Solar panels in Tasmania, explained plainly.

Do solar panels work in Tasmania?

Yes — and better than most people expect. Tasmania sits in Australia’s lowest-rated solar zone (STC Zone 4), so an identical panel makes a little less here than in Queensland and earns a slightly smaller rebate. But our cool climate keeps panels efficient (panels lose output as they heat up), and long summer days deliver strong generation when you need it. A 13kW system across most of the state generates in the order of 15,000 kWh a year.

How many solar panels does a Tasmanian home need?

Most Tasmanian homes now fit around a 13kW system — roughly 30 panels (about 13.3kW of panels on a 10kW inverter). TasNetworks lets you run up to a 10kW inverter on a single-phase connection, so you don’t need three-phase power to go well past the old 6.6kW (about 16-panel) default. Because self-consumed power is worth roughly 3–4× what you’re paid to export, a system you grow into — with an EV, a battery or an all-electric home — usually pays off better than a small one you quickly outgrow.

Local quirk: many older Tasmanian homes are two-phase (rare on the mainland), and your solar usually sits on just one phase — so it pays to put it on the phase carrying your daytime load. More on phases →

What do solar panels cost in Tasmania?

There’s no single sticker price — panels, inverter, roof access and battery all move it. The two numbers worth anchoring on are the STC discount (about $3,400–$3,900 off a 13kW system in 2026) and payback (typically 4–6 years when you use most of your own power). The bigger lever for most homes isn’t the rebate at all — it’s sizing the system so you use as much of your own solar as possible, because that’s worth far more than the 8.782 c/kWh feed-in tariff.

Choosing good panels — and a good installer

Panel brands matter less than the install. Look for an installer accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), who quotes Tasmania-specific output (not mainland numbers), itemises the STC discount, and designs around your roof and usage. Solar Generation Tasmania is an SAA-accredited Tasmanian installer; its owners hold Master’s degrees in research and science and bring over a decade in technology and solar businesses to every system they design.

Solar by area

Local guides with costs, output and installer tips for your part of Tasmania:

Common questions

How many solar panels does a Tasmanian home need?

Most homes fit around a 13kW system — roughly 30 panels (about 13.3kW on a 10kW inverter), which TasNetworks allows on single phase.

How much do solar panels cost in Tasmania?

There’s no single price; anchor on the STC discount (about $3,400–$3,900 off a 13kW system in 2026) and payback of about 4–6 years. Always get an itemised quote.

Do solar panels work well in Tasmania?

Yes — Zone 4 means slightly less sun than the mainland, but our cool climate keeps panels efficient and a 13kW system still makes around 15,000 kWh a year.