Solar

Australia rooftop solar market hits “plateau” – at record volumes

Published by

Australia’s rooftop solar market looks to be sitting pretty at its record installation rate, that puts it roughly 38 per cent ahead of the same time in 2018 – itself a record year.

The latest data from solar market analysts SunWiz shows the market has more or less hit a steady rate of installations, with a total of 175MW of residential and commercial PV for the month of August.

As you can see in the SunWiz chart below, installation volumes have stayed in this ballpark – fluctuating somewhere between 150MW and 200MW – since October last year.

“Looking back over the past year, the market has effectively plateaued,” said SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston in his Insights report for August 2019.

“Victoria recovered slightly, offset by falls in New South Wales and Queensland that were simply oscillations in commercial PV.”

Johnston notes that “oscillation” in commercial installation rates has led to the falls in the eastern states, offset by residential growth in Victoria.

But he also warns to expect Victoria to show a reversal in September data, due to the impact of the state’s rooftop rebate, which – until government changes last week – had effectively put a cap on the residential solar market.

“The market (is) effectively 38 per cent ahead of the same time last year,” Johnston said.

The data shows that, overall, the residential market grew slightly, and there was an upwards trend in commercial, despite falls in the 10-20kW and 75-100kW segments.

Queensland has emerged as the leading state market for 10-30kW PV installations. And Victoria leads in 30-100kW.

This post was published on September 5, 2019 12:58 pm

View Comments

  • Well 38% growth is still pretty impressive and results in about 2GW per annum. As long as it stays at the level all is good. Really the we just need batteries to drop to an enticing price.

  • Victorian residents have the opportunity to get solar rebates from the government but it's just that one has to make sure that they are eligible for the same. There are some professionals who help people with the eligibility program and apply for a rebate from the Victorian Government towards installing a solar panel (PV) system or a solar battery. You can

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Will Victoria’s ‘one-stop-shops’ overcome the hurdles facing household electrification?

An update on how Victoria's State Electricity Commission is rolling out their one-stop-shops for home…

December 23, 2024

Solar Insiders Podcast: A roller coaster year in review – and the keys to a smoother 2025

In our final episode for the year, SunWiz's Warwick Johnston on the highs and the…

December 20, 2024

“Nightmare:” Energy tariffs that are blowing out bills, blindsiding consumers

Regulator report finds that little-understood but increasingly common demand tariffs can add up to $800…

December 20, 2024

Hidden cost of rooftop solar? Actually, networks spend next to nothing on managing exports

Have you heard the one about non-solar homes paying the cost to networks of accommodating…

December 19, 2024

With just $500 of rooftop solar modules, you could charge your EVs for 20 years

Four good quality solar panels - costing around $500 - would produce enough power for…

December 19, 2024

“It makes no sense:” How fossil gas industry is blocking electrification and consumer savings

The gas war still burns: “We need to think about how to stop misinformation going…

December 17, 2024