Going All-Electric at Home: How to Size Your Solar for Heat Pump, EV and Battery
February 26th, 2026
If you’re going all-electric: heat pump hot water, reverse cycle heating and cooling, an EV in the garage, a standard 6.6kW solar system will not be enough.
The most common mistake we see is that people size their solar system for the home they have today, not the electrified home they’re building. A fully electrified home uses roughly double the electricity of a conventional one, and the solar system powering it needs to reflect that.
This guide walks through how to calculate the right system size, when battery makes financial sense, state-by-state targets, and the five things to tell your installer before they quote.
How Much Solar Does a Fully Electrified Home Actually Need?
When you electrify your home, you’re moving energy loads from the gas network onto your electrical system. Solar electricity is significantly cheaper than gas — but it means your daily electricity consumption roughly doubles. Most sizing calculators don’t account for this.
Here’s what each electrified load adds to your daily consumption:
| Load | Est. daily consumption |
|---|---|
| Base household (lighting, appliances, fridge) | 8–12 kWh |
| Ducted reverse cycle heating and cooling | 10–20 kWh |
| Heat pump hot water system | 2–4 kWh |
| EV charging (based on 15,000 km/year) | 3–5 kWh |
| Pool pump (if applicable) | 3–5 kWh |
| Fully electrified home total | 26–46 kWh/day |
A typical Australian home uses 14–18 kWh/day. A fully electrified home uses 26–46 kWh/day. That’s why a fully electrified household typically needs 10kW to 15kW of solar capacity, not the 6.6kW that was standard a few years ago. Getting this sizing right from the start is one of the most important things AIKO installers help their customers do.
The Three Loads That Drive Your System Size
Heat pump hot water
A heat pump hot water system uses approximately 2–4 kWh per day, about one-third the energy of a conventional electric element, and significantly less than gas in equivalent terms.
The key is scheduling. Most systems can be programmed to run during solar peak hours (10am–2pm), so your solar directly covers the load. When combined with AIKO’s high daily generation output, the grid contribution for hot water is typically zero on a clear day
Ducted reverse cycle
Ducted HVAC is the largest single load in an electrified home, and it runs at the most problematic times — early morning and evening, outside solar peak hours. This is the primary reason battery storage is worth considering: without it, HVAC draws from the grid at peak tariff rates.
Ducted reverse cycle adds 10–20 kWh/day depending on climate zone and home size. Victorian and southern NSW households should size for the higher end — and this is where AIKO’s cold-temperature performance advantage becomes particularly relevant.
EV charging
An EV averaging 15,000 km/year consumes approximately 3–5 kWh of charge per day. Charge during solar peak hours and this load is easily covered. Charge overnight and you’re drawing from the grid unless battery bridges that gap.
Smart EV chargers (Wallbox, Zappi, Tesla’s built-in scheduling) can be programmed to charge only when your system is producing surplus. AIKO’s higher daily generation — a result of 24.8% panel efficiency and low degradation, means more surplus available for EV charging across the day.
When Is Battery Worth It for an All-Electric Home?
Solar generates peak power between 10am and 2pm. Most high-consumption loads — HVAC, cooking, EV charging, fall outside that window. Battery stores midday solar and releases it when you actually need it.
Battery is worth it when:
- You charge your EV overnight. A 10–13kWh battery stores midday solar for overnight EV charging, avoiding peak grid rates. In Victoria on a time-of-use tariff, this alone saves approximately $800–$1,200 per year.
- You run ducted heating or cooling in the evening. A 10kWh battery covers most evening HVAC loads without drawing from the grid.
- Your feed-in tariff is low. In Queensland, FiTs are currently 6–8c/kWh — exporting surplus solar earns almost nothing. AIKO panels generate more surplus than lower-efficiency alternatives, making the case for storage even stronger.
