A Clean Energy Council report reveals four of Australia’s top five rooftop solar postcodes are in Queensland with Bundaberg at the top of the list.
Queensland Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said Queensland fills six of the top 10 rooftop solar postcodes in Australia, by number of installations.
“Sitting at the top is Bundaberg with 12,620 installations with a capacity of 47,500 KW,” he said.
“In fact, Queensland has four of the top five places with Hervey Bay (11,387 and 39,674kW), Caloundra (9956 and 32,177kW) at number four and Toowoomba (9386 and 36,147kW) at number five,’’ Dr Lynham said.
“Only Mandurah in Western Australia prevented Queensland from a clean sweep at the top of the table.”
Nerang and Carrara (8208 and 31,6678k) is at number seven and Mackay (8091 and 38,194kW) at number eight.
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“Queenslanders are embracing the financial and environmental benefits of solar,’’ Dr Lynham said.
The report by the peak body for Australia’s clean energy industry also highlighted:
- Of the 87 large-scale solar projects that are under construction or committed, 26 per cent are in Queensland;
- Total renewable generation increased from 4,984 GWh in 2017 to 6,206 GWh in 2018 – an increase of 25 per cent in total output and
- Queensland has the highest number of solar PV systems, total installed capacity and number of accredited installers and designers.
“We have more than $5 billion worth of large-scale renewable energy projects that are operational, committed or underway in Queensland,” Dr Lynham said.
Dr Lynham said the report also referred to a policy vacuum at Commonwealth level.
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Page 21 of the report says:
“Most state governments have worked to fill the void left by the absence of a national climate and energy policy.
“State and territory policies have been crucial in driving new investment.’’
Dr Lynham said Queensland missed opportunities for industry and potentially 1300 jobs during the Newman administration.
“There was no uptake of large renewable projects during that time and now Queensland, with the Palaszczuk Government leading the way, is setting the pace on a national level,” he says.