Nationwide, average system prices across all solar system sizes (1.5kW-5kW) increased slightly between November and December, although this trend was not as noticeable with 3kW–5kW systems as with 1.5kW and 2kW system. Bucking this trend, Brisbane and Canberra saw falling prices across virtually all system sizes, while prices stayed more or less flat between this month and last in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. Tasmanian prices appeared to rise across the board as the number of installers included in calculations rose from 1 to 2 between months. Pricing for 10kW solar systems has been included for the first time this month.
Average prices by solar system size and location
All prices in the table below are inclusive of the federal STC discount. As usual, the sample from Tasmania was small, consisting of only 2 installers.
Solar system prices for December 2013: $/W averages, highs & lows
The table below contains the average, high, and low price per watt (incl STCs & GST) for system sizes and 7 capital cities included monthly. Perth and Sydney remain home to the solar systems with the lowest prices, while the highest prices are split between Melbourne and Tasmania; the STC discount in these 2 locations is smaller than in the others.
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, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane), whilst this discount was around 58c/W for Melbourne & Tasmania.
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 | ReneSola, Hanover, Q-Cells, Munchen, BenQ/AU Optronics, Sun-Earth, Canadian, BLD, ET-Solar | SolarMax, SMA, Power-One Aurora, Fronius, Growatt, EnaSolar, Samil, Delta |
| Brisbane, QLD | ReneSola, Perlight, Canadian, Q-Cells, ZNshine, DaQo, EL Solar, BenQ/AU Optronics, REC, LG, Sun-Earth, Seraphim | SolarMax, JFY, Eltek, SMA, Samil, Sharp, ThinkPower, iEnergy, Growatt, Power-One Aurora |
| Canberra, ACT | ReneSola, Q-Cells, Sun-Earth, Canadian | SolarMax, Growatt, SMA, Fronius, Power-One Aurora, Samil |
| Hobart, TAS | Q-Cells, Sun-Earth | Power-One Aurora, Fronius |
| Melbourne, VIC | Trina, ReneSola, Q-Cells, Phono Solar, BenQ/AU Optronics, Aleo, Hyundai, SolarWorld, Sun-Earth, TNS | SolarMax, Power-One Aurora, Latronics, Samil, Diehl AKO |
| Sydney, NSW | Conergy, Canadian, Hanover, ReneSola, Trina, Munchen, Phono Solar, Sun-Earth, Yingli, Jinko, Q-Cells | SMA, Power-One Aurora, Growatt, SolarMax, Sungrow, Fronius, KStar, Delta |
| Perth, WA | GY, DaQo, Hanover, Yingli, Sun-Earth, REC, SolarWorld | JFY, Sharp, Growatt, Fronius, JFY, GoodWe, SMA, Fronius, Power-One Aurora |
Average monthly solar PV system prices to date
Solar Choice has been publishing the Solar PV Price Index monthly since August 2012.
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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