Australians install 3 million renewable energy systems

Since the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme was introduced in 2001, Australian homes and small businesses have installed more than 3 million small-scale renewable energy systems that have the capacity to generate or displace around 12.9 million megawatt hours of electricity annually.

Clean Energy Regulator Executive General Manager Mark Williamson said, “One in five Australian homes now generate their own renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions through rooftop solar.”

The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme provides incentives to households and small businesses by issuing small-scale technology certificates for every megawatt hour of renewable energy generated or displaced by an accredited solar panel, wind, hydro system, solar water heater or air source heat pump.

The majority of installations were rooftop solar panel systems, providing around 63% of the three million total, with solar water heaters (29%) and air source heat pumps (8%) making up the majority of the remaining installations.

“Queensland continues to live up to its reputation as the sunshine state, installing a record 839,461 small-scale renewable energy systems compared to New South Wales in second place with 694,154 systems,” Williamson said.

Victoria had the third-highest number of installations with 636,157, followed by Western Australia with 436,611.

Of the annual 12.9 million megawatt hours of electricity, 72% is generated by solar panel, hydro or wind systems and 28% is displaced (reduces overall electricity consumption) by solar water heaters and air source heat pumps.

“Over the past few years we have seen a trend of larger systems being installed as technology advances and prices fall,” Williamson said.

“These larger systems are not just being installed by households. More schools, community groups and businesses are installing systems and seeing the financial and environmental benefits of renewable energy.”