Solar panels are one of the most common home upgrades in Perth, and buyers increasingly expect them. But beyond the savings on your energy bill, does a solar system actually add to what your home is worth? And does adding a battery change the equation?
The short answer is yes. Independent research consistently shows that Perth homes with solar sell for more than comparable homes without. This post covers what the data shows, what drives the value premium, and what it means if you are installing solar now with an eye on future sale value.
What the Research Shows
A September 2025 report from Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) looked at more than six million Australian homes. It found that homes with solar power systems are valued at around 2.7% more than comparable homes without. That equals a national average uplift of approximately $23,100.
Research from the University of Western Australia looked at the Perth market specifically. It found a premium of between 2.32% and 3.20%, or approximately $16,000 to $22,000 added to the median Perth house price, depending on system size and quality. Both figures point the same way: solar adds real, measurable value to Perth property.
These are not theoretical figures. They reflect what buyers are actually willing to pay. Perth electricity prices keep rising, and household energy costs are a constant concern. Buyers price in the benefit of lower bills before they make an offer.
Why Perth Is a Particularly Strong Market for Solar Value
Perth has the highest solar coverage of any Australian capital city. More than 40% of Perth homes already have rooftop solar. That level of uptake shapes buyer expectations in a specific way: solar has moved from a bonus feature to something buyers notice the absence of. A home without solar, in a suburb where most neighbours have it, is a slightly less attractive option.
Perth also has the best solar conditions in Australia. It gets over 3,000 daylight hours per year, with consistent sun exposure that makes a solar system here genuinely more productive than the same system in Sydney or Melbourne. Buyers understand this, especially those who have researched energy costs before buying.
The Perth property market has been one of the strongest-performing in Australia through 2025 and 2026, with median house prices still growing. In a rising market, the premium that solar adds compounds on top of broader price growth. This means the absolute dollar value of the uplift has grown alongside the median.
What Drives the Value Premium
Not all solar systems add the same value. Research consistently shows the uplift depends on several factors, not just having panels on the roof.
System size matters
A larger system generates more electricity and cuts bills by more, and buyers price that benefit in. A 10 kW system is worth more to a buyer than a 6.6 kW system on the same property. Buyers who have researched solar understand the difference and factor it into their offer.
Age and condition affect confidence
A 12-year-old solar system with unknown remaining warranty life is a different proposition to a 2-year-old system with 28 years of manufacturer warranty left. Buyers increasingly know that solar panels degrade over time, and that warranties are not always simple to claim. An ageing system may need disclosure to potential buyers, and could draw questions about remaining output and warranty coverage.
Battery storage is becoming expected
Research from Cotality and industry analysts consistently shows buyers will pay more for a home with battery storage included. A solar-only system still leaves a home dependent on the grid after dark. A solar and battery system gives buyers genuine energy independence: lower bills around the clock, the ability to ride out short outages, and potential income from grid participation through programs like Synergy Battery Rewards. That complete picture earns a greater premium than panels alone.
Brand and warranty quality is transferable value
A solar system installed with premium panels, a reputable inverter, and a workmanship warranty that transfers to the new owner is a very different asset to one installed with budget components and no warranty left. The panel brand, inverter, battery manufacturer, and warranty terms all affect how much confidence a buyer has, and how much they are willing to pay.
This matters most for warranties that cover labour as well as products. If a panel fails five years after sale, a buyer who inherited a system with a 30-year labour warranty has the manufacturer’s obligation to fix it at no cost. A buyer who inherited a system with product-only warranties faces labour costs out of pocket. Buyers who understand this pay accordingly.
Does a Battery Add Value Beyond the Solar System?
Yes, and the premium is growing as battery adoption increases and buyers become more familiar with what storage means in practice.
The value a battery adds is partly financial, through lower overnight electricity costs and potential grid participation credits, and partly practical, through backup power during outages and greater energy independence. As Perth’s electricity prices keep rising and power outages come up more often in buyer conversations, the backup capability of a battery-equipped home is increasingly priced into offers.
Battery storage is still less common than solar in Perth. Uptake is growing but is well below the 40%+ solar coverage rate. That means a home with both solar and battery storage still stands out in most suburbs. As battery uptake grows over the next few years, the absence of storage is likely to affect perceived value the same way solar absence already does today.
What This Means If You Are Installing Now
If you are installing solar and battery now, whether in a new build or an existing home, the value case supports choosing quality and system completeness over the lowest cost.
A premium solar and battery system installed today will be 5 to 10 years old at a likely future sale. At that point, a buyer’s solicitor or building inspector will ask: what brand are the panels, what warranty remains, is labour covered, who installed it, and is there any monitoring or service history. The answers to those questions decide whether the system is an asset that supports the sale price, or a liability that needs negotiation.
Installing a system with premium panels, a reliable inverter and battery, a long workmanship warranty, and professional monitoring from day one means those future questions have strong answers. The system becomes a documented, warranted, maintained asset, not an unknown quantity.
