A staggering 310,000 new rooftop solar systems accounting for 2.7GW of capacity rooftop solar were added to the grid in 2022, according to the latest edition of the Clean Energy Australia Report.
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In 2022, rooftop solar accounted for more than a quarter, or 25.8%, of total Australian renewable energy generation—the same capacity as NSW’s coal-fired Eraring Power Station.
“Rooftop solar is playing a massive role in decarbonising the Australian energy grid and putting us on the path to 82% renewable energy by 2030.
“While much of the political and big policy debates are taking place for other renewable energy industries—all of which are vitally important—rooftop solar has been doing and continues to do a lot of the heavy lifting,” Clean Energy Council CEO Kane Thornton said.
Another 310,352 households and small businesses installed a rooftop solar system in 2022, with over approximately 3.4 million Australian homes now helping to reduce pressure on the energy grid during the summer peak and playing a pivotal role in keeping local economies moving.
“There were challenges for the industry in 2022, but our workforce showed its resilience in the face of higher polysilicon prices, a reduction in subsidies and other supply chain issues,” Thornton said.
“The number of Clean Energy Council-accredited designers and installers also continued to grow for the seventh year running, with 8988 individuals demonstrating industry best practice standards, producing safe, reliable systems and meeting customer expectations.
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“If Australia is chasing a target of 82% renewable energy generation by 2030, the good news is that rooftop solar is continuing to do the heavy lifting adding around 3.5TWh per year. The challenge is now to maintain this pace right through to 2030. Low-cost renewable power and energy storage will ultimately ease cost-of-living pressures and help set up Australia for a more prosperous future with greater energy security.”
