REC

If I were buying solar in Australia in 2026, I’d focus less on the sales company’s brochure and more on the installer quality + panel/inverter/battery brands. A great installer using mainstream gear usually beats a cheap installer using “premium” labels badly.

Quick shortlist: brands Aussies actually use

Best solar panel brands

Best mainstream/value picks

1. Jinko Solar – Tiger Neo
   Probably the safest “people actually use it” pick: high-volume, well-priced, widely installed. SunWiz ranked Jinko #1 panel manufacturer in Australia for 2025 by volume, and Solar Victoria data also showed Jinko as the most popular panel brand in its 2025 program, at about 30% share. (sunwiz.com.au)

2. Aiko – Neostar
   My favourite “newer high-performance/value” pick. Aiko won SolarQuotes’ 2026 Installer’s Choice panel award, with 28% of installer votes, after also winning in 2025. Good if you want high efficiency without paying REC/SunPower money, but note it has a shorter Australian track record than Jinko, Trina or LONGi. (solarquotes.com.au)

3. LONGi
   A very strong everyday choice. SolarQuotes’ Australian homeowner-review ranking had LONGi #1 as of October 2026, with a 5.0 rating from thousands of reviews. (solarquotes.com.au)

Good mainstream alternatives

• Trina Solar – Vertex / Vertex S+
• JA Solar – DeepBlue
• Canadian Solar
• Risen These are commonly seen in Australian quotes and can be perfectly good if the installer is reputable.

Premium picks

• REC – Alpha series: excellent panels, but you pay more.
• SunPower: respected high-end product, and it placed third in the 2026 SolarQuotes installer vote; just check exactly who supports the Australian warranty for the model being quoted. (solarquotes.com.au)

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Best inverter brands

1. Sungrow – best all-rounder for most homes
   Sungrow won SolarQuotes’ 2026 Installer’s Choice inverter award and SunWiz ranked it #1 residential inverter manufacturer in Australia for 2025. It’s usually the sweet spot: good gear, good price, strong hybrid/battery ecosystem. (solarquotes.com.au)

2. Fronius – Primo / Symo / Gen24 – premium, long reputation
   Fronius was the benchmark premium inverter brand in Australia for years and still placed third in SolarQuotes’ 2026 installer vote after winning the award for five consecutive years. Great if you’re happy paying extra for reputation and support. (solarquotes.com.au)

3. GoodWe – value/budget, widely used
   GoodWe is a common quote inclusion and strong value choice. Solar Victoria’s 2025 data showed GoodWe at 34% inverter share in its program, and SunWiz ranked GoodWe #3 below-the-meter inverter manufacturer for Australia’s 2025 calendar year. (solar.vic.gov.au)

4. Enphase – best for complex roofs / shade / microinverters
   More expensive, but worth considering if you have heavy shading, multiple roof faces, or want panel-level monitoring.

5. Sigenergy – best “new integrated system” contender
   Strong if you want a neat integrated inverter/battery/EV-charging ecosystem. It’s newer, so choose an installer who knows the product well.

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Best home battery brands

1. Sigenergy – SigenStor
   Won SolarQuotes’ 2026 Installer’s Choice home battery award with 26% of installer votes. Good for a clean, stackable, integrated setup. (solarquotes.com.au)

2. Sungrow – SBR / SBH
   Came second in the 2026 installer vote with 21%, and pairs neatly with Sungrow hybrid inverters. Good value and widely supported. (solarquotes.com.au)

3. Tesla Powerwall 3
   Still a very popular, simple “premium consumer product” option. Good app, strong brand, integrated inverter, and a common quote inclusion.

4. iStore
   Big riser in 2026; came third in SolarQuotes’ battery vote. Worth considering, but check VPP compatibility and installer experience. (solarquotes.com.au)

5. BYD
   Solid battery brand, often paired with Fronius or compatible hybrid systems.

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My recommended system combos

Best value solar-only system

• Panels: Jinko Tiger Neo, Aiko Neostar, LONGi, Trina or JA Solar
• Inverter: Sungrow or GoodWe
• Who it suits: Most Australian homes wanting good payback without overspending.

