It is about when you use power, not just how much
Two households with identical annual consumption can get very different results from the same system. A family home in Mernda with someone there during the day, a pool pump and daytime laundry will self-consume most of what it generates. A couple who both commute and use almost everything after 6pm will export most of it and buy it back at four times the price in the evening.
The second household does not need more panels. It needs either a load shift — running the dishwasher, washing machine and pool pump on a timer during the day — or a battery. We look at your consumption pattern before recommending size.
Typical household sizing
As a rough orientation for Melbourne conditions: a 6.6 kW system generates roughly 24–26 kWh a day averaged across the year, more in summer and materially less through June and July. A 10 kW system is proportionally higher but needs three-phase supply or a specific approval to export.
Seasonal variation matters more here than people expect. A Melbourne winter day can produce a quarter of what a clear January day produces. Sizing on an annual average alone leaves you short exactly when your heating load is highest.
Older homes vs newer estates
In Reservoir, Thomastown or Lalor you are usually dealing with a concrete tile roof from the 1970s or 80s, single-phase supply, established tree shading and sometimes an older switchboard. Achievable system size is smaller and the install takes more care.
In Wollert, Tarneit or Cobblebank you typically have a post-2015 Colorbond roof, three-phase supply, a modern switchboard and almost no shading. Those jobs are cleaner, faster and support larger systems.
Common questions
I rent. Can I get solar?
Not without the owner’s agreement, since it is a permanent alteration. Some landlords will do it, particularly where it lifts the rental value. We are happy to quote to an owner on a tenant’s behalf.
Does solar add value to my house?
A well-installed system with transferable warranties and clean documentation is generally viewed as a positive at sale, particularly in the newer estates where buyers expect it. We would not buy solar purely as a resale play.
How many panels fit on my roof?
A modern panel is roughly 1.1 m by 1.8 m. The real constraint is usually not total roof area but how much of it is unshaded and on a usable orientation, plus the clearances required around ridges and edges.