Australian Rooftop Solar Hit New Record This Summer

Residential rooftop solar supplied a record 14% of Australia’s electricity this summer, contributing more than brown coal and more than large-scale wind farms and solar projects. The total output of rooftop solar in Australia over the summer was 8,046 GWh, up 19.5% on the preceding year, according to the Clean Energy Council.

?Breaking down the states, New South Wales’ (NSW) rooftop solar generation jumped 35% on the previous summer. Tasmania also saw a massive uptick, clocking a 31.7% jump from the previous year. The Clean Energy Council says the installed capacity of rooftop solar in Australia just hit the 20 GW mark, with over 3.4 million solar power systems installed on Australian households and businesses.

Distributed PV in Australia started in early years. The local government's capital subsidies and photovoltaic power generation feed-in tariff policies, as well as the unique advantages of local lighting resources, all help to open up the acceptance of the rooftop solar market. The Clean Energy Council says the 15%–20% increase in Australian’s electricity bills in 2022 have underpinned strong demand for rooftop solar. The rising power price has also made rooftop solar’s payback times even more attractive.

?Surpassing brown coal consumption is a significant moment in light of a recent report from AEMO which warned that power shortages could become a problem if the country failed to increase its investment in renewables generation and storage, as plans continue for the gradual shutdown of coal plants.?Meanwhile, Australia's desire to transform into a "renewable energy powerhouse" will require substantial long-term investment in new renewable energy generation projects.?

Investment in renewable energy infrastructure will surge by almost 50% this year to peak at $11.8 billion in 2026, driven by tougher carbon reduction targets and the closure of coal-fired power stations, according to Macromonitor. It is understood that regions such as Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland will be the focus of most of the new solar projects, and photovoltaic power generation will also play an important role in Australia's transition to net zero and decarbonization.