Best value solar + battery

• Panels: Jinko or Aiko
• Inverter/battery: Sungrow hybrid + Sungrow battery, or Sigenergy integrated system
• Who it suits: Homes with evening usage, EV plans, low feed-in tariffs, or backup-power needs.

Premium system

• Panels: REC or SunPower
• Inverter: Fronius or Enphase
• Battery: BYD, Tesla Powerwall 3, or Sigenergy
• Who it suits: Long-term owners who want top-tier gear and are less price-sensitive.

Shaded or complicated roof

• Panels: Any reputable brand above
• Inverter: Enphase microinverters, SolarEdge optimisers, or selected Tigo optimisers
• Who it suits: Lots of shade, many roof orientations, chimneys, trees, dormers.

Australian-made panel option

• Panels: Tindo Solar
• Inverter: Fronius, Sungrow or GoodWe
• Who it suits: Buyers who specifically value Australian manufacturing.

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Solar installation companies to consider

For national or widely recognised installers, Canstar’s 2026 customer-satisfaction rankings put Solahart first, followed by Solargain, Origin Energy, Arise Solar and SolarHub. Canstar surveyed 1,840 Australian solar customers and assessed 20 providers. (canstar.com.au)

For highly rated local/vetted installers, SolarQuotes’ September 2026 leaderboard listed RESINC Solar, Positive Energy Solutions, Brightworks Solar, Goliath Solar and Electrical, Jet Solar, Lenergy, RenewCo Solar and DSW Energy among its “legendary” rated installers based on recent review volume and rating. (solarquotes.com.au)

My advice: don’t automatically pick a national brand. Get 3 quotes from accredited local installers, then compare the exact panel model, inverter model, warranty, workmanship warranty, battery backup design and after-sales support.

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What I’d personally avoid

• Unknown panel/inverter brands with no obvious Australian support.
• “Free solar”, “rebate ending today”, “your suburb is eligible” style lead-gen ads.
• Quotes that don’t list exact model numbers.
• Very cheap systems where the installer won’t name the actual electrician.
• Paying a big premium for panels while cheaping out on the inverter or installation.

CHOICE specifically recommends getting itemised quotes that name the panel, inverter and battery brands/models, show warranties, name the actual installer, and clearly list any extra work or substitutions. It also warns against pushy sales tactics, unrealistic payback claims and suspiciously cheap deals. (choice.com.au)

Bottom line

For most Australian households, I’d shortlist:

• Panels: Jinko, Aiko, LONGi, Trina, JA Solar
• Inverter: Sungrow first; Fronius if premium; GoodWe if value-focused
• Battery: Sigenergy, Sungrow, Tesla Powerwall 3, BYD, iStore
• Installer: choose the best-reviewed local installer, not just the cheapest quote.

Here's a rundown of what's actually popular and well-regarded in the Australian solar market right now (panels, installers, and the overall buying process), based on recent industry data and installer surveys.

🔆 Top Solar Panel Brands (what installers actually recommend)

According to SolarQuotes' 2026 Installer's Choice Awards (voted on by hundreds of accredited installers), the clear favourites are:

1. Aiko – for the second year running, Aiko came out on top, attracting 28% of installer votes and comfortably outpacing the rest of the field
2. Jinko Solar – coming in second place with 14% of the vote
3. SunPower (Maxeon) – rounding out the podium with 11% of installer votes; SunPower panels have long been regarded as some of the best-built solar panels on the market, with exceptionally low reported failure rates and warranties extending to 40 years on some models

Other panels that consistently show up as strong, trusted choices for Aussie conditions include REC, Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, LONGi, and Winaico. For example, Trina Solar is a well-established global brand offering strong performance and value, while Canadian Solar's latest generation N-type panels are widely used across Australian residential systems. If you want a no-compromise premium option, SunPower's Maxeon 6 is known for its industry-leading warranty and premium back-contact cell technology delivering excellent long-term performance.

