Is 6.6kW Still the "Standard"?

For years, the 6.6kW solar system with a 5kW inverter was the "gold standard" for Australian homes. It hit the sweet spot for rebates and grid export limits. But in 2025, with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and home batteries, a 6.6kW system is quickly becoming the minimum, not the ideal.

The EV Factor

Charging an electric vehicle is like adding a second home to your electricity bill. A typical EV requires about 15-20kWh of energy for a daily commute recharge. A 6.6kW system produces roughly 20-25kWh per day on average.

The Math: If your EV takes 20kWh and your home uses 15kWh, you need 35kWh of production. A 6.6kW system simply cannot keep up, forcing you to buy expensive grid power.

Recommendation: For EV owners, we now recommend considering 8kW to 10kW+ systems to ensure you have enough surplus energy to charge your car for "free" from the sun.

Battery Readiness

To truly future-proof your home, you need to think about storage. Even if you don't buy a battery today, you should install a "hybrid" inverter. Unlike standard string inverters, hybrid inverters are ready to plug-and-play with a battery later, saving you thousands in upgrade costs down the track.

Smart EV Charging

Don't just plug your car into the wall. "Solar-smart" EV chargers (like the Zappi or Tesla Wall Connector) can communicate with your solar inverter. They monitor your excess solar generation and adjust the charge rate to match it exactly. If a cloud goes over, the car slows down charging. This ensures every electron going into your car is free solar energy, not paid grid energy.