Solar reviews, tests, information and buying guides

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Solar

Bring a little sunshine into your home with a solar photovoltaic system or solar hot-water system.

Review and compare

Solar panel reviews We test commonly available solar panels to find out which ones perform best in real-world conditions.

Solar panels database If you're looking to get solar panels installed, our table will help you compare the specifications of major brands and models on the market.

Buying guides

How to buy the best solar battery storage What you need to know about adding battery storage, such as the Tesla Powerwall, to your home's solar panel system.

Articles

With solar subsidies on offer, dodgy installers are never far behind Consumers are warned to proceed with caution when accessing the new Cheaper Home Batteries Program.

Solar system rebates: How much money can you really save? The current government scheme can be confusing. We explain how it works and what you can get back.

Rising cost of electricity will improve solar payback times The time it takes to recoup installation costs on a new solar system could drop by 10–30%.

How to find quality solar panels and installation Our guide to picking the right solar quote and knowing your rights in this sometimes shady market.

Should you buy budget solar panels? We look at whether cheaper solar panels can perform well, or if more expensive solar panels are always the best.

Are your solar panels working? Six simple steps to find out if all is well with your solar PV system.

Four steps to get started with solar Our expert guide answers all your solar questions.

Sizing your solar panel system Figure out the right size of solar PV system to suit your home.

How to maintain your solar panel system What does solar panel maintenance involve and how often should it be done?

The best solar storage batteries: Tesla Powerwall and more put to the test An independent trial compared solar storage batteries in lab conditions, and not all survived.

The best solar panels in our past tests At a glance: what we found in our solar panel tests up to 2019.

How we test solar panels All about the science behind our solar panel testing.

Are solar feed-in tariffs worth it? People are getting paid less for the solar power they sell to the grid, so it could be best to use it yourself.

Are solar panels covered by home insurance? If you install solar panels, you need to update your home and contents insurance to ensure they’re covered.

Survey results: Are you happy with your solar panels? More than 1000 CHOICE members reveal the pros and cons of owning a solar PV system in Australia.

What to do if your solar company goes out of business Thousands of solar systems in Australia have been left stranded by solar companies that have been wound up.

Solar panel payback times How much does a 5kW solar system cost and how long will it take to pay itself off?

Solar roof tiles – solar panel alternatives If your roof isn't suitable for solar panels, consider (more expensive) solar roof tiles.

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Solar