The best solar feed-in tariff (FiT) in NSW varies, but as of late 2025/early 2026, Engie, Alinta Energy, and GloBird Energy often offer high maximum rates (around 10-12 c/kWh), though usually for limited daily export (e.g., first 8-10 kWh). Major retailers like AGL, EnergyAustralia, and Origin Energy have competitive rates too, but often with lower averages or higher conditions, while a standard flat rate in NSW is around 3.3-7.3 c/kWh. Always compare current deals and consider self-consumption and battery storage to maximize savings.
Who offers the best solar feed-in tariff in NSW? As of December 2025, Engie, Alinta Energy and GloBird Energy all offer the highest maximum feed-in rate at 10c per kWh. The highest minimum feed-in tariff is the 5.5c per kWh available with Engie and CovaU, closely followed by Alinta Energy at 5c.
The "best" solar feed-in tariff (FiT) depends on your state and usage, but generally, Engie, Alinta Energy, EnergyAustralia, and AGL are top contenders, often with variable rates (e.g., 10-12c/kWh for the first 8-10kWh/day, then lower). For high-export homes, look for high maximum FiTs, while battery owners might benefit from Time-of-Use (ToU) tariffs with high peak rates (like Red Energy's 16.7c/kWh offer in some areas). Always compare current plans by state on comparison sites like Canstar, Solar Choice, and SolarQuotes.
The cheapest energy provider in NSW changes, but currently GloBird Energy (BOOST plan), Nectr, Sumo, Kogan Energy, and AGL are often cited as having the lowest rates, with providers like Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia also offering competitive deals depending on your specific network and usage. To find your cheapest provider, use the government's Energy Made Easy service to compare plans based on your actual usage in your specific area (Sydney, Newcastle, or Regional NSW).
Batteries beat the solar tax
Solar electricity can still be used directly from the roof and in the home, but the battery will charge with the excess – avoiding feeding into the grid and therefore the solar tax charges. Under the Ausgrid scheme, homes with batteries will be paid rather than penalized.
People are getting rid of solar panels due to natural degradation and efficiency loss, early replacements for more powerful systems, the high cost and difficulty of recycling, and sometimes for roof repairs or when selling properties. While panels last 25-30 years, early failures (infant mortality) and the sheer volume of old systems are creating a significant waste problem, with many panels ending up in landfills despite efforts for recycling and second-life uses.
The 120% rule in solar is a National Electrical Code (NEC) safety guideline stating the combined amperage from the utility and your solar system connected to a main panel's bus bar cannot exceed 120% of the bus bar's rating, preventing overload and fire hazards. It's calculated by multiplying the bus bar's amperage rating by 1.2 and then subtracting the main breaker's rating to find the maximum solar breaker size, with the solar breaker placed at the opposite end of the panel from the main breaker for safety.
At the time of writing (June 2025), ENGIE and Globird Energy currently have the highest solar feed-in tariff offer in NSW, whereby the maximum a customer can get is 12 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh). Energy Australia, Red Energy, Alinta Energy and AGL come in second with 10 c/kWh.
Below, you'll find a quick summary of the top cheapest energy suppliers in January 2026:
The "20% rule" for solar panels is a sizing guideline suggesting you install a system that generates about 20% more energy than your average daily usage, creating a buffer for cloudy days, lower sunlight, system inefficiencies (like inverter losses), and future energy needs. This means designing your system to produce around 120% of your typical consumption (e.g., 1200 kWh for 1000 kWh usage), ensuring more reliable power and maximizing value without significantly overspending, though regulations might cap this oversizing.
A 6.6kW solar system in Australia generally costs between $5,000 to $9,000 for a quality, fully installed setup without a battery, with average prices around $6,400, depending heavily on brand quality, inverter type, and installation complexity. After government rebates (STCs), the net price can drop significantly, sometimes into the $3,000-$5,000 range, but adding a battery adds substantially more, often $8,000-$14,000.
