6.6kw Solar System & How Much It Will Cost To Install

Looking to install solar at home? When searching for solar panels it doesn't take long until you start to see the most commonly advertised solar systems - the 6.6kW solar system package. Consisting of solar panels, solar inverters and occasionally a solar battery.

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The question we get asked every day is why all the solar companies are quoting 6.6kW?

This is everything your need to know about a 6.6kW Solar System.

How Many Panels Make Up A 6.6kW Solar System?

A solar panel can range in output, it's common to see solar panels today at around 300 watts per panel to 400 watts per panel.

The size of a solar system is the cumulative total of panels. Using a 330w Solar panel as an example you need 20 x 330w Solar Panels to achieve a 6.6kW Solar System.

How Much Electricity Can I Expect To Generate From A 6.6kW Solar System?

On average you can expect a 6.6kW solar system to generate 24kWh's.

The solar system will be generating electricity during the day which will be fed into the home first, what you consume you will save the most money on as you are not taking this electricity from the grid for high prices. The excess electricity that isn't consumed will be sent into the grid, which the electricity retailer will provide a credit for ' known as a feed in tariff.

The most effective way to increase savings from the solar system is to consume as much electricity from the solar system as possible.

6.6kW Solar System And A 5kW Inverter

Most 6.6kW solar systems are quoted with a 5kW solar inverter'

In Australia we have a federal based incentive to go solar known as STC's  or Small Scale Technology Certificates. STC's are calculated on the size of the solar system, the installation State or Territory and the deeming period for these STCs.

The STC scheme allows the capacity of the inverter installed at the premises to be oversized with panels by 33%.

This same 33% rule carries across to the Clean Energy Council and your electricity distributor, who are the people who put up your poles and wires.

What this means is, the most panels you can legally put on a 5kW inverter to save money and help drive those headline prices is 6.6kWs. If you go over 6.6kW's you would need a bigger inverter or second inverter which then drives the price up which makes it hard for the high turnover, low margin retailers out there.

However, oversizing a 5kW inverter with 6.6kW's of solar panels is a good design move.

It would need to be the perfect day for your solar system to produce its total capacity not to mention site specific influences such as panel orientation. What is more important is the total daily generation of the solar system. A 5kW Solar System on a 5kW inverter will generate less then a 6.6kW Solar System on a 5kW inverter and the cost difference won't be much when you consider STC's.

Installing a 6.6kW Solar System will allow you access the maximum amount of STC's on a 5kW inverter, it will also ensure your distributor is happy regardless if you have single or three phase power.

How Much Should I Expect To Pay For A 6.6kW Solar System?

In Australia expect to pay around $5,000 ' $9,000 for a good quality installation, with good quality gear done by a good quality company.

We suggest not being caught up in purchasing a 6.6kW Solar System from a website that asked you to enter your postcode to unlock a special price. All that will unlock is long, painful disappointment.

The moral is, a 6.6kW solar is the best bang for your buck when considering a simple installation.

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6kW solar systems or now more commonly seen as 6.6kW solar systems are becoming increasingly popular amongst Australian homes thanks to a number of factors, including their affordability, ample size & ease of approval when it comes to connecting to the grid. This article provides an overview of (almost) everything you need to know if you're considering a 6kW solar system for your household, including pricing, energy yields and their attractiveness as an investment.

How many panels are in a 6.6kW solar system? How much area required?

A modern-day 6.6kW solar system using 330-watt (W) to 400W modules will consist of about 17-20 solar panels. This number has reduced a lot over the last decade.

Each panel generally measures out to 1.7m2, so the roof area required for a 6.6kW system will be about 34-38m2 ' or possibly more depending on how your roof is laid out and whether you require tilt frames (which need to be spaced out more than panels mounted flush on the roof).

An important note about inverters for 6kW and 6.6kW solar systems

Are 6.6kW systems the new 5kW system?

Although your system may have 6.6kW worth of solar panels, don't be surprised if the proposed inverter for your system is only 5kW. On basically every electricity network in the country, 5kW inverters are pre-approved for grid connection which means that 5kW inverters are much more common to come across than 6kW ones. Many of the 6.6kW solar systems on the market are therefore 'overclocked' systems with a 5kW inverter.

A 5kW inverter can be overclocked by a maximum of 33% under the Clean Energy Council's installer guidelines. This means a 5kW inverter can support up to 6.6kW of solar panels, but can't quite get to 7kW. Overclocking your inverter offers benefits such as greater solar energy yields in the early morning and late afternoon ' even if 'peak' production is clipped back to 5kW during the middle of the day.

How much does a 6.6kW solar system cost?

Solar Choice has been keeping track of residential solar system prices since August with our monthly Solar PV Price Index. Based on this data we can advise that the average 6.6kW solar system will cost around $0.89 per watt or $5,900 after the federal STC rebate has been deducted as of July .

See the full breakdown by Australian city in our table below which we update each month:

6kW solar system costs by Australian state capital

6kW Adelaide, SA$5,030 Brisbane, QLD$4,990 Canberra, ACT$5,490 Darwin, NT$9,320 Hobart, TAS$6,390 Melbourne, VIC$5,130 Sydney, NSW$5,230 Perth, WA$5,130 All$5,840
The price of solar systems do, however, vary widely in the market. A more cost-competitive 6.6kW solar PV systems consisting of cheaper, low-end products will cost less, while premium offerings will generally be pricier.

