The short answer
A 10kW system suits larger Adelaide homes, properties planning EV ownership, and households with pool / ducted air conditioning loads. It produces around 42 kWh/day on annual average and pays back in 4-6 years for higher-consumption households.
Typically included
- 20-22 panels of 470-490W each (Tier 1)
- 8kW or 10kW inverter (three-phase Fronius Symo, SolarEdge, or hybrid Sungrow SH-RT)
- Three-phase mounting kit and balance of system
- All cabling, isolators, signage to AS/NZS 5033 + 4777
- SAPN three-phase Small Embedded Generator application
- STC rebate claim
- 10-year manufacturer warranty (panels); 10-12 year on inverter
- 5-year installer workmanship warranty
Not included
- Battery
- Switchboard upgrade if single-phase needs three-phase
- Re-roofing
- EV charger ($1,200-$2,800)
When 10kW makes financial sense
10kW pays back faster than 6.6kW when:
- Your household consumes more than 25 kWh/day on average
- You have ducted air conditioning running through summer
- You have a pool with pump running daily
- You plan to charge an EV at home
- You have three-phase power available
10kW is usually the wrong choice for low-consumption households (couples, retirees, small families) because the extra panels generate exports at low feed-in tariffs.
Three-phase vs single-phase 10kW
SAPN single-phase inverter limit in SA is 10 kVA. A 10kW system on single-phase needs an 8kW inverter at most. Three-phase allows up to 30 kVA (10 kVA per phase) and unlocks the full 10kW potential. Most 10kW Adelaide installs require three-phase power - confirm before quoting.
If you only have single-phase, the switchboard upgrade to three-phase typically costs $1,800-$3,500. Some homeowners delay this and run a 6.6kW for now, upgrading later.
Expected output
10kW Adelaide annual average: ~42 kWh/day.
- Summer: 50-58 kWh/day
- Autumn: 38-46 kWh/day
- Winter: 28-35 kWh/day
- Spring: 42-50 kWh/day
That is more than most Adelaide households consume - so without a battery, you export 50-70% of generation. The financial case improves dramatically with a battery (which can be added later with a hybrid inverter).