Solar Panels Gold Coast: Compare Installers & Costs

Solar Panel Install Gold Coast Aventist Church

About 30% of the homes in the Gold Coast, Queensland area have solar panels on their roofs. There are many good reasons why so many Gold Coast homes have gone solar, including an abundance of sunshine, low solar PV system prices, and substantial federal government solar incentives. Many businesses and organisations have also followed suit – see the above photo of the 30kW solar panel installation on the Gold Coast Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Overview on Solar Power Installation on the Gold Coast

How Solar Power Works on the Gold Coast:
Learn about the key components of solar systems on the Gold Coast, including the differences between grid-connected, off-grid, and hybrid setups. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to decide if your property is ready for solar power and which type of system is best for your needs.
Saving Money with Solar:
Discover how installing solar panels in Gold Coast, Australia, can help you reduce your energy bills. Solar power systems can offset your electricity consumption, and you can even earn money by selling excess energy back to the grid through feed-in tariffs.
Solar System Costs & Installation Options:
Get insights into solar system pricing on the Gold Coast, based on system size, location, and any extra features like switchboard upgrades or tilt frames. The cost of solar power installation on the Gold Coast is affordable, with prices similar to Brisbane and some of the lowest in the world.
Choosing the Right Solar System Size:
Explore tips for selecting the right solar system size to match your energy usage. Since feed-in tariffs in Queensland are lower than what you pay for electricity, it’s best to size your system to use most of the solar energy you produce, rather than exporting it.
Government Rebates and Incentives:
Learn how government rebates, such as Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) incentives, can help reduce the upfront costs of solar installation on the Gold Coast. The sunnier the location, the bigger the rebate, which makes places like Gold Coast, QLD ideal for maximizing savings.
Feed-In Tariffs in Queensland:
Understand how feed-in tariffs work in Queensland and how they allow you to earn money for the extra solar power you send back to the grid. Current rates range from 5-12 cents per kWh, and focusing on using your solar power during the day can help you get the most value.
Getting the Best Solar Deals:
Find out how Solar Choice can help you get the best solar panel deals on the Gold Coast. With quotes from various installers, Solar Choice makes it easy to find a solar power system that fits your budget and needs.

Solar power on the Gold Coast: Is it worth it?

The Gold Coast receives an average of around 4.2 hours of full sun per day, making it one of Australia’s sunnier cities, as well as one of the best places in the country to install solar PV.

What does 4.2 hours of peak sun translate into in terms of solar energy production in kilowatt-hours (kWh)? It depends on the size of your solar system and its efficiency. Some examples can be found below (assuming an overall system efficiency of 85%):

Solar System Size	Average Output (more in summer, less in winter)
1.5kW Solar System	5.4 kWh per day
3kW Solar System	10.7 kWh per day
5kW Solar System	17.8kWh per day
10kW Solar System	35kWh per day

Average Solar Power Output per day by System Size on the Gold Coast

Which solar system size is right for you?

These days, with all the state-sponsored solar feed-in tariffs, closed to new applicants, the answer depends mainly on the amount of energy that you use during daylight hours and how you use it. Unless you are planning on installing battery storage as well, new solar systems should be sized to meet your daytime electricity needs. Any excess solar will essentially be ‘wasted’ – currently, Queensland retailers offer only up to 8-12c/kWh for your extra solar energy, significantly lower than standard retail electricity rates.

Compare quotes from 7 installers in the Gold Coast now

Attractive rebates exist for Solar Systems under 100kW

The federal government offers what are effectively up-front discounts on solar PV system installation costs under the small-scale portion of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET). This ‘discount’ is usually applied directly to the price of your system by your installer. The amount of the incentive depends on your location – sunnier locales receive a bigger discount. The Gold Coast is technically in the second sunniest ‘zone’ under the scheme, the same one as Brisbane. As an example see the below system sizes and estimates of the rebate they would receive as of June 2024:

Solar System Size	STC Rebate*
5kW Solar System	$1768.80
6.6kW Solar System	$2321.55
10kW Solar System	$3537.60

* Estimates taken from Greenbank on 19 June 2024 – it is a live market so prices are always changing

How much do Solar Panels cost on the Gold Coast?

This translates into lower solar system installation prices. Currently, Australia has some of the lowest solar PV installation costs in the world. Prices for the Gold Coast are not far off from solar prices for Brisbane. Solar Choice published pricing data for each capital city around Australia every month – the below graph depicts the history of solar prices in Brisbane and surrounding areas.

What about Queensland’s solar feed-in tariff?

Like most other states, the new feed-in tariff rates in Queensland are minimal and vary by the electricity retailer. As of June 2024, the average feed-in tariff falls between 5-12c depending on the retailer. The low system prices discussed above, however, mean that solar is still a worthwhile investment – as long as the households make sure that their system is appropriately sized to their needs (also discussed above).

We wrote an article on the topic of solar in Queensland after the FiT some time ago: What are the economics of solar power in the Sunshine State under the new rate?

Let Solar Choice help you find the best deal on solar in Gold Coast

Solar Choice, as Australia’s free Solar Energy Brokering and advice service, connects solar PV customers with installers who service their area. We provide comprehensive quote comparisons of solar power installations throughout the country – including on the Gold Coast. With a bird’s eye view of the solar power market, Solar Choice is uniquely poised to identify the best deals on offer and facilitate our customers to find the solar system that best suits their needs and budget.

Calculate indicative solar power system ROI & payback periods for the Gold Coast, Queensland

About
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Jeff Sykes

CEO at Solar Choice

Jeff has consulted on over 20MW of commercial solar projects, ranging from SMEs to ASX top 100 companies. Jeff has also provided independent advice to 100s of residential solar, battery and EV charging customers across every state in Australia. He holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and is an expert in business strategy and financial analysis.