Thinking about solar in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama or the suburbs under the escarpment? We compared seven installers that actually service the Illawarra: SunPeople, SolarHub, HOTT Electrics, Infinity Energy Solutions, Platinum Solar Designs, Clean Power Australia and Solahart Wollongong, assessed on accreditation, equipment range, workmanship warranty, installation model, pricing signals and recurring customer review themes.
This is independent desk research based on company documentation, public records, accreditation databases, customer review patterns and published pricing. We did not contact any company, request quotes, or accept payment for inclusion. Where a fact could not be verified, we say so rather than guessing.
By the end you will know who to contact first, the trade-offs behind each pick, what to ask at quote stage, and the warning signs in a market where Sydney sales operations also compete.
The Winners at a Glance
- Best Overall: SunPeople (Barrack Heights). Accredited local specialist, 2,000+ installs.
- Best for Batteries: SolarHub (Unanderra). Tesla, Enphase and SolarEdge partner accreditations.
- Best for Customer Service: HOTT Electrics (Wollongong). 5.0 stars from roughly 1,000 Google reviews, lifetime workmanship warranty.
- Best for Shaded and Complex Roofs: Infinity Energy Solutions (Port Kembla). Enphase microinverter specialist, in-house electricians.
- Best Premium Systems: Platinum Solar Designs (Kiama). Design-led Tesla Powerwall Premium installer.
- Best Value: Clean Power Australia (Unanderra). Volume installer with competitive pricing.
- Best for Solar Hot Water and Heat Pumps: Solahart Wollongong (CBD). Combined PV, hot water and battery packages.
Comparison Table
| Company | Base | Google rating (approx., July 2026) | Years operating | Battery options | Workmanship warranty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SunPeople | Barrack Heights | 4.9 (135 reviews) | ~12 years | Tesla Powerwall, LG | Not published | Best overall |
| SolarHub | Unanderra | 4.8 (320+ company-wide) | 14+ years | Tesla, Sigenergy, Enphase, Fronius | Not published | Batteries |
| HOTT Electrics | Wollongong | 5.0 (1,035 reviews) | 10+ years | Installed, brands not published | Lifetime (company policy) | Customer service |
| Infinity Energy Solutions | Port Kembla | 4.9 (131 reviews) | Since 2005 | Enphase | 15 years | Shaded, complex roofs |
| Platinum Solar Designs | Kiama | 5.0 (140 reviews) | Principals cite 30 yrs PV experience | Tesla Powerwall, Sigenergy | Not published | Premium systems |
| Clean Power Australia | Unanderra | 4.7 (491 reviews) | Not published | Tier 1 range, brands not published | Not published | Value |
| Solahart Wollongong | Wollongong CBD | 4.9 (53 reviews) | Solahart brand since 1953 | Tesla, SolarEdge, Enphase, GoodWe | Not published | Solar hot water |
Best Overall: SunPeople
SunPeople is our first call for most Illawarra households. It is a locally owned specialist based in Barrack Heights, holds New Energy Tech Approved Seller status, is a Fronius Solutions Partner, and won an Illawarra and South Coast Local Business Award in 2025, with more than 2,000 installations behind it.
Pros
- New Energy Tech Approved Seller with accredited design and installation
- Fronius Solutions Partner, plus Tesla Powerwall and LG battery experience
- Endeavour Energy approved, which smooths connection paperwork
- 4.9 stars from roughly 135 Google reviews as of July 2026, local awards winner 2025
Cons
- Workmanship warranty length is not published on its website, so pin it down in writing
- Unlikely to match rock-bottom volume-retailer pricing, and off-grid work was listed as “coming soon” at review time
Get a quote at sunpeople.com.au, or browse all Wollongong installers in our directory.
Key facts. Around 12 years operating per the company, offices in Barrack Heights and Ulladulla, servicing the Illawarra and South Coast. NETCC Approved Seller, NECA member.
Why we selected them. The strongest combination of accreditation, review quality and local accountability we found, close enough to send a crew back if something goes wrong.
Products, quality and pricing. Fronius inverters are the house speciality, with Tesla Powerwall and LG storage. Panel brands are not consistently published, so ask for datasheets and salt-mist corrosion certification. Assessments and design are done by company personnel; reviews repeatedly mention tidy work and clear communication. Pricing is not published, so expect mid-market quotes.
