ROOFTOP SOLAR is surging in Australia, with the rate of installation jumping by almost 60% in 2018, overtaking the previous record set in 2017, according to new data.
The Green Energy Market’s ‘Renewable Energy Index – April ’ shows a spike of 56% in the rate of rooftop solar capacity installations across the nation this year.
Climate Councillor and energy expert Professor Andrew Stock said “Australia is one of the sunniest and windiest countries in the world, so 2018’s new record comes as no surprise,” he said.
“More and more Australian homeowners and businesses are turning to clean, affordable and reliable renewables like solar, harnessing the power of the sun and taking control of their power bills.”
“Our renewables boom is creating a jobs boost to the economy, with rooftop solar providing just shy of 5,500 full-time jobs, according to this latest research.”
“This technology simply makes good economic sense, with renewables such as solar now the cheapest form of new energy generation.”
“We’ve got a never-ending and widely available power source at our fingertips, which can cut the nation’s rising greenhouse gas pollution and combined with storage, can provide cheap power across Australia on demand, 24/7.”
“If this recording-breaking renewables rush continues, within just five years the amount of solar capacity installed will be two and a half times bigger than Australia’s largest coal-fired power station,” said Professor Stock.
The Climate Council’s ‘Renewables & Business: Cutting Prices & Pollution’ report released last week, found that almost half of the nation’s businesses are making the switch to renewable energy with electricity prices rising by almost 90% over the past decade.
“Despite the national solar surge, the Federal Government is still lagging behind when it comes to supporting the rollout of clean energy and battery storage.”
“Australia urgently needs credible climate and energy policy to support our boom, while the proposed National Energy Guarantee (NEG), in its current form, is woefully inadequate when it comes to tackling pollution from power generation and risks bringing Australia’s renewables and storage boom to a grinding halt.”
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