Generation
System size × your state's peak-sun-hours × 365, with a real-world derate for losses. A bigger array in a sunnier state generates more. But generation is only half the story.
How much could solar save you?
Set your system size, state and how much power you use during the day, and see estimated annual savings and payback, instantly.
Estimated solar savings
$1,229/year
- Payback period4.5 yrs
- Generates8,191 kWh/yr
- Self-use vs export40% / 60%
Indicative only. The more solar you use in the daytime (vs export at a low feed-in), the faster it pays off. A battery or the right plan shifts that balance.
How it works
Solar savings come down to what you use, not just what you generate
Self-consumption
Solar you use yourself offsets your full usage rate. Solar you export earns only the feed-in tariff, usually far less. Shifting usage into daylight is where most of the saving is won.
Battery & plan
A battery stores daytime solar for the evening peak, lifting effective self-consumption. And the right plan (fair feed-in, low usage rate) changes the maths again. Is a battery worth it?
Make your solar work harder
The right plan can beat a bigger system
A fair feed-in tariff and a low usage rate change your solar payback as much as extra panels do. EnergySorted compares plans on your real usage and solar export.
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Questions
Solar savings: straight answers
How much can solar panels save you in Australia?
It depends on your system size, how much you use during the day, and your rates. A 6.6 kW system in a sunny state that self-consumes 40% often saves somewhere in the four figures a year. The calculator above gives a figure for your own inputs.
What is the payback period on solar?
Payback = system cost ÷ annual saving. For most Australian homes a well-sized system pays for itself in roughly 4–7 years, then keeps saving for the panels’ 20-plus-year life. Using more solar during the day (rather than exporting it cheaply) shortens payback.
Why does self-consumption matter so much?
Power you use while the sun is shining offsets your full usage rate (often 30c+/kWh). Power you export earns only the feed-in tariff (often 3–8c/kWh). The more you shift usage into daylight (or add a battery), the faster solar pays off.
How many hours of sun does my state get?
The calculator uses typical daily peak-sun-hours by state (roughly 3.3 in Tasmania up to 4.8 in the NT) and applies a real-world derate for losses. Actual output varies with roof orientation, shading and weather.
How do I get the most out of my solar?
Size the system to your daytime usage, run big appliances during the day, and make sure you’re on a plan with a fair feed-in tariff and low usage rate. EnergySorted compares plans on your real usage so your solar works as hard as possible.