Is solar still worth it in Adelaide in 2026?

Short answer: yes, but the case has shifted from export to self-consumption.

When Adelaide solar first took off in the 2010s, the case was simple: install panels, export at 44c per exported kilowatt-hour, pay back fast. The 44c tariff closed to new applicants on 30 September 2011 and the median retailer feed-in tariff today is around 2-8c per kWh.

What replaced that maths is grid price escalation. South Australian peak grid electricity is now 42-45c per kWh - the highest in Australia. Every unit of solar you self-consume saves 42-45c. Every unit you export earns 2-8c. So the new game is self-consumption, not export.

A 6.6kW system in Adelaide today

• Cost: $5,500 to $8,500 after the federal STC rebate.
• Annual generation: roughly 9,800 kWh.
• Self-consumption (no battery): 35-50% of generation.
• Annual savings: $1,400 to $1,700.
• Payback: 4 to 5 years.

That is faster payback than 2019. Lower feed-in tariffs are more than offset by higher grid prices and rebate values.

Add a battery and the case strengthens further

The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program launched on 1 July 2025 and discounts approximately $311 per usable kWh of battery in May 2026. A 14kWh battery is roughly $4,350 off after rebate. Adding a battery lifts self-consumption from 40-50% to 85-90%, which captures the value that was being exported at low feed-in rates.

Battery payback in Adelaide is 7-9 years currently. The rebate steps down every 6 months, so the maths is best now.

When solar is not worth it

• Heavy roof shading without microinverters or optimisers.
• Asbestos roofing that would need expensive removal first.
• Plans to sell the home within 18 months (you may recoup install cost in the sale price, but it is not guaranteed).
• Very low electricity consumption (under 8 kWh/day).

For 80%+ of Adelaide homes, the maths is now compelling - more compelling than it was 5 years ago, despite the dramatic fall in feed-in tariffs.