Warranty, reviews and fit. Product warranties follow the brands; the workmanship term is the one gap in its public information. Praise centres on communication, honest sizing advice and after-sales responsiveness, with no recurring complaint theme found. Best for a local, accredited solar plus battery install. Look elsewhere for the absolute lowest price or off-grid.
Best for Batteries: SolarHub
SolarHub is the battery specialist of this list. It holds Tesla Powerwall Premium, Enphase Platinum and SolarEdge Preferred Partner status, and its Unanderra office quotes Powerwall 3, Sigenergy and Fronius Reserva storage. Founded in Canberra over 14 years ago, it brings big-company battery depth to the Illawarra.
Pros
- Tesla Powerwall Premium, Enphase Platinum and SolarEdge Preferred accreditations
- Wide battery range: Tesla Powerwall 3, Sigenergy, Enphase, Fronius Reserva
- New Energy Tech Approved Seller, 14+ years and 15,000+ customers company-wide
- Physical office in Unanderra, with Brighte finance and published repayment examples
Cons
- The Wollongong branch is a recent expansion of a Canberra-headquartered company; its local Google listing had only around 10 reviews as of July 2026, so the 4.8-star, 320-plus review record mostly reflects other regions
- Workmanship warranty length not published on the Wollongong page
Get a quote at solarhub.net.au, or browse all Wollongong installers in our directory.
Key facts. 14+ years operating, offices in Canberra, Unanderra, Bega and Batemans Bay, servicing Wollongong, Shellharbour, Dapto and the South Coast. NETCC Approved Seller.
Why we selected them. Battery installs punish inexperience, and SolarHub’s accreditations across three major battery ecosystems are the strongest storage credentials servicing Wollongong.
Products, quality and pricing. SunPower and Jinko panels appear in published packages with Sungrow and Fronius inverters, plus EV chargers. Company-wide reviews praise system handover and monitoring setup; local crew structure is not published, so ask. Packages with weekly finance pricing suggest mid-market positioning, and battery quotes should show the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount as a line item.
Warranty, reviews and fit. Battery warranties run 10 years for Tesla and SolarEdge and up to 15 for Enphase; confirm the branch workmanship term in writing, and confirm install dates before paying a deposit. Praise centres on battery knowledge and clean installs. Best for battery-first buyers. Look elsewhere if you want an entirely local track record.
Best for Customer Service: HOTT Electrics
HOTT Electrics is a Wollongong electrical contractor with the best review record in the region: 5.0 stars from roughly 1,035 Google reviews as of July 2026. Solar and batteries sit alongside general electrical work, backed by a lifetime workmanship warranty and an on-time guarantee. For buyers who rank responsiveness above brand shopping, it is the standout.
Pros
- 5.0 stars from roughly 1,035 Google reviews as of July 2026, the largest top-rated review base here
- Lifetime workmanship warranty (company policy) and an on-time-or-we-pay-you guarantee
- Own licensed electricians handle the full job, including switchboard upgrades older homes often need
- 24/7 emergency line gives you a real after-sales phone number
Cons
- An electrician-generalist rather than a solar-only specialist: the website publishes neither its panel, inverter and battery lineup nor NETCC Approved Seller status, so request equipment details and accreditation evidence at quote stage
Get a quote at hottelectrics.com.au, or browse all Wollongong installers in our directory.
Key facts. 10+ years operating, based in Wollongong, servicing Wollongong and surrounds. Licensed and insured, with Master Electricians and NECA affiliations shown.
Why we selected them. A thousand five-star reviews in a market this size is exceptional, and lifetime workmanship is the longest commitment here.
Products, quality and pricing. Solar brands are not published, so request datasheets and check salt-mist certification for coastal streets. Work is performed by the company’s own electricians with upfront fixed pricing, closer to quality-electrician rates than bargain packages.
Warranty, reviews and fit. The lifetime workmanship warranty is a company policy rather than an insurance-backed product, so ask how it is honoured; the 24/7 line is a genuine after-sales strength. Reviews overwhelmingly praise punctuality, tidiness and communication, though fewer specifically concern large solar and battery projects. Best for one accountable local firm covering solar, switchboard and everything after. Look elsewhere to compare brands across a wide catalogue.
