11kW Solar System in Sydney: Key Facts and Figures 2024
11kW Solar System - The Price
The cost of installing an 11kW solar system has seen a significant decline in recent years, largely due to the decrease in wholesale prices of photovoltaic panels, which is largely due to the expansion of production scale in China.
A reputable 11kW solar system, including top-tier components like SolarEdge inverters and premium Trina Panels, along with standard installation, is now under $9,500. It's worth noting that when it comes to solar panels, cheap doesn’t mean good so many customers opt for high-efficiency panels from quality brands such as 1KOMMA5°.
While cheaper alternatives can be found, they typically involve purchasing lower—to mid-range panels manufactured in China, which often lack adequate after-sales support. Given the significance of reliability, output, and longevity for a system of this scale, investing a bit more initially can result in substantial savings over the system's lifespan.
1KOMMA5° offers comprehensive service with full-replacement warranties and dedicated technical support, ensuring customers' peace of mind in case of any issues.
As a general estimate, an 11kW solar system has the potential to save over $4,000 annually on electricity bills. However, achieving significant savings, such as $1,000 per quarter, requires substantial daytime power usage, approximately 65 kWh during summer. With optimal utilisation of the 11kW solar system, paying around $14,500 can secure a top-of-the-line system, with a return on investment in as little as 4 years.
11kW Solar System - The Output
According to the Clean Energy Council guidelines, an 11kW solar system in Sydney facing north will produce an average of 44kWh a day, outputting more power in summer and less in winter. We have found that this guideline is a conservative estimate and that by using the top brands, you can get considerably more out of our system. For example, our Enphase systems give our customers, on average, 110% of the expected output.
On a sunny day in summer, an 11kW system often gives our customers over 60 kWh of power. Because this can be too much power for many households, we often recommend splitting the panel array across two orientations to distribute the power output throughout the day and considering battery storage so that any excess solar power can then be used during the evening.
11kW Solar System - The Key Numbers
| 11kW System | |
|---|---|
| Number of Panels | 25 x 440W Panels |
| Output | 43 kWh a day average (see below) |
| Potential Savings | $800 – $1100 a bill depending on your cost of power |
| Average Payback Period | 3 to 5 years |
| Cost | From around $9,290 to around $14,590 |
| Suited to | Medium to large homes using on average around 44 kWh a day during the daytime (or over 24 hours with battery storage) |
11kW Solar System - The Potential Savings
The potential savings from an 11kW solar system depend on how much solar power you are able to use in the home at the time of generation. You will typically save around 22 to 30 cents a kWh (depending on how much you pay for your power), and depending on your retailer, you will be paid around 5-13 cents a kWh for the power you send back to the grid. An 11kW solar system can save you up to around $800 to $1100 per quarterly bill.
More information is available here: How Solar Power Reduces Your Power Bill
11kW Solar System - The Number of Panels
The larger the system, the more important it is to buy quality panels to ensure you maximise reliability, increased output in all weather conditions and the longevity of the system.
The other consideration is roof space. By installing high-efficiency panels, we can use 33 x 335W panels instead of the standard 42 x 275W panels.
Our Recommendations: 11kW Micro Inverter System
1KOMMA5° is the largest and most experienced installer of Enphase Micro Inverter systems in NSW, and our system design team are experts at putting together a professional solar array that will maximise solar output in all conditions.
The main benefit of microinverters is that each panel is independent of the others, making it possible to design an array across different orientations and at different angles. A common panel layout is to have some panels facing north, and the others west to spread the output of solar power across the day, making it easier to use more of the solar power as it is generated. Having panels west is also advantageous if you are on time of use billing, where households typically pay around 50c per kWh between 2 pm and 8 pm for power.
On larger residential systems, the panels in the middle of the array can get quite hot during summer as airflow under the panels is less than ideal. When panels get too hot, the output can be significantly reduced. Because of this, we recommend using microinverter technology and in fact, over 80% of our systems now include this technology. Find out all you need to know about Enphase: 10 key benefits of microinverter systems.