Record rooftop solar growth in Queensland and commercial sector
The Australian rooftop solar market continues to demonstrate robust growth, surpassing last year’s figures by over 7%. In April alone, homes and businesses installed an additional 261MW of solar panels, defying the usual seasonal downturn associated with public and school holidays. This surge in installations can be attributed to an early Easter long weekend that straddled March and April, providing a boost to the solar industry.
According to industry analysts SunWiz, the registration of 261MW of new rooftop solar in April came close to setting a record for the month. This positive trend follows a successful year in 2021, where several rooftop solar records were achieved across Australia.
Commercial Sector Leads Rooftop Solar Installations
April saw significant growth in the commercial rooftop solar sector, particularly in the 15-30kW segment, while installations in the 10-15kW range remained stable. This shift towards larger commercial installations indicates a growing interest in solar energy among businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs.
State-by-State Analysis
There has been a notable shift in the distribution of rooftop PV installations across different states. While New South Wales and Victoria experienced slight declines of 7% and 5% respectively, Queensland and South Australia saw growth of 6% and 3% each. This change reflects varying levels of interest and investment in solar energy within different regions of Australia.
Warwick Johnston, managing director of SunWiz, highlighted the positive reception of small solar systems in Queensland during the Brisbane Solar and Storage conference. Queensland managed to recover from its March contraction, whereas Victoria faced a further decline in installations. Despite these fluctuations, the overall market remains resilient, with modest single-digit changes observed in each state.
It is evident that the Australian rooftop solar market is thriving, with continued growth and innovation driving the adoption of solar energy across homes and businesses. As the industry evolves, it is expected to play a crucial role in Australia’s transition towards a more sustainable and renewable energy future.