Quick picks depending on priority:

• Best overall/premium performance: Aiko or SunPower Maxeon
• Best value/mainstream reliability: Trina, Jinko, or Canadian Solar
• Long warranty peace of mind: Winaico (30-year product warranty) or REC

🏢 Top Installers/Retail Brands

For the actual company that installs the system (not just the panel brand), a few names dominate nationally:

• Solahart – Australian-owned Solahart is the 2026 winner of the Most Satisfied Customers Award for Solar Installers. It's a long-running, dealer-network brand that's a safe, well-known choice if you want local support and a recognisable name — it's built for a household that wants solar and battery from a brand it has heard of, prefers dealing with a local business, and doesn't want to piece together installers, retailers, and financing options from scratch.
• 1KOMMA5° – ranked #1 ESS (energy storage system) installer nationally in the 2026 SunWiz Awards, a strong pick if you're bundling solar + battery.
• Resinc – rated #1 Best Rated installer nationally.
• Other well-regarded, highly rated installers depending on your state include Solargain, Origin Energy, SolarBright (NSW), RegenPower (WA), Carbon Savers (VIC), and Penrith Solar Centre (NSW) — the latter known for published 10-year workmanship warranties and manufacturer recognition.

🔋 Inverters & Batteries (general market notes)

While not covered in detail in the sources above, the brands Australians most commonly pair with these panels for inverters and home batteries are **Fronius, SMA, Sungrow, and Go

In Australia, finding the right "solar company" is a two-part process. You need to choose the equipment brands (the panels, inverters, and batteries) and the retail installer (the local sparkies who actually mount them on your roof).

Because Australia has one of the highest solar adoption rates in the world, the market is highly mature, but it still has its share of "solar cowboys".

Using the latest industry data, installer feedback (such as the annual SolarQuotes Installer Choice Awards), and real-world consumer satisfaction, here is a breakdown of the top brands and installers Aussies actually trust.

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1. The Best Solar Panel Brands

While almost all panels installed in Australia are Tier 1, there is a clear distinction between premium panels (ideal for tight spaces, high heat, and longest warranties) and high-performance value panels (the workhorses most Australians use).

The Rising Superstar: AIKO

• The Verdict: AIKO has taken the Australian market by storm, winning the gold medal in recent installer choice surveys.
• Why people use them: They offer some of the highest efficiency ratings on the market (over 24%) using "back-contact" technology, meaning they look sleek (all-black) and perform exceptionally well in the Aussie heat.

The Premium Gold Standards: REC & SunPower (Maxeon)

• The Verdict: If you have the budget and want a "set-and-forget" system for the next 25 to 40 years, these are the best.
• REC (Alpha Pure series): Heavily favored by installers for low degradation, extremely tough build quality, and a 25-year product and performance warranty.
• SunPower / Maxeon: The undisputed king of premium solar. They offer an industry-leading 40-year warranty. They are expensive but virtually indestructible.

The High-Value Workhorses: Jinko Solar & Trina Solar

• The Verdict: If you want a reliable system that pays itself off quickly, these are what the vast majority of Australians actually have on their roofs.
• Jinko Solar (Tiger Neo): A stalwart of the Australian market. Exceptionally reliable, mass-produced, and highly cost-effective.
• Trina Solar (Vertex S+): Highly popular, very durable dual-glass design, and excellent value for money.

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2. The Best Solar Inverter Brands

The inverter is the "brain" of your solar system. It converts DC power to AC and works the hardest. Do not skimp on the inverter. Cheap inverters are notorious for failing during intense Australian summer heatwaves.

The All-Rounder & Hybrid King: Sungrow

• The Verdict: Sungrow is currently the most popular inverter brand in Australia. It is the absolute favorite for homeowners looking for a hybrid system (solar + battery ready).
• Why people use them: Excellent price-to-performance ratio, great local Australian support, and highly intuitive monitoring apps.

The Premium Workhorse: Fronius

• The Verdict: Austrian-made and legendary in the industry. If you are installing a "string" inverter (where panels are linked together) and want the most robust unit on the market, get the Fronius Gen24 Plus.
• Why people use them: Incredible active cooling (crucial for keeping the unit operating in 40°C heat) and unmatched reliability.

The Next-Gen Challenger: Sigenergy

• The Verdict: A relatively new player that has rapidly risen to the top of installer recommendations.
• Why people use them: It features a highly advanced, stackable modular design integrating the inverter, battery, and EV charger, complete with AI-driven energy management.

For Shaded or Complex Roofs: Enphase

• The Verdict: Unlike string inverters, Enphase uses "microinverters"—small units placed under every individual panel.
• Why people use them: If you have trees, chimneys, or a roof facing multiple directions, Enphase ensures a shaded panel doesn’t drag down the performance of the rest of the system. It’s premium and expensive, but highly effective.

