Australia has recently seen a striking increase in the size of rooftop solar systems being erected all around the nation. According to statistics gathered by the Australian Energy Council (AEC) from the Clean Energy Regulator’s Quarterly Carbon Market Report, rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system sizes on average topped 9 kW in the second quarter of 2023, which is a notable achievement.
This increase in system size is evidence of Australian homes and businesses’ increased interest in utilizing solar energy.
The statistics speak for themselves:
- The typical rooftop PV system size increased significantly from the first quarter’s average of 8.7 kW to 9.3 kW in the second quarter of 2023.
- Additionally, this increase exceeds the typical average of 6.6 kW. The fact that some Northern Territory homeowners went above and above by erecting rooftop systems up to 14.1 kW during this time is particularly impressive.
- The average system size in Queensland and South Australia was 10.1 kW, not far behind.
What then is the motivation behind this drive to bigger solar systems? It is mostly a result of solar energy industry cost declines and technical advancements. Australian households are taking advantage of the chance to increase their energy independence through larger rooftop solar systems.
Australia’s total rooftop solar capacity reached 20.5 GW at the end of the second quarter of 2023, with more than 61,000 new installations adding 520 MW throughout the three months. Even though there were fewer installations in the second quarter than in the first, it’s important to remember that data reporting has a 12-month lag.
According to projections, the actual numbers will be considerably higher, with 91,000 additional rooftop installations anticipated to have been made by the conclusion of the reporting period. A total installed capacity of 827 MW is anticipated as a result of the rise in installations, emphasizing the nation’s increasing reliance on rooftop solar power.
- Homeowners in New South Wales took the lead in the nation for newly installed rooftop solar systems, making up 33.1% of the total for the quarter.
- With contributions of 26.1% and 17% of the total installations, respectively, Queensland and Victoria came in second and third place.
The fact that this trend has been observed despite rising interest rates, which have caused the payback period for solar systems to increase by an estimated 12 months, makes it all the more impressive. It exemplifies Australian customers’ ongoing dedication to using solar energy and lowering their dependency on conventional power sources.
As a nation, Australia is determined to embrace renewable energy and increase its energy independence, as seen by its trend toward larger rooftop solar installations. Australians are benefiting from solar energy’s environmental as well as financial advantages due to technological breakthroughs and falling costs that have made it more accessible. Together with Solaright, this increase in solar installations is a sign of the country’s dedication to a sustainable and energy-independent future.