Rural & Off-Grid Solutions
Off-Grid Solar Systems
Independent power for cabins, farms and remote homes
An off-grid solar system gives you electricity when the distribution network doesn't reach, or when you want to stop paying quarterly bills. The wrong setup leaves you short on power or stranded with a dead battery bank. Our SAA-accredited electricians size your system to your actual loads, install certified equipment, and test everything before handover so you know it works.
⏳ Deadlines
- Cheaper Home Batteries steps down in 66 days (1 January 2027)About $252/kWh for the first 14 kWh, $151/kWh to 28 kWh and $38/kWh to 50 kWh (2026 rate) Source: DCCEEW Cheaper Home Batteries, from 1 May 2026 · checked 2026-10-16
- STC discount on new solar shrinks in 66 days (1 January 2027)about 20% less than this year (one fewer deeming year) Source: Clean Energy Regulator (small-scale technology certificates) · set by law
Why off-grid solar fails when you choose the wrong installer
An undersized battery bank leaves you in the dark on cloudy days. An inverter rated for grid-connected mode (not off-grid) shuts down when it should switch to battery. Wiring that doesn't meet Australian standards can create fire risk and void your insurance. A contractor who doesn't understand your actual power use guesses at system size, and you either waste money on oversized equipment or face chronic blackouts.
Choosing the right contractor means clear scope, written pricing, accreditation and a licensed electrician who tests everything before you switch on. Solar Advice provides an on-site assessment, itemised quote, SAA-accredited installation and safety certificates so you know exactly what you're getting and why.
What this covers
- 01
Weekender Cabin Systems
Small, efficient solar and battery setups for seasonal use. Typically 3–5 kW solar, 10–15 kWh battery, engineered for minimal daily loads and cold storage. Ideal for properties in regional areas and mountain suburbs.
- 02
Full Off-Grid Homes
Whole-house systems with 8–15 kW solar, 40–60 kWh battery and backup generator integration. Covers all appliances, heating and hot water. Requires electrical panel upgrades and load management by the householder.
- 03
Farm Shed and Pump Systems
Dedicated solar for irrigation, livestock water, grain drying and workshop tools. Sized for seasonal peak demand and low-cost operation. Often paired with rainwater tank pumps and low-voltage DC circuits to cut costs.
- 04
Generator Integration and Switchover
Retrofit diesel or LPG backup generators to existing off-grid systems. Includes charger sizing, automatic load-shedding logic and fuel tank safety checks. Reduces blackout risk on extended cloud cover.
- 05
Battery Upgrades and Expansion
Add capacity to an aging or undersized battery bank. Our electricians assess your existing inverter, wiring and charge controller to confirm compatibility and safety before installation.
How off-grid solar sizing works and what you'll be asked
The first step in any off-grid design is measuring your daily energy consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Our electrician will ask you to list every appliance (fridge, lights, pump, oven, heater), how many hours per day it runs, and its power rating in watts. A typical off-grid home uses 12–20 kWh per day; a cabin might use 3–8 kWh. Write this down before the site visit—it's the foundation of everything else.
Next, we calculate your solar array size. Australia's solar resource varies by state and latitude. Sydney gets about 4.5 kWh/m² per day year-round; Darwin gets 5.5 kWh/m² in the dry season but much less in monsoon. Your postcode and roof orientation determine how much kW of panels you need to generate enough energy in your worst month (usually June or July). A rough rule: total daily load × 1.3–1.5 = your solar array size in kW. A 15 kWh daily load needs roughly 20–22 kW of panels to account for seasonal variation and losses.
Battery capacity comes next. Off-grid systems are rated by 'days of autonomy'—how many days the battery can run you with no sun. Most off-grid homes aim for 3–5 days; cabins often settle for 1–2. A 15 kWh daily load with 3 days autonomy needs 45 kWh of battery storage (15 kWh × 3 days). However, lead-acid batteries must not be discharged below 50% of their rated capacity, so you'd need 90 kWh of lead-acid; lithium-ion can discharge to 10%, so you'd need 50 kWh. This is why lithium systems cost more upfront but need less total capacity.
