Small-Scale Solar Systems Surpass 3 Million Installations in Australia

Based on the latest data released by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER), rooftop solar and solar hot water installs in Australia have passed the three million-mark as companies and households continue to take the power back against increasing energy costs. The CER previously announced that the new small-scale solar milestone had been driven by a renewed increase in rooftop solar installments that meant one in five Australian homes were now generating at least some of their own power.
An article posted on RenewEconomy stated that when all put together, the millions of small-scale solar systems had the combined capacity to generate approximately 12.9 million megawatt-hours of electricity every year. Mark Williamson, the Executive General manager at CER said, “This is another milestone demonstrating Australians are making the most of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme to access clean, renewable energy systems.”
“One in five Australian homes now generate their own renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions through rooftop solar,” he added. An article published on CER’s website reads, “The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme provides incentives to households and small businesses by issuing small-scale technology certificates for every megawatt hour of renewable energy generated or displaced by an accredited solar panel, wind, hydro system, solar water heater or air source heat pump.”
Around 63 percent of the total were rooftop solar panel systems, 29 percent for solar water heaters, and 8 percent for air source heat pumps. Queensland has the largest number of small-scale renewable energy systems with a record of 839,461. New South Wales comes in second with 694, 154 systems, and Victoria with 636,157. Western Australia has installed a total of 436, 611.
Williamson further stated, “Over the past few years, we have seen a trend of larger systems being installed as technology advances and prices fall. These larger systems are not just being installed by households. More schools, community groups, and businesses are installing systems and seeing the financial and environmental benefits of renewable energy.” Read the full report here.
Phillip Riley is a renewable energy executive recruitment firm based in Melbourne, Australia and with offices in the United States and the Philippines.