To show the difference in cost between different system capacities, consider the following list, which shows the national average price for Australia at the time of writing (March 2015):
Keeping the cost down
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In the future, a new type of solar collector will be available that is being developed right here in Australia. This new panel type will feature Dye Sensitised Solar Cells (DSSC), and will cost even less than CIGS panels. DSSC panels will be relatively inefficient, but as they are so cheap to manufacture, provided you have enough installation space, you could be inclined to buy them.
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Battery type is also a major consideration because they are a huge contributor to system cost. While you may think it best to select the cheaper unsealed types such as deep-cycle marine batteries or flooded cell batteries, this could be a false economy. Sealed batteries have the advantage of being able to be used indoors, have lower maintenance requirements, and are safer to handle and store. Because you can use them indoors, they can be kept at a more stable temperature, which will increase their efficiency and extend their working life.
Photo courtesy of Lance Cheung
