Solar Payback Calculator — Queensland (2026)
Queensland has the most solar installs of any state, strong sunshine and the cheapest systems in the country — a combination that makes payback among the fastest nationally. This calculator is pre-set with Brisbane's 2026 prices, tariffs and yield. Adjust any input and the result updates instantly. Figures are for Queensland, Australia, in 2026.
In Queensland, a 6.6 kW solar system pays back in about 2.7 years — among the fastest in the country: it costs about $5,808 after the $1,801 STC rebate, generates about 10,890 kWh a year, and saves about $2,178 a year — roughly a 38% annual return and about $37,752 net over 20 years. Change your system size, power price and daytime usage below to recompute for your home.
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Your estimated payback
In Queensland, a 6.6 kW system pays back in about 2.7 years, saving about $2,178 a year for a net cost of about $5,808 after rebates.
Estimate only — not financial advice. Figures are indicative and depend on your retailer, usage pattern and final install quote.
Solar payback in Queensland in 2026
Queensland is one of the best states in Australia for rooftop solar, and the maths shows it: a typical 6.6 kW system pays back in about 2.7 years, the quickest of the five mainland states modelled here. Two advantages drive that. First, Queensland has the most solar installs of any state and, with that, the most competitive installer market in the country — installed prices sit around $880 per kilowatt after the STC rebate, the lowest mainland figure, so a quality 6.6 kW system lands near $5,800 net. Second, Queensland gets a lot of sun: Brisbane averages about 4.9 peak-sun-hours a day, giving a yield near 1,650 kWh per installed kW per year — among the highest of the capitals. Cheap systems plus high generation beat the fact that Queensland's retail tariff, around 28 cents per kilowatt-hour, is lower than in SA or NSW.
Feed-in tariffs: south-east Queensland vs regional Ergon
Queensland is unusual in that its feed-in arrangements split by region. In south-east Queensland, the retail market is deregulated and retailers compete on feed-in offers, with some headline rates reaching about 10 cents per kilowatt-hour — among the more generous in the country, though as always the best feed-in plan is not always the cheapest plan once supply and usage charges are counted. In regional Queensland, where Ergon Energy is the standard retailer, the feed-in tariff is government-set: a guaranteed regional rate of about 6.006 cents per kilowatt-hour from 1 July 2026. So a Brisbane household shops a competitive market while a regional household receives a fixed, regulated rate. Either way, in 2026 exports are a secondary contributor to payback; self-consumption against the retail tariff is what does most of the work.
Self-consumption is still the main lever
Even with Queensland's relatively healthy feed-in rates, the dominant lever on payback is how much of your generation you use on-site. Running pool pumps — common in Queensland's climate — air-conditioning, hot water and major appliances during daylight, and timing EV charging for the middle of the day, lifts self-consumption and shortens payback at no extra hardware cost. The state's high yield means a well-sized system generates plenty; the trick is consuming it rather than exporting it for a single-digit rate.
Batteries and rebates
The federal STC rebate cuts about $1,800 off a 6.6 kW system in 2026, already built into the net prices here. For batteries, the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate (~$252 per usable kWh from 1 May 2026) applies statewide, lowering capex. Because Queensland's feed-in rates are comparatively decent and its tariffs lower, the pure financial case for a battery is a little weaker than in high-tariff SA — a battery usually lengthens overall payback versus panels alone — but many Queensland households still add one for evening cover, blackout resilience through storm season, and bill certainty. Toggle the battery on to see the effect on your numbers.
The bottom line for a Brisbane household: the cheapest systems in the country plus strong sun make Queensland a standout, with payback around 2.7 years — and where you live decides whether you shop a competitive feed-in market or receive Ergon's regulated rate.
Queensland solar figures — 2026
These are the indicative Brisbane-metro defaults this calculator uses for Queensland. You can override any of them above.
| Install price (after STC) | ~$880/kW (most competitive nationally) |
|---|---|
| Retail electricity price | ~28 c/kWh (SE-QLD; regional higher) |
| Feed-in tariff | SE-QLD up to ~10 c/kWh; regional Ergon ~6.006 c (from 1 Jul 2026) |
| Generation yield (Brisbane) | ~1,650 kWh per kW per year (high) |
| STC zone rating | Zone 3 (1.382) |
| Battery help | Federal ~$252/kWh |
| Typical payback (6.6 kW, 60% self-use) | ~2.7 years |
Queensland solar FAQ
How fast does solar pay back in Queensland?
