Over the course of the past 12 months, Australia has seen a dramatic increase in the installation of Solar Systems across the country.
For the first time last year Australia exceeded utilising 1 gigawatts of rooftop solar panels. What does 1 Gigawatt of power look like? Think about it this way, that’s equal to around 4.6 million PV panels or 100 million LED Bulbs.
It’s these new figures which have confirmed that Australia’s renewable energy department is on track to meet their set RET (Renewable Energy Target). This target is designed to ensure that at least 33,000 Gigawatt’s (GWh) of Australia’s electricity an hour comes from renewable sources by 2020.
As solar systems gradually become more affordable with payback periods, it’s predicted that by 2040 45% of Australia will receive power through solar and battery storage.
Let’s take a look at 2017 and the number of solar systems installed across the country:
- QLD: 46, 214
- NSW: 42, 524
- WA: 31, 472
- VIC: 30, 284
- SA: 15, 692
- TAS: 2, 386
- NT: 1, 908
- ACT: 1, 672
Queenslanders alone have almost doubled the amount of solar panel energy systems that have been installed over the past 12 months, once again taking out the top spot. While there has never been a better time than now to invest in a solar system we take a look at some of the key decision making factors moving into 2018.
Escalating power costs
Compared to Europe and the US, Australia has much higher electricity costs, in fact some of the steepest in the world, and yet our electricity prices are still on the rise. By investing in a solar system for your business or home you can combat these increasing prices by lowering your traditional energy usage and ultimately save on your electricity bills all year round.
Property Value
Across Australia multiple studies have shown that those houses equipped with solar systems tend to have added market value, attract a larger volume of buyers and sell more quickly. As the younger generations become consumed with becoming more environmentally friendly, this mentality affects their purchase decisions and leads to the fact they tend to prefer property with solar. By choosing a property with solar they are choosing a greener and cleaner alternative.
It’s never too late to make the switch to solar – YOU can make the switch today with a $0 up front cost! To find out how, speak with one of our dedicated consultants and discover the best plan for you.
Founder of Horan & Bird. Director of Master Electricians Australia and Board Member of Solar Accreditation Australia. John has played a key entrepreneurial role in the transformation of the Energy Landscape in Queensland.