What This Means If You Are Buying a Home with Solar
If you are buying a home that already has solar, it is worth understanding what you are buying. Ask the vendor for:
- The brand and model of the solar panels, inverter, and battery (if present)
- The original installation date and installer name
- Copies of the manufacturer warranties and any workmanship warranty
- Whether the workmanship warranty is transferable to the new owner
- Any monitoring data or service history
A well-documented, premium system from a reputable installer with transferable warranties is worth paying for. An undocumented system from an unknown installer with expired or limited warranties is a different proposition, and the price should reflect that.
Positive Energy Solutions Systems: Built to Add and Retain Value
Every system Positive Energy Solutions installs is built around components and warranty terms that hold up over time. This includes SunPower P-Series panels with a 30-year integrated product, performance, and labour warranty, premium inverters and batteries from established manufacturers, and our own 10-year workmanship warranty on every installation. Omnidian monitoring is included on every system from day one, giving a continuous performance record that supports future disclosure and buyer confidence.
Whether you are installing with future sale value in mind, or simply want a system that performs well for the life of the property, the same principles apply: quality components, complete documentation, long warranties, and ongoing professional support.
Get a No-Obligation Quote
Positive Energy Solutions provides solar and battery quotes for Perth homeowners across all property types and stages: new builds, existing homes, and properties being prepared for sale. Visit our showroom to discuss your property and get a quote based on your specific roof, energy use, and goals.
Related guides
- Synergy A1 vs Midday Saver vs EV Add-On: Which Electricity Plan Suits Your Perth Solar Home?
- Adding a Battery to Your Existing Solar System in Perth: 2026 Costs, Rebates, and Inverter Compatibility Guide
- How the Cheaper Home Batteries Program Works in Perth — What You Actually Get in 2026
- How Much Can You Save with Solar and Battery in Perth? 2026 Breakdown
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does solar add to a Perth home’s value?
University of Western Australia research found a premium of between 2.32% and 3.20% for Perth homes with solar. That is approximately $16,000 to $22,000, depending on system size and quality. National data from Cotality, based on more than six million homes, shows a 2.7% average uplift nationally, or around $23,100. The actual figure for any single property depends on system size, age, quality, and whether a battery is included.
Does a battery add value on top of the solar system?
Yes. Buyer appetite for storage is growing as awareness of battery benefits increases. A home with both solar and battery storage offers lower bills around the clock, possible backup power during outages, and grid participation income. This is a more complete energy proposition than solar alone. Research and agent feedback consistently show that storage-equipped homes earn a greater premium than solar-only properties.
Does system quality affect the value premium?
Yes, significantly. A premium system with brand-name panels, a reputable inverter and battery, long manufacturer warranties, and a transferable workmanship warranty is a documented asset that supports the sale price. A budget system with expired or product-only warranties and no service history creates uncertainty for buyers. Quality and documentation make the difference between solar being a clear selling point or a point of negotiation.
What if my solar system is old?
An ageing system may still have value, particularly if it is a larger system that still generates well. But buyers will have questions about remaining warranty life, panel degradation, and inverter condition. If you are preparing to sell with an older system, it is worth having it inspected and documented. An inspection report and any remaining warranty certificates are better than no answers to those questions.
Does solar need to be disclosed when selling a home?
Generally, yes. Solar panels and batteries are fixtures that should be disclosed in the sale. The details that matter most to buyers are the brand, age, warranty terms, and whether the workmanship warranty transfers to the new owner. Your conveyancer can advise on disclosure obligations specific to your sale, but thorough documentation usually supports the sale rather than complicating it.
Is Perth a better market than other cities for solar value?
Perth has more solar-favourable conditions than any other Australian capital, with over 3,000 daylight hours per year. It also has one of the highest residential solar penetration rates in the country, at over 40%. This means buyers in most Perth suburbs expect solar as part of the property, which anchors the value premium. The Perth property market’s sustained strength through 2025 and 2026 has also increased the absolute dollar value of percentage-based uplifts.
About the Author
Jason Wiktorowicz
Sales Manager, Positive Energy Solutions | Perth, WA
Jason has been at the centre of Western Australia’s energy transition for over a decade. As Orchestration Lead on Project Symphony — WA’s largest virtual power plant pilot — and Stream Lead on Project Encore, he worked directly with AEMO, Western Power and Energy Policy WA to shape how distributed energy resources connect and operate on the SWIS. That work included developing and rolling out CSIP-AUS, now mandatory for all new WA grid connections. He also led Emergency Solar Management (ESM), the first program of its kind in WA, VPP for Schools (VPP4S), which provided direct market benefits through Supplementary Reserve Capacity, and REBAR, the WA Residential Battery Rebate scheme.
His earlier career spanned Synergy, Infinite Energy and Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute, where he co-authored peer-reviewed research on net-zero urban precincts, solar integration and peer-to-peer energy trading, published in the journal Urban Planning in 2018.
At Positive Energy Solutions, Jason leads sales with a focus on system design accuracy and long-term performance. Positive Energy Solutions installs solar and battery systems, EV chargers and heat pumps, and holds partner accreditations with Fronius, SigEnergy, iStore and SunPower. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
