2 July 2018
Below is an update for our regular look at the cost for installed solar systems for Adelaide, South Australia. Solar system pricing appears to be relatively stable and the recent ‘slump’ of the Australian dollar to around 74 cents U.S. does not seem to have flowed through to the pricing for solar panels and inverters.
The ‘wholesale’ price of Chinese manufactured solar panels seems to have ‘bottomed’ over the last 2 years. Tier 3 panels (that typically represent ‘ no-name’solar panels) installed by solar installers competing on price and price alone are being quoted anywhere from US0.40 per watt to around US$0.70 per watt. So, at a ‘rock bottom’ price level, 5 kilowatts (5000 watts ) of solar panels could be purchased wholesale for around US$2250 (plus freight). Top tier panels (like Kyocera and Sunpower, for example) are obviously more expensive, which (can) reflect the efficiency, manufacturers warranty, build quality and back up. Like everything, solar panels, to a certain extent reflect the old adage ‘you get what you pay for’. Where this is less true is with the high tier Chinese manufactured solar panels like Trina and the likes that have a well established manufacturing track record and excellent performance and reliability to back them up.
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| Solar System Size – Kilio watts (KW) | Price Range | Month / Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 KW | $1350 – $3500 | July 2018 |
| 2.0 KW | $2100 – $3700 | July 2018 |
| 3.0 KW | $2700 – $4900 | July 2018 |
| 4.0 KW | $3300 – $8800 | July 2018 |
| 5.0 KW | $3700 -$16,000 | July 2018 |