How many solar panels will I need?
The number of panels is determined by both the total output of the system and the wattage of each individual panel, also the available roof for laying panes.
For a 6.6kW system, all your panels will have to roughly equal 6600 watts. Depending on the chosen residential solar panels, a 6.6kW solar system requires between 16-18 modules.
How much roof space is required?
The more panels you have, the more roof space you’ll need. This is one reason a 6.6kW system occupies a sweet spot for small to medium households. With each solar panel roughly measuring 1.8m x 1m, a 24-panel system will require approximately 40 square metres of roof space.
Luckily, the highly-trained assessors at Solar System offer free no-obligation assessments to help determine available roof space and the ideal PV system for your home.
Inverters & oversizing
Your inverter is the heart of your solar system, converting collected energy into usable electricity. However, inverters are designed to handle a certain volume of power depending on their module capacity, so you need to consider both the solar panels’ output and the inverter’s module when you choose your solar system.
Usually, a professional solar energy assessor will design your solar system depending on the panel efficiency as well as the inverter capacity, however, the most common practice is sizing the solar panels to be appx 20-30% higher than the inverter’s capacity.
This means that a 5kW inverter can be used for a 6.6kW solar array. The reason for it is due to weather, temperature, roof angle and other issues, the solar panels would not always be working at their full capacity for always, and oversizing the panels will help to improve the heaviest of the sun.
Clean Energy Regulator, or CER, the supervising department for renewable energy and STC rebates, allows the oversizing of panels to the inverters.
What are the rebates on a 6.6kW system?
Most likely you already know that solar power is good for both the environment and your long-term financials, but a full system can still be a pricey investment. That’s where rebates come in.
STCs (Small-Scale Technology Certificates) can be awarded to households Who have solar systems installed for their properties based on the total size of their solar system and where they live in Australia. The property owner can receive an upfront discount by assigning the STCs of their solar systems to their solar installation company.
However, the total value of STCs fluctuates and gets lower each year until 2030, when the program ends.
Since STCs are based on the total size of your solar system, a 6.6kW array can be a cost-effective option for your home. Not only will you receive more STCs, but you also won’t have to install a larger (and more expensive) inverter.
How much does a 6.6kW solar system cost?
The price of a solar panel system for your home depends on the retailer, the quality of installation, and the chosen components. According to Solar Calculator, a good-quality 6.6KW system can cost between $5,500 to $10,000.
It is important to know what solar components you have been quoted, and who is installing your solar system.
Should I get a solar battery?
A 6.6kW solar system with a battery can be ideal if you wish to make the most of solar energy at all hours. While a solar battery may be a viable option for your household, it will result in a significantly higher cost.
The Solar System team can provide expert advice on whether a battery is right for your home and if it would be cost-effective. Alternatively, there are 6.6kW solar systems made to be battery-ready, allowing you to include solar storage at a later date.
For more information on 6.6kW solar systems, reach out to the experienced installers at Solar System. As one of the most reliable residential solar companies in Sydney, we provide expert advice and high-quality installations for all our customers.