Planning solar for your home: what to consider

Solar works best when it is planned around how your household uses electricity, not just how much roof space you have. These are the main things to think about before you ask for a quote.

Start with how you use energy

Look at a recent electricity bill or your retailer’s online usage data. Note roughly how much you use on an average day, in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and when. Households that use a lot of energy during the day can use more solar directly. Households that use most of their energy in the evening may want to plan for a battery.

Roof space, direction and shade

In Australia, north-facing roof areas generally receive the most sun across the day. East- and west-facing panels can also work well, producing more in the morning or afternoon. Shade from trees, chimneys or nearby buildings reduces output, so note anything that shades your roof at different times of day or year.

What system size (kW) means

Solar systems are described by the combined peak capacity of the panels, in kilowatts (kW). Actual daily generation depends on location, season, orientation, shading and equipment. A system that is too small may not cover much of your daytime use; a very large one may export most of its output, and exports can be limited by your network.

Inverters and future plans

The inverter converts the DC electricity from your panels into AC electricity for your home. If you are likely to add a battery or EV charger later, mention it early. It can affect which inverter, switchboard work and panel layout make most sense.

Export limits and approvals

Electricity networks set rules for connecting solar, including how much can be exported to the grid. These vary by network and location and are checked as part of the design and connection process.

What to have ready for your enquiry

• Your suburb and postcode
• A recent electricity bill or usage data, if you have it
• Photos of your roof and switchboard, if they are easy to take safely
• Details of any existing solar, battery or EV charger
• Your plans, such as a battery, an EV or a renovation

A note on incentives

Government incentives and feed-in arrangements change over time and depend on eligibility. Check current information from official sources such as energy.gov.au, and ask how they may apply to your situation.