Best for Shaded and Complex Roofs: Infinity Energy Solutions
If your roof sits under the escarpment in Figtree, Mount Keira, Bulli or Thirroul, afternoon shading is a design problem, not a sales detail. Infinity Energy Solutions, operating from Port Kembla since 2005, specialises in Enphase microinverter systems where each panel performs independently, the right architecture for partial shade.
Pros
- Enphase microinverter specialisation suits escarpment shading and multi-aspect roofs
- In-house full-time electricians, with sales staff paid wages rather than commissions per the company
- 15-year workmanship warranty, the longest fixed published term in this review
- Trading since 2005, with 4.9 stars from roughly 131 Google reviews as of July 2026
Cons
- Heavy Enphase focus limits brand choice, and microinverter systems cost more than equivalent string-inverter systems, so unshaded roofs can pay for architecture they do not need. The company also splits attention across air conditioning, electrical and communications work
Get a quote at infinityenergysolutions.com.au, or browse all Wollongong installers in our directory.
Key facts. Established 2005, based at Port Kembla, servicing Wollongong’s northern, western and southern suburbs. Retailer accreditation is not published, so verify at quote stage.
Why we selected them. Two decades of local trading, in-house crews and a written 15-year workmanship term is a rare combination, and the microinverter focus answers the region’s most common design challenge.
Products, quality and pricing. Enphase microinverters and batteries are the core offer; panel brands rotate, so request the current datasheet and salt-mist certification. Reviews praise design advice and tidy installs. Expect quotes above string-inverter rivals for the same kilowatts: justified on shaded roofs, often not on clear northerly ones.
Warranty, reviews and fit. 15-year workmanship plus Enphase product warranties, and a 20-year-old local company is a good bet to still exist when you need service. Praise centres on patient explanations and post-install support; the usual caution with microinverter specialists is price. Best for shaded, multi-aspect or complex roofs. Look elsewhere if your roof is clear and you want the cheapest quality system.
Best Premium Systems: Platinum Solar Designs
Platinum Solar Designs is a Kiama-based, family-run installer whose principals cite 30 years of PV experience. It holds Tesla Powerwall Certified Premium Installer status, is a New Energy Tech Approved Seller, carries a SolarQuotes Platinum rating and has been a CEC solar awards finalist. This is the design-led, engineering-first option on this list.
Pros
- Design-led approach with monitoring and maintenance offered after install
- Tesla Powerwall Certified Premium Installer, plus Sigenergy storage experience
- New Energy Tech Approved Seller and SolarQuotes Platinum rated
- 5.0 stars from roughly 140 Google reviews as of July 2026, well placed for Kiama and Shellharbour
Cons
- Premium positioning means quotes typically exceed volume competitors for the same hardware, the company has expanded into QLD and ACT divisions (ask who designs and installs your job), and standard panel and inverter lineups are not published
Get a quote at platinumsolardesigns.com.au, or browse all Wollongong installers in our directory.
Key facts. Head office in Kiama with divisions in NSW, QLD and the ACT. Family owned, run by Scott and Kristi-Lee. NETCC Approved Seller.
Why we selected them. For large hybrid systems, three-phase homes and buyers who want engineering attention rather than a package off a price list, Platinum’s accreditations and review record lead the southern Illawarra.
Products, quality and pricing. Tesla Powerwall and Sigenergy storage appear across published projects; panels and inverters are tailored per design, so request the exact bill of materials. Reviews describe meticulous installs and strong communication; in-house versus subcontracted crews is not published, so confirm the South Coast team handles your job. Judge the premium quote on design detail: shading modelling, export limit handling, monitoring setup.
Warranty, reviews and fit. Panel product warranties up to 30 years are referenced, but the workmanship term is not published, so get it in writing. Formal monitoring and maintenance is offered, and no recurring complaint theme surfaced. Best for premium hybrid systems in the southern Illawarra. Look elsewhere if budget is the priority.
Best Value: Clean Power Australia
Clean Power Australia is a volume installer headquartered in Unanderra that claims over 10,000 customers and operates across NSW, the ACT, Queensland and South Australia. If your roof is straightforward and your goal is the most kilowatts per dollar from a company with a real local office, this is the value pick.
