Industry Data

Australian Solar Statistics & Industry Data

Australia leads the world in rooftop solar adoption with 42% of homes now powered by solar. Explore the latest installation numbers, state-by-state data, battery adoption rates, and industry trends.

Check your rebate eligibility

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Headshot of Andy McMaster, Solar Installer Partner Relations at Why Solar
Written by Andy McMaster
·March 2026·12 min
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Rooftop Solar Adoption

Australia has the highest rate of rooftop solar adoption in the world. The average system size has grown to 6.6kW as panel prices have dropped and homeowners seek to maximise their investment.

trending_upLast 12 Months

202K+

New installations

straightenAverage System Size

6.6 kW

Up from 6.8kW in 2020

homeTotal Dwellings

10.3M

In CER/ABS dataset

publicGlobal Ranking

#1

World leader in rooftop solar per capita

Historical Installation Milestones

2010
100K
First 100,000
2017
2M
2 million milestone
2021
3M
3 million milestone
2026
4.3M
Current total
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Check Your Rebate Eligibility

Enter your postcode to check rebate eligibility in your area.

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verifiedVerified Local Installersthumb_up100% Free ServiceshieldNo Obligation

Over 3.6 million homes already claiming rebates

State-by-State Solar Data

Solar adoption varies significantly across Australia. South Australia leads in household penetration while Queensland dominates in total installations.

StateInstallationsCapacityHousehold Penetration
QLD
Most installations
1.2M+7.6 GW56%
NSW
Highest capacity
1.1M+8.0 GW35%
VIC
Strong growth
859K+5.6 GW32%
WA
Strong growth
559K+3.1 GW52%
SA
Highest penetration
446K+2.9 GW58%
ACT
Policy leader
65K+0.5 GW36%
TAS
Growing market
64K+0.4 GW26%
NT
Highest sun hours
25K+0.2 GW31%

Source: Clean Energy Regulator postcode data (2,809 postcodes), ABS Census 2021. Last updated: March 2026.

boltBattery Revolution

Battery Storage Boom

The federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate program launched in July 2025 has supercharged battery adoption. Over 165,000 batteries were installed in the first 6 months alone.

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530%
Increase since July 2025 rebate
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165,979
Batteries installed in 6 months post-rebate
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271,000+
Cumulative battery installations
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28.4%
Of new solar installs include battery
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Federal Battery Rebate Impact

Pre-rebate (June 2025)~8,000/month
Post-rebate (Dec 2025)~50,000/month

The ~$300/kWh rebate (approximately 30% of battery cost) has made batteries economically viable for most households. Source: Clean Energy Regulator, Solar Calculator.

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See How Much You'd Save

Enter your postcode to see your estimated rebate amount.

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verifiedVerified Local Installersthumb_up100% Free ServiceshieldNo Obligation

Over 3.6 million homes already claiming rebates

Financial Returns

Solar remains one of the best household investments in Australia with typical payback periods of 3-4 years and ongoing savings for 20+ years.

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Average Savings (Solar)

$1,500/year

Based on 6.6kW system with 30% self-consumption

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With Battery

$2,500-$3,000/year

80-90% self-consumption with 10kWh battery

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Typical Payback

3-4 years

For solar system after rebates

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Current STC Rebate

~$1,600

For 6.6kW system (varies by location)

Return on Investment

A typical 6.6kW solar system costs $5,500-$8,000 after the federal STC rebate. With annual savings of $1,500+, most systems pay for themselves within 3-4 years and continue generating free electricity for 20-25 years.

  • check_circle25-year panel warranties standard
  • check_circle10-15 year inverter warranties
  • check_circleIncreases property value by 3-4%
Lifetime Savings (25 years)
$30,000+
After system cost

2030 Outlook

Australia is on track to exceed its renewable energy targets with rooftop solar playing a central role in the energy transition.

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Rooftop Target

2030 projection

36 GW

Currently at 28.3 GW (79% of target)

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Renewable Target

National goal

82%

Of electricity from renewables by 2030

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2050 Projection

Long-term forecast

53-71 GW

Rooftop solar capacity projected by 2050

Key Trends Shaping the Future

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Battery Integration

Expected 50%+ of new solar installations to include batteries by 2028

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EV Charging

Solar + EV combinations creating virtual fuel independence

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Virtual Power Plants

Aggregated home batteries becoming significant grid resource

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Smart Grids

Two-way energy flow enabling better grid management

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The next step

If you have any questions about the information in this guide, feel free to get in touch:

If you're considering solar panels or batteries for your home, Andy and the team can help you get quotes from trusted, pre-vetted local installers:

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Headshot of Andy McMaster, Solar Installer Partner Relations at Why Solar

Written by

Andy McMaster

Solar Installer Partner Relations

Connects homeowners with trusted, vetted solar installers across Australia. Andy works directly with installation companies to ensure quality standards and helps homeowners navigate the quoting process.

Learn more about Andy McMaster
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Up to $5,350 in rebates • Battery rates change in 59 days