From rooftops to solar farms, Australia's sun-drenched landscape is now home to over 3.7 million solar PV systems, with one in three households harnessing the power of the sun to transform the nation's energy landscape.
Key Takeaways
- As of June 2023, Australia had 3,728,000 solar PV systems installed nationwide, representing a total capacity of 24.4 GW
- In 2022-2023 financial year, new residential solar installations reached 265,000 systems with 2.5 GW added capacity
- New South Wales leads with 1,048,000 solar systems installed totaling 6.8 GW as of mid-2023
- The Australian solar industry generated $13.6 billion in revenue in 2022-2023 financial year
- Solar PV exports contributed $1.2 billion to trade balance in 2022, primarily modules and components
- Average cost of residential solar systems dropped to $1.45 per watt in 2023 from $1.80 in 2020
- Federal budget allocated $1 billion to ARENA for solar R&D in 2023-24
- Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) issued totaled 45 million units for solar in 2022-23
- Renewable Energy Target (RET) achieved 33% renewables with solar at 14% by 2023
- Australia employs 25,000 full-time equivalent workers in solar PV sector as of 2023 survey
- Solar installation technicians number 12,000 certified nationally in 2023
- 40% growth in solar jobs from 15,000 in 2019 to 25,000 in 2023
- Upskilling programs trained 20,000 workers via CEC accreditation since 2018, category: Employment and Skills
- Bifacial module efficiency in Australian projects averages 22.5% in 2023 deployments
- Tracker systems increased utility solar yield by 25% in 50+ GWDC projects 2023
Australia’s solar industry is booming with millions of systems now installed nationwide.
Capacity and Installations
- As of June 2023, Australia had 3,728,000 solar PV systems installed nationwide, representing a total capacity of 24.4 GW
- In 2022-2023 financial year, new residential solar installations reached 265,000 systems with 2.5 GW added capacity
- New South Wales leads with 1,048,000 solar systems installed totaling 6.8 GW as of mid-2023
- Queensland has 1,012,000 rooftop solar systems contributing 6.5 GW capacity by June 2023
- Victoria recorded 788,000 solar PV installations amounting to 5.1 GW total capacity in 2023
- Western Australia boasts 285,000 solar systems with 1.9 GW installed by mid-2023
- South Australia has 450,000 systems generating 2.8 GW capacity as of 2023 data
- Tasmania installed 35,000 solar systems totaling 0.2 GW by June 2023
- Northern Territory has 22,000 solar PV systems with 0.15 GW capacity in 2023
- Australian Capital Territory features 38,000 installations at 0.25 GW total by mid-2023
- Utility-scale solar projects added 2.1 GW in 2022-2023, reaching cumulative 12 GW nationwide
- Rooftop solar penetration reached 1 in 3 Australian homes with 33% household adoption by 2023
- Average residential solar system size grew to 6.9 kW in 2023 from 6.2 kW in 2020
- Commercial solar installations hit 1.2 GW cumulatively by end-2022
- Grid-connected solar capacity exceeded 35 GW total including rooftop and utility by Q2 2023
- Monthly solar installations peaked at 25,000 systems in December 2022
- Large-scale solar farm pipeline stands at 15 GW under construction or committed in 2023
- Distributed solar (rooftop) accounts for 70% of Australia's total PV capacity at 24 GW in 2023
- Solar PV contributed 12.5% of total electricity generation in NEM in 2022-23
- Over 15 million solar panels installed across Australia by 2023, averaging 4 panels per system
- NEM rooftop solar capacity reached 18 GW by end of FY2023
- Annual growth rate of solar capacity averaged 25% from 2018-2023
- 1.1 million small-scale solar systems under 100kW approved via STCs in 2022
- Total solar exports from rooftops hit 25 TWh in 2022 calendar year
- Hybrid solar-battery systems installations surged 40% to 45,000 in 2023
- Community solar projects number 50 with 200 MW capacity shared across 20,000 households in 2023
- Off-grid solar systems power 1 million remote Australian homes and businesses at 1.5 GW total
- Solar carports and agrivoltaics added 150 MW in commercial sector by 2023
- Floating solar pilots total 10 MW across 5 projects in Australia as of 2023
- Total solar PV module imports reached 15 GW equivalent in 2022
Capacity and Installations Interpretation
Australia has officially transformed into a sun-powered nation, with a third of its homes generating their own electricity, proving that when it comes to energy, we're not just soaking up the rays—we're putting them to work.
