Thanks to record low prices and generous government incentives, it is now becoming common for a family household to install a 9kW solar system. Let’s have a look at a few of the key numbers including the price of a 9kW solar power system, and the brands you should be considering for a system of this size.
Price of a 9kW Solar System In Sydney
The price of a fully installed 9kW solar power system has fallen dramatically in recent years. The wholesale price of photovoltaic panels continues to be driven down by market conditions, in particular, the increase in the scale of production in China.
A good quality 9kW solar power system starts at around $9,000 fully installed, or around $185 a month over 5 years including a European-made inverter such as the Fronius Symo, premium tier-one solar panels such as Trina Split Cell modules and a standard installation (ie. no cherry pickers etc.). It is important to note that with solar panels you generally get what you pay for, and most of our customers choose high-efficiency panels from manufacturers such as LG Solar.
It is possible to find a cheaper 9kW solar system for under $9,000, however, this will typically require buying low to mid-range panels manufactured in China, and often without any after-sales support. For a larger residential system it is important to maximise reliability, output and of course longevity, and so spending a little more upfront can save you a lot of money over the life of the system.
Solaray service full-replacement warranties and include full technical support. This gives our customers the peace of mind that if something goes wrong you will be looked after.
As a rough guide, a 9kW system can save you up to around $3,500 a year on your power bills. Of course, to save over $800 on a quarterly bill you are going to need to use a lot of power during the daytime – as much as 65 kWh during the daytime over summer. If you are able to get the most out of your 9kW system, you could spend up to $14,000 and get a top of the range system with a return on your investment in only 4 years!
The output of a 9kW Solar System
According to the Clean Energy Council guidelines, a 9kW solar system in Sydney facing north will produce an average of 35 kWh 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 expected output. On a sunny day in summer, a 9kW system will often give our customers over 50 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 output of power across the day, and to consider battery storage so that any excess solar power can then be used during the evening.
A 9kW Solar System – The Key Numbers
| 9kW System | |
|---|---|
| Number of Panels | 25 x 370W Panels |
| Output | 35 kWh a day average (see below) |
| Potential Savings | $700 – $900 a bill depending on your cost of power |
| Average Payback Period | 3 to 5 years |
| Cost | From around $9000 to around $14000 |
| Repayments | From around $185 a month over 5 years* |
| Suited to | Medium to large homes using on average around 35 kWh a day during the daytime (or over 24 hours with battery storage) |
* Repayment numbers are an estimate based on a 5-year term. 3-7 year terms available. More information is available here: Solar & Storage Finance
How much will a 9kW solar system save me?
The potential savings from a 9kW 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. A 9kW solar system can save you up to around $700 to $900 per quarterly bill.
More information is available here: How Solar Power Reduces Your Power Bill
Number of solar panels for a 9kW System
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 27 x 335W panels instead of the standard 33 x 275W panels.
9kW Micro Inverter System
Solaray 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.
9kW String Inverter System
If your roof is unobstructed by shade and can fit 27 to 33 panels across 1 or 2 sections of the roof, a string inverter system may be a suitable option for your home. It is important to make sure the roof is clear of shade as if even just one panel is slightly shaded, the whole string of panels will drop down to the output of the worst performing panel. Typically with a 9kW system, there will be two strings.
With a number of manufacturers recently disappearing, it is critically important that you stick to the main brands when choosing an inverter of this size. This will also ensure adequate support post-sale in the event that you have a warranty claim. The main European made 9kW inverter is the SMA Tri Power that comes with a 10-year warranty.
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