A 6.6 kW system in Brisbane costs about $5,808 after the $1,801 STC rebate and saves roughly $2,178 a year, paying back in about 2.7 years — among the fastest in the country, thanks to the cheapest installs nationally and strong yield of ~1,650 kWh per kW.
What is the Queensland feed-in tariff in 2026?
It depends on region. In south-east Queensland the market is deregulated and headline rates can reach ~10c/kWh on some plans. In regional Queensland, Ergon Energy pays a government-set ~6.006c/kWh from 1 July 2026. Exports are now a minor part of payback compared with self-consumption.
Why are solar systems cheaper in Queensland?
Queensland has the largest and most competitive residential solar market by install volume, which pushes installed prices to roughly $880/kW after the STC rebate — the lowest of the mainland states. Cheap systems plus high sun give one of the quickest paybacks nationally.
Is solar worth it in Brisbane in 2026?
Yes, strongly. Cheap systems, high yield and a ~2.7-year payback at 60% self-use make Brisbane one of the best places in Australia for rooftop solar. Tariffs are lower than in SA or NSW, but low system cost and strong generation more than compensate.
Compare with other states
Compare payback across every state on the hub. New South Wales →
The neighbour: biggest installed base; IPART feed-in benchmark. Western Australia →
The other high-yield state — DEBS buyback, payback ~2.8 years. South Australia →
Highest power prices in the country; fastest-payback peer.
Methodology & sources
Data last verified: · formula_version 2026.1
This calculator uses the self-consumption-dominant model that reflects 2026 conditions. The formula is:
- STC rebate = system kW × zone rating (1.382) × deeming years (5) × STC price ($39.50)
- Net cost = system kW × install $/kW (your after-STC price); a battery adds its capex net of the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate
- Annual generation = system kW × generation per kW per year (Brisbane ~1,650)
- Annual savings = self-used kWh × power price + exported kWh × feed-in tariff (+ battery arbitrage value)
- Payback = net cost ÷ annual savings
Worked example (Queensland default): 6.6 kW × 1.382 × 5 × $39.50 ≈ $1,801 rebate. Generation ≈ 6.6 × 1,650 = 10,890 kWh/yr. At 60% self-use and 28c/kWh, plus 40% export at 8c, annual savings ≈ $2,178. Net cost ≈ $5,808 → payback ≈ 2.7 years.
Key solar terms, defined
- Solar payback period
- The number of years it takes for the money a system saves to add up to its net cost — net cost divided by annual savings.
- Self-consumption
- The share of the power your panels generate that you use on-site instead of exporting; the biggest lever on payback in 2026.
- STC rebate
- The federal small-scale technology certificate discount, claimed by your installer as an upfront price cut on the panels.
- Deeming period
- The number of future years of generation the STC scheme credits you for upfront — 5 years in 2026, dropping by one each year to 2030.
- Feed-in tariff
- What your retailer pays for surplus solar you export; in QLD a competitive SE-QLD rate or Ergon's regulated regional rate.
Sources
- STC price & deeming — Clean Energy Regulator (clearing-house $40 ex-GST; deeming 5 yr in 2026), pulled 2026-06-27.
- Install prices — SolarChoice Price Index, June 2026 (QLD most competitive).
- Electricity price — Canstar average price per kWh (SE-QLD ~28c).
- Feed-in tariff — SE-QLD deregulated retailer offers; Ergon Energy regional FiT ~6.006c from 1 Jul 2026.
- Generation yield — SolarChoice / Bureau of Meteorology peak-sun-hours (Brisbane ~4.9 PSH).
- Battery rebate — DCCEEW Cheaper Home Batteries Program (~$252/kWh from 1 May 2026).
We re-check these figures on a regular schedule and update the verified date only when a value genuinely changes. Estimate only — not financial advice.