Data released by Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) last week shows 1,416,702 solar panel systems have been installed in Australia, with a combined capacity of 4,242,794 kW.
These solar households are now collectively saving millions of dollars each day on electricity bills through harvesting the energy of the sun via their rooftop real estate.
To say uptake of home solar power systems has been strong in Australia is somewhat of an understatement. CER figures show at the end of 2010 there were 283,307 rooftop PV systems throughout the nation, with a collective 510,538.494 kW capacity.
In 2001, there were just 263 solar panel arrays installed in Australia. It would take less than 12 years for that figure to bypass the 1 million mark – a solar power revolution fuelled by the investments of average Australians; with the assistance of some subsidisation.
The top 10 solar postcodes* in Australia as at June 1, 2015 (postcode/number of systems/kW)
4670 (Bundaberg, QLD) – 9,515 – 28,721.117
4655 (Hervey Bay area, QLD) – 8,177 – 22,696.456
4350 (Caloundra area, QLD) – 7,015 – 20,948.468
4740 (Mackay area, QLD) – 5,591 – 20,513.169
4551 (Sunshine Coast area, QLD) – 7,732 – 19,730.042
6210 (Mandurah area, WA) – 8,575 – 18,917.742
4211 (Gold Coast area, QLD) – 6,045 – 18,432.393
4680 (Gladstone area, QLD) – 4,934 – 17,252.564
4570 (Gympie area, QLD) – 5,529 – 16,717.890
4305 (Ipswich area, QLD) – 6,144 – 16,652.839
4207 (Yatala area, QLD) – 5,602 – 16,197.051
In addition to the 1.416 million-plus small scale solar power systems, more than 737,307 solar hot water systems were installed across Australia as at June 1 and 187,056 air-source heat pumps.
According to Energy Matters, a good quality, professionally installed solar power system can provide a financial benefit of up to around $2,300 a year; and with zero deposit solar now even more accessible to Australians, there’s never been a better time to make the switch to solar panels in Australia.
Energy Matters’ Australian Solar Index indicates residential PV is one of the best performing investments available – with a double-digit average internal rate of return (IRR) in 49 of the top 50 locations listed.
* RET legislation allows a 12 month creation period for certificates, therefore 2015 and 2014 figures will continue to rise due to this.