History of 6kW solar system prices in Australia

The price of solar systems do, however, vary widely in the market. A more cost-competitive 6.6kW solar PV systems consisting of cheaper, low-end products will cost less, while premium offerings will generally be pricier.

The below graph shows the price history of the last couple of years. You can see the pricing has remained relatively flat however there are some differences depending on your location in Australia.

 

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Contact us to discuss your requirements of 5kw inverters. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

How much energy will a 6.6kW solar system produce?

Depending on a number of factors, the actual power output of a 6kW solar power system will vary. These variables include:

• Location and local climate
• Orientation and tilt angle of the solar panel array
• Whether there is any shade cast on the panels
• The performance of the individual components (primarily the panels and inverter)

Location is one of the main determinants of solar system energy yields, as the amount of sunshine falling on a solar system's solar panels directly affects the system's output. The table below provides rough approximations for how much energy a 6kW solar system will produce, based on Bureau of Meteorology and PVWatts data.

Please note that these figures are indicative only and that we have endeavoured to be conservative in our estimates, using a system efficiency rate of 75%. Also, note that these figures are annual averages ' in reality, energy yields will be higher in the summer and lower in the winter.

Energy output from a 6.6kW solar system

Capital CityApprox Solar Energy Production* (per day)Adelaide24-26 kWhBrisbane25-27 kWhCanberra24-27 kWhDarwin28-30 kWhHobart19-22 kWhMelbourne21-24 kWhPerth26-28 kWhSydney22-25 kWh

* Estimates generated using Burea of Meteorology historical weather data and PVsyst software

Batteries with a 6.6kW solar system?

More and more households have battery storage in mind when they purchase a solar system. The smallest size we generally recommend you install if you're considering batteries either now or in the future is 6.6kW. For low to medium energy users, a system of this size will generally provide plenty of surplus energy for storing in a battery.

Further reading:

Is solar battery storage worth it?

How long is the payback period on a 6.6kW solar system?

The benchmark by which most solar shoppers measure their panel's performance is the payback period ' the number of years that the system will take to 'pay for itself in energy bill savings & feed-in tariff credits.

The table below shows indicative payback periods, 'internal rate of return' (IRR) and annual savings in the first year for 6.6kW solar systems in a handful of Australian capital cities based on average prices as of July . (Note that these are outputs from our Solar System Payback & ROI Estimator tool ' which we encourage you to explore with your own numbers.)

Keep in mind that returns may be better for systems whose price points are lower, or if you achieve a higher level of solar self-consumption. But also be mindful that you'll want to be selective about the products and companies that you consider ' some deals are too good to be true.

Indicative payback periods for 6.6kW solar systems 

 6.6kW System CostElectricity PriceFeed in RateSelf Consumption RateIRRAnnual SavingsPayback Period (Years)Sydney$5,c7c30%25%$1,.060%40%$1,.6Brisbane$5,c5c30%22%$1,.460%37%$1,.8Melbourne$5,c3c30%17%$.760%31%$1,.3Perth$5,c5c30%25%$1,.160%41%$2,.5Adelaide$5,c3c30%24%$1,.360%43%$2,.4Hobart$6,c9c30%20%$1,.860%32%$1,.2Canberra$5,c8c30%24%$1,.260%36%$1,.8Darwin$9,c9c30%16%$1,.160%23%$2,.4

Assumptions:

• Average daily energy use = 25 kWh
• 6.6kW System cost is the average price from Solar Choice's price index for a fully installed turnkey system
• Excludes state-based solar grants/rebates (e.g. Solar Victoria rebate)
• Pricing comes from Solar Choice's Price Index for July

Calculate your own solar payback period using Solar Choice's free payback calculator.

How much power will a 6.6 kW solar system produce?

A 6.6 kW solar system typically produces between 19 to 30 kWh per day, depending on your location in Australia. For instance, in Melbourne, you can expect about 21-24 kWh per day, while in Darwin, the system could generate around 28-30 kWh per day. Factors such as the orientation and tilt of your panels, local climate, and shading can also influence the system's output.

What size battery do I need for a 6.6 kW solar system in Australia?

The ideal battery size for a 6.6 kW solar system in Australia depends on your energy usage patterns. For low to medium energy users, a battery with a capacity of 10 to 13.5 kWh is usually sufficient to store the surplus energy generated by the solar system. This setup can help you maximize self-consumption and reduce reliance on the grid.

How much roof space is needed for a 6.6 kW solar system?

A 6.6 kW solar system requires approximately 34 to 38 square meters of roof space. This estimate is based on using modern 330W to 400W solar panels, which typically measure around 1.7 square meters each. The actual space needed may vary depending on your roof's layout and whether you need tilt frames for optimal panel placement.

How much should a 6.6 kW solar system generate in winter?

In winter, a 6.6 kW solar system will generally produce less energy compared to summer due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun angles. For example, in Melbourne, you might expect the system to generate around 15-20 kWh per day in winter, compared to 21-24 kWh in summer. The exact output will depend on specific weather conditions and system setup.

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Since our knowledge and sophisticated software has allowed over 300,000 Australian households and businesses to make a well-informed choice on their solar & battery installer.

Since our knowledge and sophisticated software has allowed over 300,000 Australian households and businesses to make a well-informed choice on their solar & battery installer.

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