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3. The Best Solar Installation Companies (Retailers)

A great product installed poorly is a recipe for disaster. In Australia, finding a trustworthy installer is critical.

Generally, local, family-owned, mid-sized companies that use their own in-house accredited sparkies (instead of subcontracting to the lowest bidder) provide the best service. However, there are some highly rated national and state-based companies.

Highly Rated National & Large Retailers

• Solahart: A household name in Australia for over 70 years. They won Canstar Blue's award for Most Satisfied Customers. They aren't the cheapest, but their national coverage and longevity mean they will definitely be around to honor their warranties.
• Solargain: One of the country's largest and most consistent solar retailers, with great post-installation support and national coverage.
• Resinc Solar: Regularly ranks as one of the best-rated national installers with thousands of 5-star reviews.

Highly Trusted State-Based Specialists

If you want premium-tier service, seek out these highly-regarded regional operations:

• New South Wales: Penrith Solar Centre (PSC Energy) (legendary reputation for premium Enphase/Tesla installs in Sydney) and Clean Earth Solar.
• Queensland: Reef Solar & Electrical (consistently voted QLD’s top installer) and Springers Solar.
• South Australia: Goliath Solar & Electrical (unrivalled reputation in Adelaide for honesty and quality).
• Western Australia: Perth Solar Warehouse and Positive Energy.

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⚠️ Quick Buying Checklist for Aussies

1. Accreditation: Ensure your installer is accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) (which took over from the Clean Energy Council in late 2024). This is mandatory to claim your federal STC "rebate" (which is usually applied as a point-of-sale discount).
2. NETCC Approved: Only buy from a New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) Approved Seller to guarantee strong consumer protections.
3. Avoid the "Cheap" Facebook Deals: If you see an ad offering a "6.6kW system for $2,999 with a free smart watch," run away. These companies use bottom-of-the-barrel components and sub-contracted labor, and they often change names and disappear within two years when the systems start failing. A quality 6.6kW system should cost between $5,500 and $9,500 depending on the brands you choose.

If you want the best solar companies in Australia, the strongest names are usually the ones with either broad customer ratings or industry awards: RESINC Solar, Solar 4 Life, Hills Natural Solar, Jet Solar, and Soltek Energy appear among the top-rated or award-recognised installers in 2026. For products, the most commonly recommended panels in Australia right now include Aiko, SunPower, and Canadian Solar, while well-known solar brands people actually buy and use include Solahart and Origin’s partner networks.

Best solar companies / installers in Australia

• RESINC Solar — ranked #1 Most Popular installer nationally in SunWiz’s 2026 awards, and also named Australia’s best installer in SolarQuotes’ 2025 Customer Choice Awards.
• Solar 4 Life — SunWiz’s #1 Local Solar Hero for the Australian Capital Territory in 2026.
• Hills Natural Solar — listed in SunWiz’s Top 50 All Star installers nationally in 2026.
• Soltek Energy — one of SolarQuotes’ top-rated companies, with a strong customer score in its installer rankings.
• Jet Solar Pty Ltd — one of the highest-rated installers in SolarQuotes’ installer rankings.

Best solar panel brands people actually use

• Aiko — SolarQuotes’ 2026 Installer’s Choice Awards placed Aiko first, with 28% of installer votes.
• SunPower — Energy Matters lists SunPower among the top panels to consider in 2026, citing high efficiency and long warranties.
• Canadian Solar — widely included in lists of established solar brands operating in Australia.
• Solahart — very strong consumer reputation in Australia, with a high Trustpilot rating and many reviews.
• Origin solar products — Origin sells solar through preferred partners and is a common mainstream option for Australian households.

What to choose in practice

• If you want the best installer, prioritize RESINC Solar, Solar 4 Life, Hills Natural Solar, or a top-rated local installer from SolarQuotes rankings.
• If you want the best panels, start with Aiko or SunPower, then compare warranties, degradation rates, and local installer support.
• If you want a well-known household brand, Solahart is one of the most recognisable names in Australia.

