As of last month, over 1 million home solar systems have been installed across Australia, for a total capacity of almost 2.5 GW.
That’s according to figures from the Clean Energy Regulator, which estimates that those solar energy systems provide power for around 2.5 million Australians. With a population of around 23 million, that means over ten percent of the country benefits from solar power.
The regulator also says the installations have saved Australians about half a billion dollars on electricity bills!
Credit: Clean Energy Council
“It is remarkable when you think that just five years ago in 2008 there were only about 20,000 systems installed across the entire country,” said Clean Energy Council chief executive David Green.
Green noted that solar has entered the mainstream as Australians try to “take back control of their power bills” to save money and ensure they are getting power from a clean resource.
“For some years solar has been most enthusiastically embraced by those in mortgage-belt suburbs, retirement areas and regional parts of the country,” he added.
“People from all walks of life have been installing solar as a way of protecting themselves from power price pain over the long term.”
The state of Queensland saw the biggest growth, increasing from just 348 installations in 2007 to almost 120,000 in 2012.
The national installed capacity is now at 2.452 GW from 1,011,478 solar PV systems.