Finally, we size the inverter. It must handle your peak simultaneous load (usually when the oven and water heater run together). A 10 kW inverter is common for homes; a 5 kW for cabins. If you add a generator, the charger needs to be rated for both battery charging and any simultaneous AC loads. Solar Advice runs all these calculations during the site visit and provides a one-page system diagram showing kW, kWh and interconnection logic in your written quote.
Installation, testing and what happens when the sun goes down
Installation begins with electrical assessment. Our SAA-accredited electrician checks your distribution board, earthing system and any existing wiring to confirm it meets the current Australian Standard AS/NZS 3000. If your earthing is poor or the board is too small, we quote for upgrades. Battery enclosure location is critical—it must be cool (ideally 15–25°C), well-ventilated, away from flammables and shaded. A garage corner or external weatherproof cabinet works well. We secure the battery, install the charge controller, wire the inverter and run conduit from panels to the combiner box.
Panel installation follows standard rooftop methods. We survey your roof for shading (trees, chimneys, vents), check structural load-bearing, install an aluminium rail system and bolt the panels down. On a typical timber-frame house, we can fit 15–20 panels in a day. For farm sheds or pole structures, we may ground-mount arrays if roof access is poor. Every panel is tested individually before final wiring.
Safety testing is the most important step. Our electrician runs a full inspection: insulation resistance on all DC circuits (must be ≥1 MΩ), earth loop impedance, RCD trip time, and inverter switchover under load. We test battery charger output under simulated load, confirm the generator can feed the inverter if fitted, and walk through every protection device. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety and a performance sheet showing your system's day-one output. All work complies with AS/NZS 5033 (battery installations) and AS/NZS 4777.1 (grid-connection) where applicable.
During handover, we explain your inverter display (how to read state-of-charge, voltage and load), your load-shedding priorities (we help you decide what shuts off first if battery gets low), and the daily rhythm of off-grid living. You'll learn to check the battery display each morning and shift heavy loads like dishwasher or pool pump to sunny afternoons. A simple behaviour change—awareness of sun and cloud—is often worth $10,000 in avoided battery expansion.
Pricing guide
How much does an off-grid solar system cost?
Off-grid systems typically cost $25,000–$75,000. The price depends on solar array size (kW), battery capacity (kWh), equipment brand, site access, electrical upgrades and how far you are from Solar Advice's workshop. Battery is the biggest cost driver—lithium batteries run $200–250/kWh, while lead-acid costs $80–120/kWh but requires larger total capacity. A remote property or poor roof access adds labour. Below are typical off-grid jobs and their indicative price ranges.
- System size: A 5 kW solar array with 15 kWh battery is cheaper than a 12 kW array with 50 kWh. Rule of thumb: add $3,000–5,000 per extra kWh of battery.
- Battery chemistry: Lithium-ion costs 2–3× more per kWh than lead-acid but lasts 10–15 years vs 5–8 years, and requires smaller total capacity.
- Electrical upgrades: If your distribution board needs replacing or earthing is poor, add $2,000–5,000. Remote properties may incur travel costs.
- Site access and roof type: A steep metal roof or difficult scaffolding access adds 1–2 days labour. Ground-mount on farms is faster than rooftop.
- Equipment brand and warranty: Premium inverters (Victron, Fronius) cost more than budget models but include better monitoring and support. Extended warranties add 10–20%.
- Distance and urgency: Jobs more than 100 km from Solar Advice's workshop incur travel charges. Urgent work (less than 1 week) may incur a surcharge.
| Job type | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekender cabin (3 kW solar, 12 kWh lithium battery) | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| Full home system (10 kW solar, 40 kWh lithium, inverter upgrade) | $45,000 | $60,000 | $75,000 |
| Farm pump system (5 kW solar, 8 kWh battery, DC submersible) | $18,000 | $24,000 | $32,000 |
| Generator retrofit to existing off-grid home (charger, controller, fuel tank) | $8,000 | $12,000 | $16,000 |
You may qualify for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program rebate if you install a battery system; amounts range from $38–$252/kWh depending on capacity (2026 rates). Confirm current incentive amounts with the Clean Energy Regulator or your state energy agency before purchasing. Off-grid systems do not attract Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) because they are not connected to the distribution network.
