Press & media

Data and comment on Australian residential solar.

Solar Select matches Australian homeowners with 2-3 vetted solar and battery installers, based on postcode and the type of system they want. Free for homeowners. This page collects what we publish that journalists and researchers cite: two open studies, the datasets behind them, and how to reach us.

Two citable findings

Solar Payback Index 2026

Sunshine is a poor predictor of solar payback in Australia

We modelled solar payback for all 17,856 Australian suburbs using Bureau of Meteorology sun-hour data and state electricity tariffs. Perth generates more electricity than Adelaide and takes 43% longer to pay back, because payback tracks the gap between the usage rate and the feed-in rate, not irradiance.

  • Perth: 10,033 kWh/yr generated, 4.51-year payback
  • Adelaide: 9,624 kWh/yr generated, 3.15-year payback
  • Spread between best and worst capital: 63% for identical hardware

Full findings, method and capital table

CER battery inspection findings

What the battery inspection data actually found — and what it does not say

Of 1,278 home battery installations inspected under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program between July 2025 and April 2026, more than 60% were classified substandard and 1.2% unsafe. Those are two separate categories, and conflating them is the most common misreading: the figure supports treating installer selection as a material risk decision, not a claim that most installs are dangerous.

  • 1,278 installations inspected, July 2025 – April 2026
  • More than 60% classified substandard; 1.2% classified unsafe — separate categories
  • An installation-quality finding, not a product or brand ranking

Our analysis: scope, limits and what follows for buyers

Primary source for the inspection figures: uts.edu.au — CER battery inspection findings, April 2026.

Data available on request

  • The full 17,856-row payback dataset (CSV), or a cut for any suburb, postcode set or electorate.
  • Per-suburb model outputs — sun-hours, generation, savings and payback.
  • Comment on solar economics, feed-in tariffs, battery rebates and installer selection.

Dataset requests go through our contact page so a person handles each one.

Media contact

For interviews, data requests or a fresh cut of either study for your patch: hello@solarselect.au