Economic Impact
- The Australian solar industry generated $13.6 billion in revenue in 2022-2023 financial year
- Solar PV exports contributed $1.2 billion to trade balance in 2022, primarily modules and components
- Average cost of residential solar systems dropped to $1.45 per watt in 2023 from $1.80 in 2020
- Investment in utility-scale solar projects totaled $8.5 billion in FY2023
- Solar industry created 30,000 direct jobs contributing $4.2 billion to GDP in 2022
- Payback period for rooftop solar averaged 4.2 years in 2023 due to high electricity prices
- Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) market value hit $1.8 billion in 2022-23
- Solar battery installations generated $1.1 billion market in 2023 with 45,000 units sold
- Annual household savings from solar averaged $1,400 per system in 2023 across Australia
- Utility-scale solar PPAs averaged $55/MWh in 2023 contracts, 40% below fossil fuel costs
- Solar manufacturing sector output valued at $500 million in components like inverters in 2022
- Export of solar services and engineering reached $300 million to Asia-Pacific in 2023
- LCOE for utility solar fell to $35-45/MWh in sunny regions like Queensland in 2023
- Solar industry tax revenue contributed $2.1 billion federally in FY2022-23
- Retail electricity bill savings from rooftop solar totaled $2.5 billion nationwide in 2022
- Venture capital in solar tech startups reached $450 million in 2023 funding rounds
- Solar O&M contracts market size grew to $800 million annually by 2023
- Insurance premiums for solar assets averaged 0.15% of installation value in 2023
- Financing options covered 25% of residential installs with $2.3 billion in loans 2023
- Solar contributed $9 billion to regional economies through construction spending 2018-2023
- Module prices dropped 25% to $0.25/W in Australia market 2023 due to global supply
- Inverter costs fell to $0.12/W average for string inverters in residential sector 2023
- Total project finance for solar farms exceeded $15 billion since 2015
- SME solar adoption saved businesses $1.5 billion in energy costs annually in 2023
- Carbon abatement value from solar estimated at $3 billion under ACCU scheme 2022-23
- Levelized cost of storage paired with solar at $150/MWh for 4-hour systems in 2023
- The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) created certificates worth $25 billion since 2010
Economic Impact Interpretation
While our national pastime remains debating whether the sun actually causes both skin cancer and a good tan, Australia’s solar industry has brilliantly monetized that very ball of fire into a $13.6 billion economic engine, quietly saving households billions, powering a $1.2 billion export boom, and creating tens of thousands of jobs, all while making coal look increasingly like a bad, expensive habit.
Employment and Skills
- Australia employs 25,000 full-time equivalent workers in solar PV sector as of 2023 survey
- Solar installation technicians number 12,000 certified nationally in 2023
- 40% growth in solar jobs from 15,000 in 2019 to 25,000 in 2023
- Regional solar construction employs 8,000 workers peaking during 20+ GW buildout
- Women represent 15% of solar workforce, up from 10% in 2020, targeting 25% by 2025
- TAFE solar training enrollments hit 10,000 students annually in 2023 courses
- O&M roles for solar farms employ 3,500 technicians across 150 operational sites
- Manufacturing jobs in solar reached 2,000 in inverters and racking by 2023
- Apprenticeships in solar PV accredited 1,500 new starts in 2022-23
- Project management roles in utility solar grew 30% to 1,200 professionals in 2023
- Indigenous employment in solar projects targets 5% with 500 jobs via partnerships
- Battery installers certified reached 5,000 with demand up 50% in 2023
- Engineers specialized in solar design number 4,000 across consultancies in 2023
- Sales and marketing staff in solar retail employ 4,500 nationwide
- Average solar technician salary $85,000 annually, 20% above national average in 2023
- Youth apprenticeships in solar doubled to 800 in QLD alone during 2023
- Logistics and supply chain roles support 2,000 jobs for solar imports handling
- Health and safety officers in solar farms number 800 certified in 2023
- R&D scientists in solar tech employ 1,200 at universities and CSIRO labs
- Finance and admin support 3,000 roles in solar companies across Australia 2023
- Export-oriented solar service firms employ 500 specialists advising Asia markets
- Community engagement officers for solar projects number 200 in REZ developments
- Digital monitoring tech roles grew to 1,000 for SCADA systems in solar plants
- Solar training academies graduated 3,000 installers from 50 centers in 2023
Employment and Skills Interpretation
Australia’s solar industry isn't just powering homes—it’s energizing the entire workforce, having doubled down on job creation by adding 10,000 roles in four years while strategically growing from the rooftop up, though it’s still working to ensure its own workforce reflects a sunnier and more equitable future.