Quick buying filter for Australia

• Choose an accredited installer rather than only a retailer.
• Check independent reviews and local ratings before signing.
• Compare the panel brand, inverter brand, battery compatibility, and warranty terms rather than choosing on price alone.

If you want, I can also give you a state-by-state shortlist for NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, and ACT, or a best solar panels vs best installers comparison for your budget.

Short answer: there’s no single “best” solar company in Australia — the installer matters as much as the brand. But for most Aussie homes, the sweet spot is a Tier 1 panel + a reliable inverter from a brand with local support. If you want the names people actually install, these are the ones you’ll see on most good quotes.

Panels — what people actually use in Australia

Premium

• REC Alpha – very popular premium panel, good efficiency and warranty.
• Q CELLS Q.TRON – strong all-rounder, widely installed.
• Maxeon – premium/high-efficiency, usually expensive.
• Winaico – well-regarded in Australia, good warranty.
• Tindo Solar – Australian-made panels from Adelaide, if you want local manufacturing.

Mainstream / best value

• Jinko Tiger Neo – one of the most installed panel brands in Australia.
• LONGi Hi-MO – very common, good value.
• Trina Vertex S+ – reliable, widely available.
• JA Solar DeepBlue – solid Tier 1 value.
• Canadian Solar HiKu – common on budget-to-mid quotes.

Budget/value

• Risen, Seraphim, Suntech – cheaper, but check local support and warranty terms.

Inverters — the part that usually matters most

Premium

• Fronius – very popular in Australia, reliable, good monitoring.
• SMA – German, solid, often used in premium systems.
• Enphase – microinverters; great for shade/complex roofs.
• SolarEdge – optimisers; good for shading and panel-level monitoring.

Mainstream / most common

• Sungrow – often the #1 inverter brand in Australia, good value and battery-ready.
• Huawei – popular with battery systems, strong monitoring.
• GoodWe – good value, widely used.
• SolaX – common on budget/mid systems.

Budget

• Growatt – cheap, but less premium support and features.

Batteries — commonly installed in Australia

• Tesla Powerwall 3 – the most famous home battery here.
• Sungrow SBR – popular, good value, pairs with Sungrow hybrid inverters.
• BYD Battery-Box – widely used, reliable.
• Enphase IQ Battery – good if you have Enphase microinverters.
• Huawei LUNA2000 – popular with Huawei inverter systems.
• Sonnen – premium German battery.
• GoodWe Lynx / Alpha ESS – common mid/budget options.

Real-world setups people actually buy

1. Best value for most homes: 6.6–10kW system with Jinko/LONGi/Trina panels + Sungrow or GoodWe inverter.
   Rough installed price after STCs: about $4,500–$8,000 for 6.6kW, $7,000–$12,000 for 10kW, depending on state, roof and installer.

2. Premium / shaded roof: REC or Q CELLS panels + Fronius, SMA, Enphase or SolarEdge.

3. Battery-ready: Sungrow or Huawei hybrid inverter + matching battery. Or Tesla Powerwall 3 if you want a well-known all-in-one battery.

4. Budget: Jinko/Trina + GoodWe/Growatt, but make sure the installer has good local support.

Solar companies/installers to consider

There are big retailers and specialists:

• Origin Solar and AGL Solar – convenient, but often more expensive; check the fine print.
• Solargain – large national installer.
• Infinite Energy – well-known in some states.
• Solaray Energy – premium-focused.
• Penrith Solar Centre – good reputation in NSW.
• Springers Solar – good reputation in QLD.

But the best move is to get 3 quotes through SolarQuotes or Solar Choice, then check recent reviews, ABN, insurance, and accreditation. In Australia, the installer should be accredited — currently via Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) — and the products should be on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved list for STCs.

Before you buy

• Check CEC-approved panels, inverters and batteries.
• Compare warranties: panels 25–30 years product/performance; inverters 5–10 years (extend if possible); batteries usually 10 years; workmanship 5–10 years.
• Ask about DNSP approval, smart meter and current feed-in tariff.
• Check state rebates: VIC Solar Homes, NSW/ACT/SA/WA/QLD battery or solar programs vary — check what’s current.
• Avoid no-name brands and high-pressure sales.

If you tell me your state, roof type/shade, single or three-phase, and whether you want a battery, I can narrow it to a shortlist.