- You have a pool. A pool pump running 6–8 hours daily is one of the most consistent loads in an electrified home. Scheduled outside solar peak hours, it draws directly from the grid. Battery stores midday surplus and powers the pump through the evening cycle — for a Victorian household running pool, HVAC and EV together, battery payback is among the strongest in the country.
Battery is less urgent when:
- You work from home and can run appliances during solar peak hours
- You’re on a flat-rate tariff with no peak/off-peak pricing
- Budget is the constraint — AIKO solar first, battery as a future addition (specify a hybrid inverter now so you’re not locked out later)
The rebate window
The Federal Home Battery Incentive currently offers approximately 30% off eligible systems. A 10kWh battery costing around $12,000 installed comes to approximately $8,000 after the rebate. Victorian households can stack the VIC Solar Homes rebate on top, reducing costs further.
If you’re already installing AIKO solar, adding battery at the same time is significantly more cost-effective than retrofitting later — you pay for the system disruption only once.
Solar System Size by State
| State | Recommended size | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 10–13 kW | High irradiance (5.5–6+ peak sun hours/day). Low FiT (6–8c/kWh) — battery strongly recommended. AIKO’s high efficiency maximises self-consumption. |
| New South Wales | 12–15 kW | Variable irradiance by region. TOU tariffs make battery compelling. AIKO’s low-light and coastal certifications cover Sydney’s full range of conditions. |
| Victoria | 13–15 kW | Lowest mainland irradiance + highest heating loads. AIKO’s TÜV Class A low-light certification and cold-temperature advantage matter here most. Best rebate stacking in AU. |
Queensland
High irradiance (5.5–6+ peak sun hours/day) means AIKO panels in QLD generate exceptional daily output. A fully electrified QLD household typically needs 10–13kW. With feed-in tariffs at 6–8c/kWh, exporting surplus is nearly valueless — AIKO’s higher efficiency means more self-consumption and less grid dependency. Battery is strongly recommended for QLD all-electric homes.
New South Wales
Irradiance varies significantly across NSW — coastal Sydney performs well, the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands less so in winter. Size for 12–15kW across most regions. AIKO’s IEC 61701 salt-mist certification covers coastal NSW installs; TÜV Class A low-light certification handles shaded and overcast conditions inland and in the mountains.
Victoria
VIC has the lowest solar irradiance of any mainland state and the highest heating loads in winter. Size for 13–15kW for a fully electrified VIC home. AIKO’s TÜV Rheinland Class A low-light certification and strong cold-temperature coefficient (-0.26%/°C) mean output holds up better on Melbourne’s cloudy winter mornings than most alternatives. Victoria also has the best rebate stacking environment in Australia right now.
Why AIKO Is the Best Panel for Electrified Homes
An electrified home puts significantly more demand on its solar system than a conventional household. Over 25–30 years, the panel you choose today determines how much of that demand is covered by solar and how much you buy from the grid. Here’s how AIKO compares to a typical budget panel across the specs that matter most for electrified homes:
| Specification | Budget panel (typical) | AIKO Neostar |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 20–21% | 24.8% |
| Panels needed for 13kW | ~52 panels | ~44 panels |
| Annual degradation rate | ~0.5%/year | ~0.26%/year (measured) |
| Performance warranty | 80% at year 25 | 89% at year 30 |
| Low-light certification | Not independently tested | TÜV Rheinland Class A |
| Hail certification | Standard IEC only | VKF HW4 (40mm hailstones) |
| Heat degradation (LeTID) | Not certified | TÜV Rheinland certified |
The efficiency difference is most visible on roof space. A 13kW system using AIKO Neostar panels needs approximately 44 panels. The same system with 21% efficiency panels needs approximately 52. On a typical north-facing Australian roof, that eight-panel difference often determines whether the right-sized system fits at all.
The degradation difference compounds over time. By year 15, the gap between AIKO’s 0.26%/year and a budget panel’s 0.5%/year means roughly 3–4% less annual generation from every panel installed today — significant when your system is covering a fully electrified home’s load every day for three decades.
