When considering solar installation in Darwin, several factors come to play based on where you live. Fortunately, with plenty of sun, Darwin is one of the best cities in Australia to install solar. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Darwin receives an average of nine hours of sunshine daily. This makes installing solar panels in Darwin a great investment and an environmentally friendly choice.
Unfortunately, installing solar panels isn’t always easy due to the sizable upfront costs. Read this Canstar Blue guide to answer any questions you may have about installing solar in Darwin.
How much do solar panels cost in Darwin?
Purchasing and installing a solar system in Darwin generally costs between $4,000 and $13,000. See the table below to determine which size solar system is in your price range.
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| 3kW | 4kW | 5kW | 6kW | 7kW | 10kW | |
| Darwin | $4,730 | $6,780 | $7,600 | $9,320 | $10,060 | $13,060 |
| National Average | $4,120 | $4,730 | $5,340 | $5,950 | $6,870 | $8,950 |
Source: Solar Choice – January 2025 solar price index. Prices are after applied STC discounts and GST.
As can be seen in the table, solar panels in Darwin are typically more expensive than the national average. A range of factors influence this such as system size, roof slope, installation complexity and whereabouts you live in Darwin. Ensure you get quotes from multiple solar installers in Darwin to gain the most accurate price estimate.
Darwin solar panel installation rebates and incentives
At the time of writing, the Northern Territory government currently offers a number of rebates and incentives to Darwin homeowners, including the Federal STC rebate and the NT Home and Business Battery Scheme.
STCs in the Northern Territory
Available to Darwin and other NT households is an incentive known as Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). This federal scheme rewards homeowners who install solar by reducing the upfront cost of installing solar panels or hot water systems.
The government allocates a certain number of certificates to each household, which is determined by system size and where in Australia you live. Your solar installer will then use these certificates—capped at $40 per STC—to subsidise installation costs.
NT households are in a good position to receive many STCs thanks to the significant amount of sun Darwin rooftops see. Australia is split into four STC zones and Darwin households are in Zone 1, receiving more STCs than those in Zones 2, 3 and 4. This means that solar installation in Darwin is subsidised more than in other major cities like Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Home and Business Battery Scheme Northern Territory
Darwin households looking to install a solar battery may be eligible for a grant of $400 per kilowatt-hour of battery capacity, up to a maximum of $12,000. Eligible homeowners must be in the Northern Territory and install a battery that is virtual power plant capable and on the government list of eligible batteries. The funding can be used for either a simultaneous solar panel and battery installation or a battery on its own for households with solar already installed.
Darwin solar feed-in tariffs
So, what feed-in tariffs are available in Darwin? Unlike the Eastern states and territories, the Northern Territory’s energy market isn’t notably competitive, meaning households will be with either Jacana Energy or Rimfire Energy. The below table compares Jacana Energy’s feed-in tariff with Rimfire Energy.
| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
| Rimfire Energy | 12.10c | 16.50c |
| Jacana Energy | 9.33c | 29.21c |
Solar Installers in Darwin
The following list offers some examples of solar installers available in the wider Darwin area:
- Arafura Solar
- Country Solar NT
- Darwin Solar
- Eco Sparks Solar and Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd
- Eco Tech Solar
- Northern Renewable Group
- Oneroof Solar
- SEM Group
- Solahart
- SolarCity
- Your Green Planet
Do I need permission to install solar in Darwin?
Due to the prevalence of cyclones in Darwin and surrounds, the NT government requires a few conditions to be met before solar can be installed. They are:
- Solar systems certified for high-wind conditions.
- Network Connection Agreement and Power Purchase Agreement forms.
- A building permit for the solar PV frames and panels.
Is it worth installing solar panels in Darwin?
When it comes to installing solar panels in Darwin, one question rules them all: Is it worth it? As you may have guessed, the answer will be different for everyone. While the initial solar investment in Darwin is comparatively costly, there’s still relief in the form of federal incentives, battery rebates and payback estimates.
It’s worth considering that payback periods will vary substantially depending on your household’s energy consumption and how much you’re exporting back into the grid. Installation costs may be more or less than what estimates suggest. Before undertaking any work, it’s important that you collect multiple quotes and look into all of your options to ensure that you get the best deal and solar system for your needs.
Picture credit: sljones/shutterstock.com, Frolphy/shutterstock.com
Original article by Monika Gudova
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