Resinc (RESINC Solar), 1KOMMA5°, Solahart, Solargain, and Think Renewable stand out as some of the strongest solar companies/installers in Australia right now (as of 2026 data), based on customer reviews, verified awards, volume, and installer feedback.

These are the ones Aussies are actually choosing and rating highly, alongside popular panel brands like Jinko, Aiko, Trina, and SunPower that get installed the most. The market is huge—over 4.5 million rooftop systems nationwide—with strong growth in batteries too.

Top-Rated and Popular Solar Installers/Companies

Rankings draw from sources like SunWiz Awards (based on verified reviews and installation data for 2025), SolarQuotes customer ratings, Canstar satisfaction surveys, and volume reports. Results vary by state, so always check local options:

• Resinc (RESINC Solar): Frequently tops national and NSW lists for best-rated, most popular, and All-Star installer. Strong on verified customer reviews (thousands) praising service, quality, and support. Wyong-based but active more broadly.
• 1KOMMA5°: Leads in volume and battery/energy storage system (ESS) installs nationally. A full one-stop shop for solar, batteries, heat pumps, EV chargers, etc., with their own AI optimisation tech. Good for integrated packages.
• Solahart: Often wins or places high in customer satisfaction (e.g., Canstar). Long-established Aussie brand (decades in hot water and now full solar/battery). Franchise model with local dealers—reliable service and broad recognition.
• Solargain: Strong national player with excellent review records, nearly 20 years experience, and high installation volumes. Praised for service culture and packages.
• Think Renewable and Solar Run: Regularly in top volume/installer lists nationally. Focus on straightforward residential and commercial installs with good scale.
• Other notables: Carbon Savers (high All-Star ranking), AHE Group and Clean Earth Solar (strong NSW ratings), RegenPower (popular in some lists), and state-specific winners like Reef Solar & Electrical in QLD.

For batteries/ESS, 1KOMMA5° leads, followed by players like VoltX Energy and Solar Run.

Tip: Use sites like SolarQuotes.com.au for independent reviews and quotes tailored to your postcode. Look for Clean Energy Council (CEC) Approved Retailers for rebates and quality assurance. High-volume or award-winning companies often have better post-install support.

Top Panel Brands People Actually Use

Installer surveys (e.g., SolarQuotes Installer’s Choice) and market data highlight what’s popular on Aussie roofs:

• Aiko: Current favourite among installers (won #1 for the second year). Back-contact tech for high efficiency (~23-25%), great looks, and solid value. Rising fast since launching here.
• Jinko Solar (Tiger Neo range): Often #1 or top by volume/market share. Reliable, efficient N-type TOPCon panels, widely available, and a safe mainstream choice.
• SunPower (Maxeon): Premium pick—excellent build quality, very low degradation, and top-tier warranties (up to 40 years in some cases). Strong installer votes.
• Trina Solar (Vertex series): Popular value option with good efficiency, strong Australian presence, and frequent mentions in installs.
• REC: Premium/coastal favourite for durability and performance.

Other commonly installed: LONGi, Canadian Solar, Q CELLS, and JA Solar for balanced price/performance.

Most systems use 6.6 kW (the sweet spot for many homes and rebates) or larger (e.g., 10 kW) if you have EVs or high usage.

Quick Advice for Choosing in Australia

• Get 3+ quotes: Compare equipment (panels + inverter), workmanship warranty (aim for 5–10+ years), total price after STC rebate, and battery options. Factor in your state’s incentives (e.g., battery rebates in some places).
• Prioritise: CEC accreditation, real customer reviews (ProductReview.com.au or SolarQuotes), local support, and warranties (25 years product/performance is standard on good panels).
• Batteries: Tesla Powerwall is popular; check integration with your system and any VPP (virtual power plant) programs for extra earnings.
• Real talk: Cheaper isn’t always better—focus on reputable installers to avoid issues down the track. Most owners report solid savings on bills, with payback often in a few years.

Your best bet depends on location, roof, usage, and budget—e.g., a Sydney family might lean Resinc or AHE Group, while a Perth household could look at local volume leaders. Start with a few quotes from the top-rated ones above, and you’ll be right. If you share your state or system size needs, I can narrow it further!