Cleaning your solar panels can increase production by 10-25%
“Our customers typically see a 10-25% increase in performance, depending on how dirty the panels were prior to cleaning and how long it had been since the last service.”
Yes, a 6.6kW solar system is generally enough for a 4-bedroom house with moderate energy use, covering appliances and daily needs, but it might not suffice if you have high energy demands like an electric vehicle (EV), pool, or extensive air conditioning, in which case a larger system (8kW-10kW+) might be better. It provides a good balance for families of 3-4 people using around 20-30 kWh daily, but for high-consumption all-electric homes, going bigger to future-proof is often recommended.
Environment Australia and the New South Wales Government developed the Solar Rebate NSW program to encourage the use of renewable energy and encourage people to install solar panels. The NSW Solar Rebate Program offers households up to $7,000 in solar rebates for installing solar systems.
Once installed, a good solar system starts delivering immediate savings. A typical NSW household can cut between $1,200 and $1,800 per year from their electricity bills—sometimes more, depending on how much solar energy they use during the day.
Fixed-rate tariffs ultimately depend on the conditions of the energy market – if wholesale prices are high, fixed deals will be less attractive. Generally speaking though, if market conditions are good and you shop around, a fixed-rate tariff will be better value than a variable-rate one.
The cheapest energy provider in NSW changes, but currently GloBird Energy (BOOST plan), Nectr, Sumo, Kogan Energy, and AGL are often cited as having the lowest rates, with providers like Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia also offering competitive deals depending on your specific network and usage. To find your cheapest provider, use the government's Energy Made Easy service to compare plans based on your actual usage in your specific area (Sydney, Newcastle, or Regional NSW).
There's no single "cheapest" supplier everywhere, as it depends on your location (state/network) and usage, but as of early 2026 in Australia, Kogan Energy, GloBird Energy, Alinta Energy, and Energy Locals are frequently listed among the cheapest in regions like Queensland (QLD) and Adelaide (SA) on comparison sites like Canstar and WATTever. For Victoria (VIC), Tango Energy and Lumo Energy have also been noted for low-cost plans. To find your cheapest, use comparison tools like Energy Made Easy or Victorian Energy Compare.
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Neither AGL nor Origin is definitively cheaper; it depends entirely on your location (state), usage habits, and the specific plan you choose, with some sources showing AGL cheaper in NSW/VIC and Origin better in SA, while others find Origin generally higher but with perks like rewards points. For accurate pricing, you must compare current offers using comparison sites like energymadeeasy.gov.au or request quotes with your usage data, as prices fluctuate and providers offer different deals, from basic plans to bundles with extras like Netflix.
The "best" solar feed-in tariff (FiT) depends on your state and usage, but generally, Engie, Alinta Energy, EnergyAustralia, and AGL are top contenders, often with variable rates (e.g., 10-12c/kWh for the first 8-10kWh/day, then lower). For high-export homes, look for high maximum FiTs, while battery owners might benefit from Time-of-Use (ToU) tariffs with high peak rates (like Red Energy's 16.7c/kWh offer in some areas). Always compare current plans by state on comparison sites like Canstar, Solar Choice, and SolarQuotes.
Yes, a 200W solar panel can run a fridge, especially an energy-efficient 12V/24V portable compressor fridge, but it needs a battery bank and charge controller for consistent power, as the panel only works in sunlight, and you need to match the fridge's wattage (often 40-60W) with the panel's output over a full day's sun (around 1000Wh/day). A 200W panel is often the minimum for a smaller camping fridge, making it viable but requiring good sun and adequate battery storage (like 100Ah+) to handle cloudy days and nighttime use.
TL;DR / Key Takeaways. No, a 90 % efficient solar panel is not currently achievable and remains far beyond commercial technology. Modern commercial panels reach about 22-27 % efficiency; lab records approach ~34 % for single modules.
So, if you were to start at the surface of the Sun (696,342 km equatorial radius), your escape velocity would be ~617.5 km/sec. If you started at Earth's orbit (1.496 x 108 km), your escape velocity would only be a snail's pace of 42.1 km/sec.