Rooftop solar growth nears record levels, led by Queensland and commercial installs

Australian rooftop solar market growth is tracking more than 7 per cent ahead of the same time last year, with another 261MW of panels installed by homes and businesses in the month of April.

According to the latest data from industry analysts SunWiz, an early Easter long weekend that started in March has meant a better than usual April for installs, a month that typically sees a sharp downturn due to public and school holidays.

Instead, the registration of 261MW of new rooftop solar was not far off a record level for April, which like many other rooftop solar records for Australia was set in the bumper year of 2021.

“Each year we observe a significant contraction in April, largely attributable to the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays,” SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston says.

“This year Easter straddled March and April, meaning …March’s volumes were dampened below what they would typically be, [while] April’s downturn was modest compared to typical years. …Overall the volumes are 7% ahead of last year.”

Leading the installs in April was the commercial rooftop solar sector, with the best growth found to be in the 15-30kW segment, while installs in the 10-15kW segment held steady.

On a state-by-state basis, there was a bit of a changing of the guard in terms of where the most rooftop PV was being installed.

Johnston notes that while New South Wales and Victorian volumes dropped back – by 7% and 5% respectively – Queensland and South Australia grew by 6% and 3%, respectively.

Johnston says attendees at the Brisbane Solar and Storage conference this week noted a healthier atmosphere for small solar in the Sunshine State.

“In April Queensland recovered all the ground lost in its March contraction, but Victoria slid further. All of these changes are just in the single digits,” he says.

“NSW had the most significant contraction in April, part of which may relate to being the sole major state that grew in March.”