Find your perfect energy system.
Compare solar panels, batteries and inverters side by side. Use our savings calculator to get a personalised estimate for your property.
A comparison built to help you buy well — not just buy now.
We install energy systems for a living, so a compare page could easily tilt toward selling you more. Here's exactly how we guard against that — before you scroll a single spec.
When we'll tell you to wait, buy smaller, or not buy at all
You might not need this yet, and we'd rather you buy well than buy now. A battery may not stack up if your evening usage is low, if you're likely to move within a few years, or if your roof can't fit enough solar to justify one. Rebate and STC timing can shift the maths from one quarter to the next — we check the current rules for your address before you commit. If waiting is the smarter call, we'll say so.
How we get paid — and how we stop it biasing a comparison
We earn when we install a system, so in theory a comparison could tilt toward selling you more. Our guard against it: we size to your usage and roof first, and we'll recommend a smaller system, or none, when that's the honest call. On finance we're an introducer only — we refer you to lenders like Brighte, Plenti and 28Watts, we don't give credit advice, and we don't hold an Australian Credit Licence.
No hidden referral pressure, and no product we're paid extra to push.Being an honest broker means saying no out loud
By our own selection criteria — local service depth for warranty claims, usable-versus-headline capacity, and how a chemistry copes with a hot Australian roof — a few popular products didn't make our shortlist. We'll always explain why for your situation. See who we said no to →
The bias test: three reasons we'd tell you to spend less — or wait
If most of your power is already used in daylight, extra panels usually beat a battery — we'll say so. If you're likely to move within a few years, the payback window may not close in time, so a smaller system, or none yet, can be smarter. And if a 2026 rule shifts your maths — like the export "sun tax" now live for solar customers in NSW and South Australia (a network charge your retailer may pass through), or the battery-rebate taper above 14 kWh usable — sometimes waiting a quarter is the rational move.
We'd rather lose the bigger sale than sell you something the numbers don't back.Estimate your
annual savings.
An indicative figure for a solar and battery system, worked out from typical Australian tariff rates and BOM irradiance data. What you actually save depends on your usage and location, and the real number is confirmed at quote.
Estimate Your Savings
Estimates based on a solar + battery system, Australian tariff rates and BOM irradiance data. Actual savings vary by usage and location.
Indicative only; based on typical AU tariffs; confirmed at quote — as at June 2026.
Get Accurate Quote →Batteries
side by side.
| Battery | Usable Capacity | Chemistry | Cycle Life | Warranty | Scalable | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall 3 | 13.5–54 kWh | LFP | Unlimited* | 10 yr | Stackable | Whole-home |
| BYD Battery-Box | 5.1–22.1 kWh | LFP | 6,000+ | 10 yr | Stackable | Modular scaling |
| Sungrow SBR / SBH | 9.6–40 kWh | LFP | 6,000+ | 10 yr | Stackable | Inverter-matched |
| GoodWe Lynx / ESA | 5.4–48 kWh | LFP | 6,000+ | 10 yr | Stackable | All-in-one backup |
| Sigenergy SigenStor | 5–48 kWh | LFP | 10,000 | 10 yr | Modular 5-in-1 | AI + EV |
| AlphaESS SMILE | 9.3–37.2 kWh | LFP | 6,000+ | 10 yr | Stackable | Budget pick |
| FoxESS EQ4800 / CQ6 / CQ7 | 9.3–97 kWh | LFP | 6,000+ | 10–12 yr | Stackable | Long warranty |
| Enphase IQ Battery 5P | 5–80 kWh | LFP | 6,000 | 15 yr | Modular | Reliability |
| Pylontech Force H3 / H3X | 9.7–34 kWh | LFP | 8,000+ | 10 yr | Stackable | Value scaling |
Figures are for current flagship residential models (Jun 2026) and vary by variant; usable capacity spans a single unit to a typical max residential stack. LFP = lithium iron phosphate; all listed batteries are VPP-ready. Cycle Life shows each maker's stated rating — most brands now warrant by time and/or energy throughput rather than a fixed cycle count, and Tesla's warranty is time-based (10 yr, unlimited cycles). Pylontech is 10 yr on registration. Exact capacity, cycle and warranty terms confirmed per model at quote. Specs current as at June 2026.
The specs the table won't let dazzle you.
A comparison is only useful if you can read it the way an installer would. Here's what each column really means — including how to hold our own quote to the same standard.
A warranty is only as good as the company that honours it
Read Warranty as three things, not one: the product (build) warranty, the performance (output) warranty, and — the part nobody prints — who actually services a claim, and whether they'll still be trading. An estimated ~600,000 Australian solar systems are now "orphaned" (roughly 1 in 6–7 solar homes), where the panel maker's long warranty may survive but the installer who owed the labour and callbacks has gone. The manufacturer's cover usually points offshore; the labour side is local. We tell you which is which before you sign.
Industry estimate by Markus Lambert, reported by CHOICE, 2025.Read a battery spec like an installer
Four numbers to watch: Usable vs nominal capacity — usable is what you actually get, and it's always less than the headline. Cycle count — nearly meaningless now that most brands warrant by time and energy throughput. Continuous vs peak power — peak is a brief burst; continuous is what runs your home. Retained capacity at year 10 — the % the warranty still guarantees. Know these and no installer can dazzle you with a big number — including us.
Every product is "best" at something — here's the flip side
An all-in-one whole-home unit is the simplest to live with but the hardest to expand later. A modular scaler is endlessly flexible, but it asks you to plan your growth up front. A budget pick genuinely lowers the entry price, and in return trades away some future-proofing. None of these is a dealbreaker — it's just the trade-off attached to the strength, and knowing yours is how you pick honestly rather than by whichever row has the nicest label.
