Why a 6.6kW solar system is the new ‘solar sweet spot’

There’s no doubt about it, the average size solar system is getting bigger. Five years ago, most households were buying 3kW solar power systems (that’s approx. 12 panels). Now, a 6.6kW solar system is all the go (around 24 panels).

The big question is why?

There’s three main reasons:

The cost of solar power systems keeps falling, making bigger systems more affordable.
More panels = more STCs (the Federal Government’s ‘rebate’) = a bigger point of sale discount for you!
6kW is a great size for anyone thinking about adding a battery.

But what about a 5kW solar system?

A 5kW solar power system used to be all the rage. But solar suppliers – and their customers – have done the maths and worked out that going 6.6kW can be better value. And by 6.6kW, what I mean is that there’s 6.6kW of solar panels installed on the roof, with a 5kW inverter.

Is that allowed ?

Yes! It is quite legitimate according to the Clean Energy Council guidelines as well as the network distributors (the companies that own the poles and lines). The rule is that you are allowed to have your solar power system over-sized by 1.33%. This means that you can get an inverter with 5kW capacity and add 6.6kW of solar panels (5kW x 1.33% = 6.6kW).

Top benefits of a 6.6kW solar power system

You maximise the STCs without having to upgrade the inverter from 5kW to 6kW. This saves you a few hundred bucks. And most importantly – from a ‘value for money’ perspective – it lowers the cost/watt of your solar system.
5kW inverters are not as expensive as 6kW inverters. Plus, there’s a much bigger range of 5kW single phase inverters on the market (more choice, lower prices).
Some network distributors – like Powercor, Ergon and AusNet – won’t allow more than a 5kW inverter (but they’re OK with you getting the panels oversized by up to 1.33% of the inverter’s capacity, i.e. 5kW x 1.33% = 6.6kW)
6kW is a great size solar system for powering a battery (if you are thinking to the future, like that electric vehicle in your garage!)

Overall, 6.6kW gives you more bang for your buck. It is the new solar sweet spot for savvy householders looking to get the best value for their solar dollar. Get a quote for one today!

having more kilowatts of panels thatn based on the system size – based on the system size, not the inverter size, you essentially get is that – for many people – a 6.6kW solar system gives the best ‘bang for your buck’.

Because of the way STCs (the Federal Government’s ‘rebate’) are calculated – which is based on the number of watts of solar panels installed, NOT the inverter size – you get a bigger point-of-sale discount. Put simplistically: more panels = more STCs = a bigger point of sale discount.

Request a quote

To request a quote from the Hepburn Solar Bulk Buy, call us on 1300 466 274 or complete the online form on our website.

Come to an info meeting

Learn more about the Hepburn Solar Bulk Buy – and get answers to your questions – at a February info meeting in the Hepburn Shire. Check out the dates & venues here.