1 in 3 Australian Homes Now Have Rooftop Solar Panels

Solar panels are seen on the roof of The Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 14, 2019. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

One in three Australian homes now have rooftop solar, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced.

In a statement issued on Nov. 14, Bowen said the nation is on track to add a near-record 3.15 gigawatts of capacity to the grid this year.

The minister said rooftop solar saved households more than $1,500 (US$970) on power bills annually and also helped lower wholesale prices.

Bowen praised the four millionth solar installation as a significant milestone under the Albanese Government’s Reliable Renewables Plan.

He credited this achievement in part to the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, which he said cuts upfront solar installation costs by about 30 percent.

The push for more homes to take on solar has been a component of Labor’s overall renewables-only plan for Australia’s power supply.

“Aussie homeowners know rooftop solar is a no-brainer when it comes to bringing down bills, which is why we have been installing about 300,000 rooftop systems a year and there is no sign of that slowing down,” Bowen said.

Bowen contrasted Labor’s renewables-only approach with what he called the Opposition’s “anti-renewables” stance.

“The Opposition’s anti-renewables obsession under the guise of a nuclear scheme won’t create any jobs or energy for another 20 years and would only push up bills and slow down cheap renewables,” he added.

Australian Prime MInister Anthony Albanese (left) and Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen (centre) with founder and CEO Vince Allen (right) during a visit to Sundrive in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 1, 2023. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Caution Against Renewables Reliance

Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, however, has advised against over-reliance on renewables, saying that it would not provide a reliable power source for the nation in the long term.

“The Coalition believes Australia must have a balanced energy mix to deliver cheaper, cleaner, and consistent 24/7 electricity,” Dutton said.

“90 percent of baseload electricity, predominantly coal-fired power stations, is coming to the end of life over the next decade.

“Nuclear energy for Australia is an idea whose time has come.”

The Opposition Leader has also warned of the costs associated with the government’s renewables-focused plan.

“Labor’s approach requires imposing 58 million solar panels, 3,500 new industrial wind turbines, and up to 28,000 kilometres of new transmission lines across the country,” he said.

“Energy experts have warned the cost of Labor’s rollout will be between $1.2 trillion and $1.5 trillion.”