Ask the questions we don't want you to forget
Take these to any quote — including ours. What's the retained-capacity % guaranteed at year 10? Who services a warranty claim locally, and what happens if the installer leaves? Is the price before or after rebates? Is the finance fully fee-disclosed, in writing? Will it still perform on a 40°C roof? If a quote can't answer these plainly, keep asking.
Level playing field — hold us to it too.Solar panels
compared.
| Brand | Cell Technology | Module Efficiency | Product Warranty | Performance Warranty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trina Solar | N-type TOPCon | 23.8% | 25 yr | 30 yr | Most shipped |
| LONGi Solar | Back-contact (HPBC) | up to 24.8% | 15–25 yr* | 30 yr | Efficiency leader |
| JA Solar | N-type TOPCon | 22.5% | 25 yr | 30 yr | Value + bankability |
| Canadian Solar | N-type TOPCon | 23.2% | 25 yr | 30 yr | Bankability |
| Jinko Solar | N-type TOPCon | 23.8% | 25 yr | 30 yr | Best value |
| REC Group | HJT | 22.6% | 20–25 yr* | 25 yr | Hail-resilient |
| SunPower / Maxeon | IBC Maxeon | 24.1% | 40 yr | 40 yr | Maximum output |
| Q CELLS | N-type TOPCon | 22.5% | 25 yr | 25 yr | Shade tolerance |
Module efficiency is each brand's current flagship residential variant (Jun 2026) and varies by model. Product = panel build warranty; Performance = guaranteed output. * LONGi's Hi-MO X10 datasheet lists 15 yr product (often 25 yr via AU retail / dual-glass variants); REC is 20 yr, extending to 25 yr under a ProTrust certified install. We confirm the exact model, efficiency and warranty in your written quote.
Your energy
independence score.
How close are you to energy freedom? Answer three quick questions and we'll rate your home's energy independence on a 0–100 scale.
Rate Your Energy Independence
Battery ROI
simulator.
Model the financial return of adding a battery to your solar system. See payback period, lifetime savings and VPP income potential.
Simulate Battery ROI
Inverter options
explained.
Three ways to convert what your roof makes: a centralised string inverter, a string inverter with panel-level DC optimisers, or a microinverter on every panel. Shade and roof complexity decide which suits, and the price steps up as you move along that list.
String Inverter
Traditional centralised inverter. Cost-effective for simple, unshaded roofs. Fronius and Sungrow are top choices.
DC Optimised
SolarEdge inverter with panel-level optimisers. Panel-level monitoring and shade mitigation. Mid-range pricing.
Microinverter
Enphase IQ microinverters on every panel. Maximum reliability, no single point of failure. Premium option.
Your concerns,
answered.
Design your perfect setup.
Drag the sliders to configure your ideal solar and battery system. See real-time cost and savings estimates.
How do you choose the right system for your home?
A neutral framework for weighing the factors that actually shape your decision — before anyone quotes you a brand.
Every quote you'll see is really an answer to four questions about your home. Work through them in order and the shortlist of sensible systems narrows on its own — no single brand is right for everyone.
- 1. Your usage pattern. Pull a recent bill and note your daily kWh and when you use power. Many Australian homes sit around 15 to 25 kWh a day, though all-electric households and larger families can use more. As a rough guide, lighter users often suit a solar array in the 5–7 kW range, average families around 6–10 kW, and larger or all-electric homes 10 kW or more. If most of your consumption is after dark, a battery matters more than extra panels; if it's during daylight, panels do more of the work.
- 2. Your roof and space. Available area, orientation and shading cap how much solar you can realistically fit, and switchboard or wall space affects battery choice. This is a physical limit, not a preference — a good site assessment often reshapes the plan.
- 3. Backup versus savings. Batteries sized mainly to shift daytime solar into the evening are commonly in the 10–14 kWh range. If riding through blackouts matters to you, that's a different, usually larger specification with backup-capable hardware. Deciding which goal comes first changes both size and equipment. Keep in mind that usable capacity is typically a little less than the headline figure.
- 4. Budget and warranty. Brands broadly span value, mid-range and premium tiers — the differences tend to show up in efficiency, features and support, not just price. Solar panels commonly carry performance warranties of around 25 years and batteries around 10 years, but what matters most is whether the installer will still be there to honour them.
There's no universally "best" brand — only the best fit for your usage, roof, priorities and budget. For a recommendation grounded in your actual numbers, book a free, no-obligation assessment.
Read the
honest guides.
The comparisons and checks we'd run before recommending any battery — including when the honest answer is a different brand, or to wait.
Accreditation you can check, figures you can date.
Trust shouldn't rest on a badge you can't verify or a number with no date on it. Here's how to check ours.
Who actually shows up — accreditation you can verify yourself
We're accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), approved under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC), and a Solar Victoria authorised retailer. Every install is done by an SAA-accredited installer, and the 10-year workmanship warranty is backed by Mission Green — so if an installer ever leaves the network, your warranty stays with us.
Each credential is verifiable on its official register — don't take our word for it.Every number here is stamped with the date we checked it
You'll notice ranges here, not promises. Battery and rebate rules change — STC values step down, feed-in tariffs reset, and some schemes have genuinely closed. We stamp our specs with the date we checked them and re-confirm every dollar and rebate against current CER and state rules at quote time. We'd rather show an honest range than a confident number that's already out of date.
Maintained by real people, checked against the datasheets
This comparison is reviewed by the Mission Green Energy Team against manufacturer datasheets, and dated when we check it. We publish only real, verified customer reviews — no invented testimonials, no AI personas. In a web full of auto-generated "best battery" lists, that's a line we won't cross.