AIKO’s 30-year performance warranty guarantees 89% output at year 30. The industry standard is 80% at year 25. For an all-electric home, that’s not a marketing statistic — it’s the difference between a system that still covers your loads in 2050 and one that doesn’t.
Five Things to Tell Your AIKO Installer Before They Quote
AIKO installers are experienced at sizing systems for all-electric homes — but the more information you bring to the conversation, the more accurately they can design your system. Before your installer runs the numbers, have ready:
- Your current gas bill — This quantifies the energy load being transferred from gas to electricity and is the most important input for accurate electrified system sizing.
- Your EV model and charging pattern — kWh per 100km, daily kilometres driven, and whether you charge during the day or overnight.
- Your HVAC specification — Ducted or split system, number of zones, and your climate zone. A ducted system in Melbourne requires a very different design to a split system in Brisbane.
- Your battery intentions — Adding battery now or leaving provision for later? AIKO installers typically specify a hybrid inverter (Sungrow SH, Fronius Gen24, Enphase IQ) when battery is part of the plan — standard string inverters don’t support future battery addition.
- Your roof constraints — Available north-facing area, any shading from trees or neighbouring buildings, and roof pitch. For a 13–15kW AIKO system, your installer needs to know what they’re working with before they finalise the design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size solar system do I need for an all-electric home in Australia?
A fully electrified Australian home with heat pump hot water, ducted reverse cycle, and an EV typically needs 10–15kW. Queensland households can size toward 10–13kW due to high irradiance. Victorian households should size toward 13–15kW due to lower irradiance and greater heating loads. AIKO’s 24.8% efficiency means fewer panels are needed to hit that capacity on a constrained roof.
Do I need a battery for an all-electric home?
Battery is not strictly required but significantly improves the economics, particularly for overnight EV charging, evening HVAC loads, and in states with low feed-in tariffs like Queensland. Victoria and NSW both offer rebates that substantially reduce battery costs. AIKO installers can model the battery ROI for your specific usage pattern and state.
What is the best solar system for a home with a heat pump and EV?
A 12–15kW AIKO Neostar system with a 10–13kWh battery and a hybrid inverter covers most fully electrified Australian households. AIKO’s efficiency means fewer panels for the same output, which matters on constrained rooftops. The 30-year performance warranty gives confidence the system will keep up with your loads over the full life of the installation.
How does the Federal battery rebate work for all-electric homes?
The Federal Home Battery Incentive offers approximately 30% off eligible systems installed by an approved provider. Victorian households can stack the state Solar Homes rebate on top of this. Combined, the rebates can reduce a 10–13kWh battery system cost by $3,000–$6,000 depending on system size and state. Ask your AIKO installer about current eligibility and timing.
Can I add battery to my AIKO solar system later?
Yes, if you install a hybrid inverter at the time of your AIKO solar installation. Hybrid inverters (Sungrow SH, Fronius Gen24, Enphase IQ) are designed to support future battery addition. If you use a standard string inverter, adding battery later typically requires an inverter replacement. AIKO installers will discuss this with you at the design stage.
The Bottom Line
A fully electrified home — heat pump, EV, battery — is one of the best energy decisions an Australian homeowner can make right now. But it only works if the solar system is sized for the actual electrified load, not the current gas-supplemented one.
Size for 10–15kW depending on your state. Add battery if you’re in Victoria, charging overnight, or in a low FiT state like Queensland. And choose a panel that holds up over 30 years of hard daily use — because in an all-electric home, your solar system is working harder than it ever has before.
AIKO’s Neostar series is designed specifically for this: 24.8% efficiency to fit the capacity you need on the roof space you have, and a 30-year warranty that guarantees performance when a budget panel would be well into its decline.
Ready to design your all-electric solar system? Find a certified AIKO installer in your state and get a quote sized for your actual electrification plan — not just your current bill.