Rooftop Solar Powers 11.3% of Australia’s Energy Generation

Rooftop solar continues to soar in Australia, contributing 11.3% of the nation’s total energy generation in the first half of 2024, according to the Clean Energy Council’s bi-annual Rooftop Solar and Storage Report. With 1.3GW of new installations added in just six months, Australians are embracing solar power more than ever.

New South Wales has become the second state to surpass one million rooftop solar installations, following Queensland’s milestone in 2023. With rooftop solar now a common sight, Australians are leading the global charge in residential renewable energy adoption. The report highlights the continued growth, even in the face of challenging winter conditions, showcasing the resilience and potential of solar energy.

With payback periods of just three to four years, rooftop solar is not only an environmentally sound investment but also an effective way to reduce energy bills. According to Clean Energy Council Co-Chief Policy Officer Con Hristodoulidis, homeowners and small businesses are turning to solar to ease financial pressure, saving money while helping the environment.

While rooftop solar is flourishing, the uptake of home batteries remains slower than required. Nearly 30,000 battery units were sold in the first half of 2024, a promising number but far from the levels needed to hit Australia’s 82% renewable energy target by 2030. Batteries are seen as a crucial step in maximizing solar energy, especially for use during non-sunlight hours.

The Clean Energy Council’s ‘It’s Time to Back Batteries’ campaign emphasizes the need for a national incentive scheme to drive battery adoption. The report suggests that such incentives could lead to 410,000 additional battery installations by 2050, delivering substantial savings for households and a boost to the energy grid. Homes with non-orchestrated batteries could save up to $1,000 annually, while orchestrated batteries trading energy with the grid could push savings even higher.

With 3.7 million homes and small businesses already benefiting from rooftop solar, the push for battery adoption is seen as the “missing piece of the puzzle” for Australia’s clean energy future. The Clean Energy Council stresses the importance of incentivizing battery storage to help further reduce energy bills and support the country's ambitious renewable energy goals.

• Rooftop solar is on track to surpass 25GW of installed capacity by the end of 2024.

• Rooftop PV contributed 13,479GWh to Australia’s total energy generation in the first half of 2024.

• 454MW of new rooftop systems were installed in New South Wales alone during the first six months of the year.

• Nearly 30,000 battery units were sold nationwide in the first half of 2024.

• The number of approved solar and storage products across Australia increased by 12%, reflecting the sector’s rapid growth.

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