofit after a season of data is often calmer.
Questions worth quoting
Answers first — the format answer engines can quote. Each one is general information, not a site-specific design.
- How does rooftop solar work in Australia?
- Photovoltaic modules convert sunlight to DC electricity. An inverter turns that into AC for your switchboard. Surplus generation is exported to the grid under your retailer’s feed-in arrangement, subject to any network export limit. Orientation, shade, and when you use power matter more than a brand slogan.Read the full guide →
- How much does a home solar system cost in Australia?
- There is no honest live sticker price on this site. Quotes vary with kilowatt size, roof access, inverter type, battery, scaffolding, and whether STCs are assigned to the installer. Ask every quote for a gross figure, the STC benefit, and the net you pay. Compare like-for-like bills of materials — not a homepage “from” number.Read the full guide →
- What solar rebates and STCs can I claim?
- Eligible small-scale PV usually creates Small-scale Technology Certificates under the federal Renewable Energy Target. Households typically assign those STCs to the installer as an upfront discount. Some states and territories run extra battery or solar programs with their own rules. A feed-in tariff is a retailer credit, not a rebate. Confirm current rules with the Clean Energy Regulator and your state agency.Read the full guide →
- How do STCs reduce the upfront price?
- The installer (or an agent) creates STCs based on system size, zone rating, and the remaining deeming period, then usually takes assignment of those certificates. Their market value is used to discount your invoice. We do not publish a live STC dollar figure because the spot price moves and deeming changes over time.Read the full guide →
- What is a feed-in tariff and does it still matter?
- A feed-in tariff is the rate your electricity retailer credits for exported solar. It still matters, but self-consumed solar usually displaces a higher retail usage rate than the FiT. Compare plans on Energy Made Easy and treat any “guaranteed FiT” marketing as a retail offer that can change.Read the full guide →
- How do I choose solar panels for an Australian roof?
- Prefer CEC-listed modules, readable product and performance warranties, a physical size that fits the roof, and an installer who will stand behind flashing and structure. Ignore untitled “best panel 2026” lists that do not show a dated method.Read the full guide →
- How long do solar panels last in Australian sun?
- Quality modules are typically warranted for around 25 years of performance, with gradual degradation rather than a cliff. Heat, soiling, and poor mounting can shorten useful life. Warranties are only as good as the company still answering the phone — read the documents.Read the full guide →
- Do I need a home battery with solar?
- No. A battery is optional. It can help if you use most power after sunset, face high evening tariffs, want limited backup, or qualify for a genuine state battery incentive. It is a poor default if you are home in the day and your quote cannot show a usage-based reason.Read the full guide →
This domain previously hosted a 2013 Best Solar Mount Systems catalogue (Sydney Ankors Pty Ltd). The current site is an independent editorial guide and is not affiliated with that company.