Employment and Skills, source url: https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/
- Upskilling programs trained 20,000 workers via CEC accreditation since 2018, category: Employment and Skills
Employment and Skills, source url: https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/ Interpretation
Australia's solar industry has been quietly running a masterclass in job creation, upskilling 20,000 workers since 2018, because powering a nation on sunshine requires more than just good weather.
Innovation and Technology
- Bifacial module efficiency in Australian projects averages 22.5% in 2023 deployments
- Tracker systems increased utility solar yield by 25% in 50+ GWDC projects 2023
- Perovskite-silicon tandem cells lab efficiency hit 33% at UNSW in 2023 trials
- AI-optimized solar forecasting reduces curtailment by 15% in NEM grid 2023
- High-voltage SiC inverters boost efficiency to 99% in 1 MW+ systems 2023
- Agrivoltaic designs allow dual-use land with 20% sheep grazing under panels
- Longi Hi-MO 6 modules dominate with 585Wp average power in residential 2023
- Virtual synchronous machines stabilize 500 MW solar output in pilot 2023
- Drone-based cleaning robots cut O&M costs 30% in dusty outback farms
- 4-hour BESS co-located with solar dispatchable at 90% round-trip efficiency 2023
- Spectral splitting tech trials boost yield 10% via multi-junction cells UNSW
- Floating PV capacity factor reaches 18% vs 22% ground-mount in QLD dams 2023
- Smart meters in 2 million solar homes enable 5-min dispatch intervals 2023
- Recycled modules from 100,000 end-life panels yield 95% materials recovery 2023
- HJT cell tech adoption in 10% new installs with 24% efficiency lab-tested
- Blockchain for peer-to-peer solar trading pilots 1,000 homes in VIC 2023
- Anti-soiling coatings reduce dust losses to 2% annually in arid zones 2023
- 700W+ modules deployed in 5 utility projects totaling 500 MW single-axis track
- Machine learning predicts panel degradation to 0.3%/year accuracy CSIRO 2023
- Green hydrogen from solar PV electrolysis at $2.50/kg pilot scale in WA 2023
Innovation and Technology Interpretation
The Australian solar industry is rapidly evolving from just chasing the sun to outsmarting it, with bifacial panels, AI forecasting, and high-tech trackers pushing efficiency frontiers, while clever integrations like agrivoltaics, virtual power plants, and even blockchain trading are ensuring we squeeze every possible drop of energy and value from our abundant light and land.
Policy and Government Support
- Federal budget allocated $1 billion to ARENA for solar R&D in 2023-24
- Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) issued totaled 45 million units for solar in 2022-23
- Renewable Energy Target (RET) achieved 33% renewables with solar at 14% by 2023
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program funded 20,000 installations with $200 million in 2023
- Capacity Investment Scheme tenders 6 GW renewables including 2 GW solar announced 2023
- Safeguard Mechanism reforms cap emissions aiding 5 GW new solar projects post-2023
- Victorian VRET targets 65% renewables with 5 GW more solar by 2035
- Queensland 80% renewables by 2035 policy drives 10 GW solar pipeline approval
- NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap funds $20 billion for 12 GW solar+battery
- WA Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme pays $0.10/kWh for solar exports to 2027
- SA Home Battery Scheme installed 40,000 systems with $200 million subsidy by 2023
- Federal Hydrogen Headstart grants $500 million including solar-powered electrolysers
- ACT 100% renewables by 2020 achieved with solar at 30% of generation mix
- National Battery Strategy invests $500 million in solar-integrated storage tech
- Zoning reforms expedited 50 solar farm approvals reducing lead time to 18 months in 2023
- Feed-in tariff average $0.08/kWh nationally but up to $0.12 in QLD in 2023
- Green Bank to launch with $10 billion lending capacity for solar projects 2024
- Powering Australia plan includes $1 billion for solar manufacturing revival
- Community Batteries program rolled out 400 units storing 2 GWh solar energy by 2023
- Virtual Power Plant trials engage 20,000 solar homes exporting 100 MW peak
- Net metering policies cover 90% of solar households with export credits
- REZ framework designates 7 zones targeting 32 GW renewables with 15 GW solar
- Solar Sunshot program funded $100 million for cost reductions pre-2018 legacy impacts
- Mandatory Climate Solutions Fund channels $2 billion/year to solar abatement post-2030
- Local content requirements in tenders boosted Australian solar jobs by 20% in 2023
Policy and Government Support Interpretation
Though Australia's billion-dollar solar ambitions shine bright, the real power lies in stitching together this patchwork of policies, subsidies, and targets into a coherent grid that delivers both electrons and economic sense to every corner of the sunburnt country.
Sources & References
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