Pros
- Local head office in Unanderra, unlike Sydney-based volume sellers working the region
- Large install base (10,000+ customers per the company) and 4.7 stars from roughly 491 Google reviews as of July 2026
- Accredited installation and Tier 1 hardware with long product warranties advertised
- Residential and commercial capability
Cons
- The lowest Google rating of our seven picks, and the multi-state volume model means less single-crew accountability than the smaller locals. The website publishes neither specific brands nor a workmanship warranty length, so nail both down before signing
Get a quote at cleanpoweraustralia.com.au, or browse all Wollongong installers in our directory.
Key facts. Head office at Investigator Drive, Unanderra. Operates in NSW, ACT, QLD and SA. Years operating not published.
Why we selected them. Every quote comparison needs a sharp-pencil number, better sourced from a firm with an Illawarra warehouse than an interstate call centre.
Products, quality and pricing. Advertised as Tier 1 panels with up to 30-year performance warranties and 10-year battery performance warranties; brands are quoted per job, so compare datasheets against rival quotes. The company says it uses local installers, but employee versus subcontractor status is not published, the key question for any volume operator. Make sure cheaper quotes still include like-for-like inverter quality, salt-rated mounting and full Endeavour Energy connection handling.
Warranty, reviews and fit. Long product warranties and life-long support are claimed; get the workmanship term, and who honours it, in writing. Reviews praise price and quick turnaround, while the lower average rating suggests more post-sale variability than the smaller locals. Best for simple roofs, budget buyers and landlords. Look elsewhere for complex designs or high-touch service.
Best for Solar Hot Water and Heat Pumps: Solahart Wollongong
Solahart Wollongong (trading as Solahart Illawarra) runs the national brand’s dealership from Flinders Street in the CBD. Solahart has sold solar in Australia since 1953, and the local operation covers solar power, batteries, solar hot water, heat pumps and EV chargers under one roof, with Tesla Powerwall certification.
Pros
- One accountable supplier for PV, battery, hot water and heat pump upgrades
- Tesla Powerwall certified, with SolarEdge, Enphase and GoodWe storage options
- National brand backing means warranty support survives a change of local dealer
- 4.9 stars from roughly 53 Google reviews as of July 2026, with a walk-in CBD showroom
Cons
- The smallest review footprint of our picks, review themes skew towards hot water rather than PV, and the franchise model centres on Solahart-branded hardware, limiting third-party panel choice at brand-premium pricing
Get a quote at solahartwollongong.com.au, or browse all Wollongong installers in our directory.
Key facts. Showroom at 96A Flinders Street, Wollongong. Local dealership of Solahart, trading nationally since 1953, servicing Wollongong and surrounds.
Why we selected them. Nobody else here matches its combined solar hot water, heat pump and PV capability, and electrifying hot water is often the second-best-value upgrade after solar itself.
Products, quality and pricing. Solahart-branded panels and hot water systems, with batteries from Tesla, SolarEdge, Enphase and GoodWe, sold battery-ready. Reviews praise tidy installation teams and clear quoting; whether crews are dealership employees or subcontractors is not published. Expect brand-premium pricing; bundled hot water plus PV projects are where the value case is strongest.
Warranty, reviews and fit. Battery warranties run 10 years (Tesla, SolarEdge, GoodWe) to 15 years (Enphase), with Solahart warranties on hot water hardware; confirm the workmanship term. Praise centres on quick installation and knowledgeable consultations, mostly on hot water jobs, so ask for local PV references. Best for combining hot water electrification with solar and storage. Look elsewhere to shop panel brands widely.
How We Reviewed
We shortlisted from search results, directory listings, Google Maps data and review platforms covering the Illawarra, then confirmed on each company’s website that it genuinely services the region. Companies were compared on reputation and years operating, equipment quality and range, installation model (in-house versus subcontracted where discoverable), pricing signals, warranty terms, accreditation (SAA and NETCC), customer service patterns and after-sales support.
Sources included company websites, Google review listings as of July 2026, SolarQuotes and other review platforms, and accreditation registers. We did not request quotes, conduct site visits or contact the companies, and no company paid for placement. There is no points system; each award reflects the use case the evidence best supports. Facts we could not verify are marked “not published” rather than estimated.
