Looking to reduce your electricity bills in Perth and take advantage of Western Australia’s abundant sunshine? Installing solar panels in WA is one of the smartest investments you can make.

This fully independent comprehensive guide will help you compare solar panel prices in WA, find the best solar installers in Perth, and explore available WA government rebates to maximize your energy savings. We’ll walk you through solar system sizes, self-consumption benefits, solar feed-in tariffs, and solar payback periods. You’ll learn why Perth’s abundant sunshine makes it ideal for solar energy, how to maximize savings through self-consumption, and the potential of battery storage.

Solar Panels Perth, Key Takeaways

• A typical 6.6kW solar system in Perth costs around $5,420 after government rebates.
• Solar panel installations in Perth have an average payback period of 3-4 years.
• Government incentives can cover up to 30% of solar system costs.
• Self-consumption is the primary way to save money with solar in Perth, with WA’s feed-in tariffs offering additional benefits.
• Battery storage solutions are becoming more viable in Perth, especially for larger energy users on time-of-use tariffs.
• Most Perth homes are suitable for solar panel installation, with 6.6kW systems (16-20 panels) being the most popular size.
• Perth’s abundant sunshine (5.3-5.8 peak hours daily) makes it ideal for solar energy production. This range is according to PVWatts (5.8 hours) & Australia’s own Bureau of Meteorology (5.3 hours).

This article is mostly about solar for homes. If you’re interested in solar power for your Perth-based business? see our article on Commercial Solar Power in Perth.

How much power do solar panels produce in Perth?

When you own a solar system in Perth, more sunshine means more savings, so it’s useful to know what kind of solar energy output you can realistically expect based on your solar system size.

The table below shows the typical energy output for solar PV systems of various sizes in Perth (assuming the system is 75% efficient, which is on the low side, to be conservative/safe).

^Solar Panel System Output in Perth By Size

Remember, these figures represent averages of both daily & annual solar system output. Your actual output will vary seasonally, with longer, sunnier summer days producing more energy than shorter winter days. Additionally, Perth’s clear skies and low humidity contribute to consistently high solar production year-round, making it an ideal location for solar energy systems.

How to Maximize Solar Panel Efficiency in Perth: Key Factors to Consider

• Solar Panel Orientation & Tilt: Optimal positioning maximizes energy capture.
• Seasonal Variations: While we use average data, actual output may vary throughout the year.
• Equipment Quality: High-quality solar panels & solar inverters can improve overall system efficiency.
• Inverter Efficiency: Inverters can operate at over 95% efficiency, improving overall performance.
• Installation Expertise: Proper installation ensures your system performs at its best with many costs stemming from improper installation

You can find the best solar panels for your installation by checking out our in-depth guide to the top 10 best solar panels for your Perth, WA home.

How Solar Panels in Perth can save you money

There are two ways that solar power can help households to save energy on their electricity bills:

• Solar self-consumption: Using the solar energy directly, as it is generated, to reduce the amount of energy you purchase from the grid (which, in the case of Perth & surrounds, is run by Synergy). This is the main way in which solar power can save you money in Perth.
• Solar feed-in tariffs: The rate that you are paid for any ‘excess’ solar energy that you send into the grid. The rate has changed in recent years due to the number of solar systems coming online with Synergy currently offering 10c / kWh for energy exported from 3 pm to 9 pm and 2.25c / kWh for energy exported at all other times.

There is a big difference between the feed-in tariffs rate (6c / kWh) and the price you pay for electricity from the grid (31c / kWh), which means that your solar energy is worth much more to you if you use it yourself than if you sell it back to the grid.

This differential – coupled with the low price of solar power in Perth – also means that Perth is one of the best cities for solar companies to install battery storage in the country.

In a nutshell: Having a solar system on your roof is basically like owning your own power station: The energy from the solar panels can be used to run the appliances in your home, thereby allowing you to bypass your electricity retailer for a portion of your electricity needs.

Of course, you don’t use all your electricity during daylight hours (when your panels produce power), so you’ll still have to ‘import’ energy from the grid after the sun’s gone down or when you’re using more energy than your solar panels produce.

You can go in-depth and discover if home solar power still worth it in 2024 here.

How much energy does my home use?

Household demand varies by the size of the family and the appliances used and how frequently, but as a ‘base case’, the average 3-person home uses about 20-25kWh of energy per day, averaged over the course of a year.

The amount of solar energy that you ‘self-consume’ will depend on your home’s electricity consumption pattern; we recommend that you endeavour to use at least 30% of the solar energy that is produced.

Government rebates for solar panel Perth customers

Under the federal government’s small-scale technology certificate (STC) scheme, households and businesses installing systems up to 100kW are eligible to receive what is in effect an upfront ‘discount’ off the cost of installing a system.

This is a great incentive for those looking for a solar panel installation in Perth.

The exact amount of this discount depends on a number of factors (including the system location, system size and certificate price), but the beauty of the program is that you don’t have to claim the incentive for yourself – it is passed through to you by the company that sells you your system, so all you have to do is compare prices they are offering you.

In Perth, this discount typically covers around 30% of the up-front cost of a system.

As an example, using the Clean Energy Regulator’s calculator we can see that a common-sized 6.6kW system would generate 82 small-scale technology certificates or ‘STCs’ and at a current price of $36.9 per certificate that would lead to a rebate of $3,025.

