Is solar worth it? What Australian homeowners say in 2026

"Reckon it's worth it?" It's the question many Aussies may think when driving past a home with solar panels. And in 2026, homeowners who took the plunge have weighed in.

According to Finder's 2026 Energy Report, 74% of Aussies say they don't regret going solar. Almost half (45%) say they're saving heaps of money by switching to solar, which might explain the rapid uptake across the country.

So whether you're thinking about taking the plunge or curious about what kind of results you can expect from your system, we've got the data on what they cost, expected savings and what Aussies would change about their set-up.

How many Australians have solar?

According to July figures from the Clean Energy Regulator, Australia now has 4.5 million rooftop solar systems and 30.3GW of installed capacity. Batteries are also catching up fast, with battery installs tripling in 2025, according to the Clean Energy Council.

The Clean Energy Council puts rooftop PV capacity at 28.3GW, which is now larger than Australia's entire coal fleet at 22.5GW, and supplies 14.2% of the country's electricity, up from just 7.2% in 2020.

Finder's own survey found South Australia leads adoption among the solar owners it surveyed at 60%, with New South Wales the lowest at 31%.

The battery gap: the one thing owners would change

If solar owners did share a single regret, it's not adding a battery during their panel installation, a shared feeling among 30% of Aussies. But the market is racing to close that gap: 221,000 batteries were installed in 2025, three times the 2024 figure, at an attach rate of roughly 28% on new installs.

What a battery actually saves you

A solar battery lets you store the solar you generate during the day and use it at night, cutting how much you draw from the grid. Finder's own analysis puts that reduction at 70% to 90%, saving a Sydney household anywhere between $2,000 and $3,200 or more a year on an $11,000 to $15,000 system.

The ACCC's Electricity Market Inquiry Report found that solar-plus-battery households pay between $329 and $909 a year less than grid-only households, a saving of 20% to 52%. Households that join a virtual power plant (VPP) save even more, between $762 and $1,093 a year, or 57% to 63%.

What solar and battery systems cost in 2026

One of the major roadblocks homeowners face when weighing up solar installation is the upfront investment. As of 2026, here is what the average Aussie could look at spending for a panel and battery installation.

Source: Solar Choice, Gridly, SolarCalculator and 1Komma5.

How to cut the cost of solar: rebates available in 2026

There's been nation-wide encouragement for solar adoption to reduce heavy reliance on power grids. To ease the transition to solar and make installation more accessible, several rebates and incentives have been introduced.

Depending on your state, you could qualify for a discount on your battery, an interest-free loan or even cashback.

How long until solar pays for itself?

Buyback or payback periods are terms that refer to solar panels and batteries "paying themselves off" with the level of generation and savings they provide.

Payback periods have shortened considerably in recent years, as panel prices have fallen and bills have risen. Solar-only systems now typically pay for themselves in 3 to 5 years, down from a historical 7 to 10, while solar and battery systems pay back in roughly 5 to 10 years.

The complaints nobody talks about, and how to avoid them

Not every solar and battery experience has been smooth. The ACCC's Electricity Market Inquiry Report found battery-related consumer complaints were up 107%, mostly relating to unsuitable systems, faulty installs, poor performance and difficulty getting repairs or switching providers.

Finder's own finding revealed a similar dissatisfaction with 25% of solar owners regretting their decision.

While there's no way to 100% guarantee a smooth and positive solar experience, there are ways to minimise dissatisfaction down the line, such as:

1. Get at least three quotes from accredited installers, not just one.
2. Check the installer's ratings, independent reviews and confirm they're Clean Energy Council accredited.
3. Decide on a battery upfront. 30% of owners wish they'd added one and retrofitting one later costs more.
4. Confirm which rebates apply in your state and what you qualify for.

The verdict

Despite critiques, the majority of solar owners are winning. Solar rebates make the proposition cheaper, plus payback periods are the fastest they've ever been.

Not to mention shared complaints among homeowners can be traced back to bad installs rather than bad technology.

If you're weighing up the overall value of switching to solar power, the first place to start would be to compare solar and battery quotes side by side to get a rough idea of whether it's the right move for you.

Frequently asked questions

• Is solar worth it in Australia in 2026?

  For most owners, yes. According to Finder's 2026 Energy Report, 75% say they don't regret going solar. The most common regret is not adding a battery during the initial installation.

• Should I add a battery?

  Well, 30% of solar owners wish they had. Whether it's ideal for your home set-up will depend on a few factors, including how much electricity your home uses, particularly after the sun sets, the rebates you're eligible for and whether your current solar panel system would pair well with a battery.

• What rebates can I get for a battery?

  Every state has access to the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which discounts a battery's upfront cost by around 30%.

• How long until solar pays for itself?

  Solar-only systems typically pay for themselves in 3 to 5 years, while solar and battery systems pay for themselves in roughly 5 to 10 years.

Written by

Ceyda Erem

Senior writer

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Ceyda Erem is Finder’s senior writer for insurance and has almost 10 years of experience writing about personal finance. Formerly a copywriter for several business and finance clients, Ceyda has written hundreds of articles, guides, blogs and more to ensure Australians stay in the loop about how to best manage their money. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Writing from Macquarie University. See full bio

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Ceyda has written 217 Finder guides across topics including:

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