Choosing a Solar Company in Wollongong
Check accreditation first. Installer accreditation moved from the Clean Energy Council to Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) in 2024, and reputable retailers are approved under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC). Ask for the installer’s SAA number and check the retailer on the NETCC register; STC rebate eligibility depends on accredited installation.
Ask who actually installs. In a smaller market that Sydney firms also target, the salesperson and the crew can be different companies. Ask directly: employees or subcontractors, and who holds the workmanship warranty if the retailer disappears.
Design skill matters more here than in most cities. The escarpment throws afternoon shade across suburbs like Figtree, Mount Keira, Mount Kembla, Bulli, Thirroul and Austinmer. A good installer models shading and may recommend microinverters or optimisers; a bad one sells the same string system on every roof. Ask for the shading analysis.
Specify coastal hardware. Salt-laden air from Stanwell Park to Kiama corrodes cheap components. Ask for panels certified for salt-mist corrosion (IEC 61701) and marine-grade or anodised mounting, especially near the beach.
Know your network. The Illawarra sits on the Endeavour Energy network. Your installer handles the connection application, and export limits can apply depending on your street and phase setup, which affects system sizing and battery economics. A local who deals with Endeavour Energy weekly manages this smoothly.
Compare warranties in writing. Panel product warranties of 25 years mean little if the workmanship warranty is 12 months. Published terms here range from 15 years (Infinity) to lifetime (HOTT Electrics), with several firms publishing nothing. Make the term, and who honours it, a line item in your quote comparison.
Check monitoring, finance and timeframes. Insist on consumption monitoring, not just inverter output. If financing, compare the financed price against the cash price. Get install dates in writing, since local crews book out in spring. For more, see our guide to choosing a solar installer and our NSW installers page.
FAQ
How much does solar cost in Wollongong in 2026? Most quality 6.6 kW systems in NSW land roughly between $5,000 and $9,000 installed after the federal STC rebate. Escarpment shading solutions and coastal-rated mounting can push Illawarra quotes toward the upper half. Treat quotes far below that range with suspicion. See our STC rebate explainer.
Is there a battery rebate? Yes. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, running since July 2025, discounts the installed cost of eligible home batteries by roughly 30 per cent. Your installer should show it as a line item; see our battery rebate guide.
How many quotes should I get? Three is the practical sweet spot: one specialist local, one battery-strong firm, one value quote. How the quotes differ teaches you as much as the prices.
Which warranties actually matter? In rough order: workmanship warranty (covers leaks, wiring, mounting), inverter warranty (the component most likely to fail), then panel product warranty (25+ years is now standard). Panel performance warranties are mostly marketing.
Are cheap installers safe? Sometimes, but the savings come from somewhere: subcontracted crews on piece rates, entry-level inverters, non-salt-rated racking, or vanishing after-sales support. On the coast, cheap racking is a genuinely bad bet.
How do I check an installer is legitimate? Ask for their SAA accreditation number, check the retailer on the NETCC approved seller register, confirm their NSW electrical contractor licence, and read their most recent Google reviews rather than those on their website.
What happens if my installer goes bust? Product warranties survive through the manufacturer, but workmanship warranties usually die with the company. That favours established locals like Infinity (trading since 2005) or brand-backed operations like Solahart.
Should I pay a large deposit? No. NETCC rules cap deposits, and reputable firms typically ask around 10 per cent. Never pay most of the price before installation.
What are the red flags in a quote? No shading analysis for an escarpment suburb, no mention of Endeavour Energy approval, “Tier 1” as the only panel description, sign-today discounts, and no written workmanship warranty term.
About This Review
Written by the Solar Cobber editorial team. Last updated July 2026. Google ratings and review counts are approximate as of July 2026.
Solar Cobber is a free, independent Australian solar directory. We may earn referral or advertising fees from installers listed on the site, but commercial relationships never influence rankings or awards, and no company reviewed here paid for inclusion or was contacted during research. Sources: company websites, Google Business listings, SolarQuotes and industry review platforms, and the SAA and NETCC accreditation registers.
Compare all installers servicing the Illawarra in our directory, or start with our guide to comparing quotes.