Solar options in Australia.

Panels installed on your own roof, generating electricity used in the home first and exporting the rest for a feed-in tariff. Small-scale technology certificates (STC incentive) reduce the upfront price.

Best for: Homeowners with an unshaded, structurally sound roof, reasonable orientation, and plans to stay in the home long enough to recover the outlay.

Watch out for: It stays with the property when you sell. Shading, heritage overlays, roof condition and body-corporate approval can rule it out. Feed-in tariffs have fallen in most states, so value now comes mainly from self-consumption.

Rooftop panels paired with home storage so daytime generation can be used at night, and — with the right inverter and switchboard wiring — can keep selected circuits running in a blackout.

Best for: Homeowners with high evening usage, an existing or planned rooftop system, and a genuine need for backup power or maximum self-sufficiency.

Watch out for: The largest upfront cost of any option here. Payback depends heavily on your usage pattern, tariff and any current federal or state battery incentive. Batteries degrade and typically need replacement within the life of the panels.

Home storage charged from the grid on cheap or off-peak tariffs (or via a virtual power plant) and discharged at peak times.

Best for: Households on a strong time-of-use or wholesale-linked tariff, or those who mainly want blackout backup and can't fit panels.

Watch out for: Without generation you are arbitraging price differences, not producing energy. Returns hinge entirely on the tariff spread and any VPP payments, both of which can change.

GreenPower or carbon-offset products bought from your existing retailer, matching your consumption with accredited renewable generation.

Best for: Anyone who wants a lower-carbon footprint immediately, with no equipment, contract complexity or capital outlay — renters and apartment dwellers included.

Watch out for: It usually increases your bill rather than reducing it. You own no asset and receive no long-term savings; check accreditation before paying a premium.

A shared, locally hosted array where participants buy or subscribe to a portion of output and receive bill credits from the participating retailer.

Best for: Renters, apartment residents and people who want a local, community-run project and are comfortable with limited availability.

Watch out for: Programs are geographically limited, often waitlisted, and frequently tied to one retailer or distribution area. Terms vary widely, so read the participation agreement closely.

A building-level private network — common in apartment blocks and retirement villages — where a shared solar system supplies residents through a single parent meter.

Best for: Strata buildings and developers able to fund a common-property system, where the scheme is set up transparently and residents keep the right to choose a retailer.

Watch out for: Requires body-corporate approval, metering work and ongoing administration. Poorly designed embedded networks have historically produced worse retail pricing for residents; check the network's exemption and pricing rules.

Folding panels, balcony arrays and portable power stations used for camping, tools, caravans or partial appliance backup.

Best for: Renters and travellers needing modest, mobile power, and anyone wanting a low-cost backup for a fridge, lights or devices.

Watch out for: Plug-in balcony solar is not broadly permitted under current Australian electrical rules — anything connected to household wiring needs a licensed electrician and network approval. Output is small; treat these as a supplement, not a bill solution.

You buy identifiable solar capacity hosted and maintained at commercial sites, and the value of what it generates is credited to your energy bill. Offered within a registered managed investment scheme (ARSN 612 098 110).

Best for: Renters, apartment residents, people with shaded, heritage or wrong-angled roofs, and anyone who expects to move — because ownership follows you rather than the property.

Watch out for: It provides bill savings, not backup power: there is no battery at your home and it will not keep the lights on in a blackout. It is a financial product — read the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination before deciding.