Brisbane averages around 283 sunny days a year, making it one of Australia’s best locations for rooftop solar. A well-sized system can significantly reduce your electricity bills, and paired with a battery, it gives you backup power during storms — increasingly valuable as south-east Queensland’s grid comes under summer pressure.
How Solar Works — the Basics
Photovoltaic (PV) panels on your roof convert sunlight into DC electricity. An inverter converts that to 240V AC for use in your home. Any surplus flows back into the grid, earning you a feed-in tariff (FiT) from your retailer.
What System Size Do Brisbane Homes Need?
- 6.6kW panels with a 5kW inverter — the most popular residential size, suited to a typical 3–4 bedroom Brisbane home
- 10kW or larger — better for bigger homes, home-based businesses, or households with an EV charger
- Battery storage (e.g. Tesla Powerwall, Sungrow SBR) — stores surplus daytime generation for evening and overnight use
As a rough rule, every kW of panels produces around 4–4.5kWh per day in Brisbane. A family using 20kWh/day will get meaningful self-consumption from a 6.6kW system.
Queensland Feed-in Tariffs in 2026
Retailer feed-in tariffs currently range from around 5c to 10c per kWh depending on your plan — well below the import rate of 25c–35c/kWh. This means the economics now favour self-consumption over export, which is exactly why battery storage has become popular. Check your retailer’s current FiT rate before making a buying decision.
What Does Solar Cost in Brisbane?
Indicative installed prices after the federal government’s Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) rebate:
- 6.6kW solar only: from $4,500 – $7,000
- 10kW solar only: from $7,000 – $11,000
- Add a 10kWh battery (e.g. Sungrow SBR100): from $6,000 – $9,000 additional
Prices vary with panel and inverter brand, roof type, and whether your switchboard needs upgrading first. Always get at least two written quotes from accredited installers.
Does My Switchboard Need Upgrading First?
Older Brisbane homes often have switchboards that cannot safely accommodate a solar inverter or battery system. Before installation, a licensed electrician should assess your switchboard’s capacity. If an upgrade is needed, budget an additional $1,000–$2,500. This is not optional — an undersized or outdated board is a safety risk and can cause inverter faults.
Learn more about our electrical services in Brisbane, including switchboard assessments.
Permits, Licences, and Standards
Solar PV installation in Queensland requires:
- A licensed electrical contractor (EC licence) to carry out all wiring work
- Clean Energy Council (CEC) accreditation for the installer — required to access the STC rebate scheme
- A Notification of Work lodged with the Electrical Safety Office (ESO)
- Grid connection approval from Energex (or Ergon in regional Queensland)
All wiring must comply with AS/NZS 3000 (the Wiring Rules) and AS/NZS 4777.1 (the grid-connection standard for inverter systems).
Is Battery Storage Worth Adding Now?
If you work from home, own an electric vehicle, or want resilience through Brisbane’s summer storm season, battery storage makes good sense. Battery prices have dropped significantly since 2020, and with electricity rates rising, payback periods have shortened. A 10–13kWh battery typically covers a Brisbane family’s evening and overnight loads on most days.
Batteries also provide whole-home backup during outages if configured correctly — useful when Energex is working on the grid after a major storm.
Can Any Electrician Install Solar?
A licensed electrical contractor can carry out the wiring, but only a CEC-accredited installer can register your system and access the STC rebate. The best approach is a contractor who holds both an electrical contractor licence and CEC grid-connect accreditation. You get compliant wiring, the full rebate, and a properly registered system.
Talk to Us About Your Solar Options
Integrated Trade Services is a licensed electrical contractor covering Brisbane, Moreton Bay, and the Sunshine Coast. We assess your switchboard, advise on system sizing and readiness, and can recommend CEC-accredited solar partners for the full installation. Get in touch for an obligation-free discussion, or explore our electrical services and full service range.
Related guides
- Switchboard upgrades in Brisbane: costs & warning signs
- EV charger installation in Brisbane: what it costs
- Three-phase power upgrade Brisbane: costs & what’s involved
Need a licensed Brisbane electrician? See our electrical services or get in touch for a quote.