Six steps to installing solar and batteries
Thinking about solar and batteries?
From 1 September 2025 Council will be working with social enterprise ZapCat Pty Ltd to offer apartment residents, owners, strata committees and strata managers free independent advice on solar and batteries.
On offer are online instant estimates, quote reviews, free virtual consultations with energy experts and access to vetted installers.
Find out more about ZapCat's free home energy upgrade advice service
Work your way through the six step process to installing solar and batteries.
If you get through the steps and you've still got questions about properties that are heritage affected, refer to Council's Development approvals for solar page.
For all other queries, Council’s Renewable Energy Innovation Officer is here to help. Contact sonya.williams@innerwest.nsw.gov.au or Ph 9392 5932
Take a look at the steps to follow below.
Step 1: Background reading
A good starting point is to read the Clean Energy Council’s Solar Guide for Consumers From September 1 2025.
Council will be working with social enterprise ZapCat to provide free energy upgrade advice to residents and small business owners. ZapCat has developed a series of simple independent guides on a range of technologies including A simple guide to home solar - ZapCat
Step 2: Have your energy bills ready
Ideally, pull out 12 months of electricity bills – this will help work out your solar needs and payback time.
Step 3: Check suitability of your roof
Use the Sunspot tool to help calculate what size system can fit on your roof, what sized solar battery and how much you could save per year on your electricity bills. If you've got questions about properties that are heritage affected, refer to Council's Development approvals for solar page.
Step 4: Choosing a solar or battery retailer
When choosing a solar or battery retailer, it pays to do some research and get several quotes.
The independent Energy Tech Guide directory prepared by Energy Consumers Australia lists the following new energy tech industry information resources
Step 5: Reviewing quotes, contracts and installation
Step 6: What should I expect on installation day?
Your solar installers should:
- Install your rooftop solar panels
- Run electric cables to your inverter
- Mount the inverter on your wall
- Connect the inverter to your smart meter
- Install isolation switches on the roof, next to your inverter, in your smart meter box
- Test the entire solar system
- Give you a demonstration of the system
- Ensure that you are satisfied with their work
- Ask you to sign the paperwork for the solar panel system, the Small Scale Certificates, any other state rebates.
What solar payback can I expect?
Your specific payback will depend on:
- how much electricity you use
- the time of day you use electricity
- your electricity price
- the size of the solar system
- the solar panels tilt, orientation and shading
In Sydney and on the coast of NSW, each kW of solar panels creates approximately 4 kWhs of electricity a day. For example, a 5kW solar system will generate about 20kWh a day, with some variation between summer and winter.
Commonwealth Solar Consumer Guide
New in 2024! This online guide will take you through the steps of installing, using and maintaining a rooftop solar system and battery for your home or small business, with guidance from government and independent industry experts.
You can find out what size solar and battery system you need via the SunSPoT solar mapping tool and estimate the cost and savings.
Switch to solar power | energy.gov.au