Based on the latest data from the Australian Clean Energy Regulator (ACER), the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA) reports more than 858,000 homes across the nation have solar panel installations.
The figure represents 2.0 GW of installed capacity in solar PV. Additionally, over 600,000 solar hot water systems are installed in Australia.
The SEA says more than 10% of homes now have installed solar panels, with installation rates above those previously forecast in July – and Australia is headed for a million solar households by June 30 next year.
The average solar panel system size has increased, with systems recorded for June 2012 averaging 2.84 kW. The SEA predicts changes in feed in tariffs around Australia could see this trend reverse.
Queensland leads the nation with the largest amount of installed PV solar in terms of numbers and capacity; with over 247,000 installations representing more than 600 MW capacity.
New South Wales had 212,531 PV installations as of the end of June, Victoria 149,334, South Australia 123,021, Western Australia 116, 609, Tasmania 9,802 and the Northern Territory 1,733. The SEA notes figures will continue to rise for 2011/12 due to a 12 month creation period of SGU certificates.
South Australia’s result, while not the biggest in terms of numbers or capacity, is particularly impressive given the state’s population is approximately 1,650,600 (March 2012).
Caloundra, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg in Queensland and Mandurah in Western Australia now all have more than 10 MW of solar panels installed, which the SEA notes combined is more than what is currently installed at Australia’s largest solar farm in Western Australia, which commenced operations this morning.
The Sustainable Energy Association of Australia – formerly the Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) – has worked to support and promote the growth of the sustainable energy industry across Australia since 2002.