Typically included
- On-site or remote assessment and load calculation
- Written, itemised quote with component specifications, warranties and labour breakdown
- Supply of agreed solar panels, battery, inverter, charge controller and all safety devices
- Installation by a licensed electrician and SAA-accredited technician
- Full electrical testing and Certificate of Electrical Safety
- Handover training: how to operate your system, read the inverter display and manage loads
- Warranty documents, manuals and performance baseline
Often excluded
- Structural work (roof repair, new pergola for ground-mount)
- Plumbing or gas work (hot water tank connection, LPG tank installation)
- Building permits or council approval (customer's responsibility; we advise on requirements)
- Maintenance contracts or service plans (available separately)
Off-grid living requires active management. Your battery cannot be ignored like a grid connection; daily awareness of state-of-charge and load-shedding priorities is essential. Lithium batteries must be protected from extreme cold (<–10°C) and overcharging; lead-acid requires monthly fluid checks. If you cannot commit to monitoring and basic maintenance, off-grid is not suitable. Discuss expectations with Solar Advice before committing.
Questions to ask every installer
- 1Is the installer SAA-accredited and can they provide a copy of their credential number?
- 2Will you provide a written, itemised quote that lists every component, brand, warranty and labour cost?
- 3Do you offer an on-site assessment, or will you quote from photos? (On-site is always better.)
- 4What happens after installation? Who do I call if the inverter beeps or the battery won't charge?
- 5Can you provide references from customers in my region with a similar system size and appliances?
Local solar data
How much power does solar make in Victoria?
Each kW of panels in Victoria makes about 1,366 kWh a year (Melbourne data). That means a 6.6kW system makes around 9,016 kWh a year, or about 25 kWh on an average day. Melbourne averages 4.8 peak sun hours a day.
Figures use PVWatts modelling for a north-facing (south-facing in the northern hemisphere) roof at 20°. Your actual output depends on shade, roof direction and the panels you choose.
| City | Network | kWh per kW a year | Sun hours a day | Grid price per kWh | Yearly saving, 6.6kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne VIC | — | 1,366 | 4.76 | — | — |
Incentives that apply in Victoria
National · battery
Cheaper Home Batteries
About $252/kWh for the first 14 kWh, $151/kWh to 28 kWh and $38/kWh to 50 kWh (2026 rate)
Battery 5–100 kWh, able to join a VPP, connected to rooftop solar
Source: DCCEEW Cheaper Home Batteries, from 1 May 2026 · checked 2026-10-16
National · solar
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
Upfront discount: kW × zone multiplier × deeming years × STC price
Systems up to 100kW installed by an SAA-accredited installer
Source: SRES: zone multiplier × 5-year deeming × $38 per STC · checked 2026-10-16
VIC · hot water
Solar Victoria hot water rebate
up to $1,400 locally made, $1,000 other
Same $150,000 income cap
Source: Solar Victoria, from 1 July 2026 · checked 2026-10-16
VIC · solar
Solar Victoria panel rebate
up to $1,400
Combined household income $150,000 or less
Source: Solar Victoria, from 1 July 2026 · checked 2026-10-16
Sources: PVWatts v8 (north-facing 20°, 14% losses, nearest station) · SRES: zone multiplier × 5-year deeming × $38 per STC · DCCEEW Cheaper Home Batteries, from 1 May 2026 · Solar Victoria, from 1 July 2026
Brands we install
Brands we install
Ask us about current stock and warranty terms for each brand.
- Panels
- JinkoTrinaLONGiAikoRECCanadian SolarSunPower (Maxeon)
- Inverters
- FroniusSungrowSolarEdgeEnphaseGoodWeHuawei
- Batteries
- Tesla PowerwallSigenergyBYDAlpha ESSEnphase IQ BatterySungrow SBRFranklinWH
Solar designed around your situation
Which situation best suits you?
What is an off-grid solar system and how does it differ from grid-connected?
How much does an off-grid solar system cost in Australia?
Do I get rebates or incentives for off-grid solar?
What size solar and battery system do I need?
Can I add a generator to an off-grid solar system?
How long does it take to install an off-grid system?
What maintenance does an off-grid solar system need?
What happens to my off-grid system if I sell the property?
Get a written quote for your off-grid system
On-site assessment, itemised pricing, no obligation