Note that the number of certificates a solar system will create reduces each year on the 1st of January, hence providing an incentive to install solar sooner rather than later.

How much does it cost to install solar panels in Perth?

Solar Choice has been publishing the average costs of solar broken down by cities and by system sizes since 2012 in the Solar Choice Solar Panel Price Index.

This average is generated from the network of pre-vetted solar installers that appear on our free-to-use solar quote comparison tool.

Based on this data, we can see that the average cost for a typical 6.6kW solar panel system in Perth is $5,420 after the STC rebate has been deducted.

The table below shows how solar system installation prices in Australia have changed over the last decade.

Notably, Perth has consistently tracked at a lower average price than the rest of Australia suggesting a high level of competition for residential solar projects.

WA Solar Choice Price Index

What is the financial return for solar panels in Perth?

Rooftop solar has become a no-brainer for homes and businesses across Australia – but according to our analysis, Perth is one of the best cities for going solar.

This is due to the combination of high grid electricity prices, low solar system prices and ample sunshine.

As discussed above, the key to saving money with solar in Perth is ‘self-consumption‘ – using solar energy directly within your home/business.

By self-consuming solar energy, you avoid having to pay exorbitant grid electricity prices.

The more solar energy you can use yourself, the lower your energy bill will be.

This might be easy to achieve if you’re home during the daylight hours, but it might also make sense to invest in a home energy management system to automate some processes for you.

The table below shows some common scenarios for installing solar in Perth.

Please note that unless you have 3-phase power you may be limited to a 5kVA inverter which can accommodate up to 6.6kW of solar panels.

For that reason, 6.6kW of solar panels is by far the most commonly installed residential system size in Perth.

Please also note that we’ve used average pricing figures to be conservative in the examples below – even better outcomes may be achievable by finding a better deal and increasing your solar self-consumption rate.

Below you can see the indicative savings & payback periods for solar panel systems in Perth

Perth Solar Panel System Savings & Payback Periods

Assumptions

• Assumes an energy price of 31c / kWh which is Synergy’s A1 home tariff
• Assumes an average received feed-in tariff of 6c / kWh
• Average costs used in the analysis come from the Solar Choice Price Index for June 2024
• Your self-consumption rate will vary depending on how you use power in your home. At higher rate, means less power is exported to the grid and improves your financial return

Use our calculator to work out the return for your own specific details in Perth

Perth is one of the best places to install a solar battery

Compared to solar panel technology, batteries are still very expensive and there are no rebates available in Perth for homeowners.

Despite the high cost, there is still a reasonable case to install a battery in Perth due to the high energy prices, particularly if you are a larger energy user and on a Time of Use (TOU) tariff.

Using our own proprietary model we have calculated the return on investment across all cities in Australia for the last 5 years in our ‘Are solar batteries worth it?’ article.

The table below shows the outcome for Perth of the 3 common use cases we developed.

Example of Solar & Battery outcomes for Perth Savings & Payback Periods

To understand how we have defined the use cases and to see all of our assumptions and methodologies – see our full article.

If you’ve got a good understanding of how solar power works – you can try our Advanced Solar & Battery Calculator

Why Choose Solar Power in Perth?

• Abundant Sunshine: Perth’s high solar irradiance makes it one of Australia’s top solar cities, ensuring optimal energy production for your solar panels.
• Rising Electricity Costs: As grid electricity prices continue to increase, solar power offers a way to take control of your energy expenses.
• Environmental Benefits: By switching to solar, you’re reducing your carbon footprint and contributing to a cleaner, greener Perth.
• Energy Independence: Solar panels allow you to generate your own electricity, reducing reliance on the grid and enhancing energy security.
• Government Incentives: Generous rebates and feed-in tariffs make solar installations more affordable and increase your return on investment.

Solar Choice can help you compare local solar companies in Perth

With over 10 years of experience, Solar Choice has established itself as Australia’s go-to platform for solar energy comparison. We connect homeowners and businesses with Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved installers, offering independent, unbiased comparisons to help you find the best solar panel systems at competitive prices. Whether you’re looking to install solar panels in Perth or elsewhere in Australia, Solar Choice is your trusted partner.

Why Choose Solar Choice?

• Expertise You Can Trust: Our team has spent more than a decade helping Australians navigate the solar market. We simplify the process by offering transparent quotes that compare solar installation options based on performance, cost, and warranty.
• Industry Authority: We work closely with CEC-approved installers to ensure the highest quality service. Our impartial insights and deep industry knowledge position us as a leader in residential and commercial solar solutions.
• Customer-First Approach: We provide a service that’s 100% free and free from bias. Our goal is to help you maximize savings by guiding you through government rebates and offering clear comparisons of local installers.

Get a Free Solar Quote in Perth, WA

Enter your postcode, details and you’ll receive instant, apples-to-apples comparisons from a variety of trusted solar companies in Perth. This includes detailed pricing, product specifications, and warranty information to help you make an informed decision.

If you’re ready to cut your energy bills, switch to solar power and cut down your electricity bills, use our solar comparison tool to find the best solar panels in Perth today.

FAQs

When searching for solar panels in Perth, WA for homeowners you should compare quotes from multiple certified installers to get the best deal possible.