PVTIME – Australia saw a significant increase in rooftop solar installations in 2024, with nearly 3GW of new capacity added, according to a report from the Clean Energy Council. The data shows that 1.6GW of new capacity was installed in the second half of 2024 alone. This surge pushed total rooftop solar PV capacity across the country past the 25.5GW mark in November 2024, surpassing the combined installed capacity of coal-fired power generation (black and brown coal) for the first time.
In its bi-annual Rooftop Solar and Storage Report, the Clean Energy Council found that rooftop solar accounted for 12.4% of Australia’s total electricity generation in 2024. Although new installations in 2024 were slightly lower than the 3.2GW added in 2023, the number of residential solar PV systems installed in Australia still exceeded 300,000 for the fifth consecutive year. Despite a 10% year-on-year decline in the number of installations, the average system size per household continued to grow.
In December 2024, the average system capacity per household reached a record high of 11.08kW (compared to 10.33kW in 2023 and 9.52kW in 2022). The report shows that this growth is in line with seasonal trends, with the average size per household typically peaking before the summer. New South Wales led the way with 952MW of new installations, followed closely by Queensland with 800MW and Victoria with 582MW. Together, New South Wales and Queensland accounted for more than half of Australia’s total rooftop solar PV installations.
Moreover, the number of energy storage systems installed in Australian rooftop solar PV systems has been on a steady rise. Currently, nearly 186,000 residential energy storage systems have been installed. In the second half of 2024, more than 45,000 new systems were added, representing a 55% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This growth in storage systems not only enhances the self-sufficiency of households but also contributes to a more stable and reliable energy grid, further solidifying Australia’s position as a global leader in the transition to clean energy.
