1.5kW Solar System

Last Updated: 7th Jan 2026

The humble 1.5kW solar system was Australia’s most popular solar power system from about 2011 to 2013. It has now been well and truly overtaken in popularity by the 6.6kW system as entry level and increasingly by 10kW solar.

Why was 1.5kW so popular? Well, before Jan 1 2013 the rebate system was skewed to max out at 1.5kW. Due to a scheme called the “solar multiplier” you used to get twice the rebate for the first 1.5kW of any system, compared to subsequent kWs. So in terms of dollars per kW, a 1.5kW system represented the best value.

However, all that has now changed. The “solar multiplier” which favoured 1.5kW solar systems is gone. But don’t panic! Australia still has a very generous solar rebate program operating nationally.

How many solar panels make up a 1.5kW system?

Back when they were popular, a 1.5kW may have had six 250W solar panels.  Each was around 1.6m x 1m, so you needed at least 10m² of roof space.

To give you a feel for how big 10m2 is this picture may help:

And here’s what a 1.5kW system looks like on a roof (this one is made up of 9 x 165W panels – so it’s a *really* old system): 

These days, because panels are both larger and more efficient, a 1.5kW solar system only requires 3 or 4:

How much electricity will a 1.5kW solar system generate?

A 1.5kW solar system will generate approximately 6kWh per day. This is under half the electricity consumption of the average Australian household. But I also have friends with very efficient homes for which a 1.5kW system offsets all their electricity usage.

Note: if you are serious about solar it is really important you understand the difference between a kW and a kWh. That link explains all!

How much revenue will a 1.5kW solar system generate?

The amount of cash you make from a 1.5kW system through feed-in tariffs will depend on how much you get paid for exported surplus electricity per kilowatt-hour and how much you export.

Most states in Australia pay about .6c – 11c per kWh for exported electricity. And most people pay about 33c per kWh (on average) to buy electricity from the grid. So let’s consider 3 scenarios to see how the payback works based on a 5c feed-in tariff and 33c/kWh consumption rate:

1. You use all the solar electricity in your home. This is likely if you run a pool pump or other appliances through the middle of the day.  You would save approximately $800 in the first year. 
2. You export half the electricity: You would save about $460 in the first year.
3. You export all the electricity: You would save about $124 in the first year.

If you think that this sounds very counterintuitive, then you can read about the relationship between exports and payback here.

How much will a 1.5kW solar power system cost?

Expect to pay about $2,500 – $4,000 out of pocket, after the rebate. As mentioned, you’ll get much better bang for buck with a larger system. For example, a good quality 6.6kW system in 2026 starts at around the $5,500 mark – so you’ll get more than 4 times the capacity (power) for only around twice the price.

How long before a 1.5kW solar power system pays for itself?

If you self-consume all your solar electricity then it will have paid for itself in around 2 years or less, assuming you pay 33c for your electricity from the grid. But I’d argue that simply looking at the payback is a daft way to asses a solar purchase. I’d argue that cash flow is much more important.

With current solar pricing, most solar systems end up cash flow positive from day one – compared to keeping your cash in the bank, or the interest on financing the solar system. But don’t take my word for it (I wouldn’t!). Play with the numbers in my solar payback calculator and see if the return on investment makes sense for you.