Solar & Inverter Sizing

This is a starting point, not a design: a proper quote also accounts for shading, roof condition and structural capacity, the exact panel and inverter models available, and your specific network operator's current rules — all of which a licensed installer will assess on-site. Use this to walk into that conversation knowing roughly what you're after, not as a final spec.

An installer may suggest bigger: this sizes to roughly match your own daily use, which is a sensible floor — but exported solar still earns a feed-in credit even at a lower rate than what you pay to buy power, so going a size or two bigger than this often still pays off economically. Don't be surprised if a quote comes in larger; treat this number as your starting point for that conversation, not a ceiling.

Panels vs inverter: the panel array (DC) is usually sized bigger than the inverter (AC) — that's normal and deliberate, not an error. It means the inverter runs closer to full output for more of the day, since panels rarely hit their full rated output at once anyway.

Rebates and feed-in tariffs aren't included in this estimate — STCs (the upfront rebate) and your retailer's feed-in tariff both affect payback time but not the physical system size you need.