New stats show Australia installed its highest ever number of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in 2020.

In 2020, around Australia, over 362,000 rooftop solar PV installations were issued with small-scale renewable energy scheme certificates (STCs) under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. 

This is an increase of 28 per cent from 2019, when 283,991 installations were issued STCs, with the majority of installs under the scheme being residential, and a smaller number for commercial and industrial properties.

The data was analysed by experts at CSIRO.

“CSIRO has analysed and projected energy futures for more than two decades, and over that time we have accurately forecast and tracked the reduction in cost of renewables, and the development of battery storage options, including our own UltraBattery,” says CSIRO chief Dr Larry Marshall.

“Science has made renewables cost competitive with conventional power, letting market forces take over to drive a global transition to lower emissions. 

“Australia's solar advantage creates an economic opportunity for us on the world stage and an environmental benefit for the globe – even better when it’s powered by Australian science and research.”

A total of 3 gigawatts (GW) of rooftop solar PV capacity was installed nationally in 2020, a 40 per cent increase on the 2.2 GW installed in 2019, and this is trending higher in 2021 with an expected 3.5 to 4 GW of capacity. The growth in capacity has been driven by increasing system size, with the average system now between 8 and 8.5 kilowatts.

The states with the highest number of solar PV systems installed in 2020 were: New South Wales (with 108,922), Queensland (86,912), Victoria (71,798), Western Australia (47,653) and South Australia (35,599).

Individual postcodes leading the charge in 2020 were:

  • 3064 (Victorian suburbs of Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickleham and Roxburgh Park) with 2484 systems

  • 3029 (Victorian suburbs of Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina) with 2435

  • 3977 (Victorian suburbs of Cranbourne, Sandhurst and Skye) with 2036

  • 2765 (NSW suburb of Marsden Park, Berkshire Park, Vineyard, Box Hill) with 1841

  • 6112 (WA suburb of Armadale, Forrestdale, Bedfordale) with 1778

Australia has the highest uptake of solar globally. Clean Energy Regulator data shows that more than 2.68 million rooftop solar power systems have been installed in Australia in total, as of 31 December 2020; that means one in four homes have solar panels on their roof.