Regional NSW is dominating rooftop solar adoption across the state, with nine of the top 10 electorates for installations outside of Sydney – and some of the highest rates are right here.
Six of the top ten electorates for rooftop solar are here on the North Coast.
The Barwon electorate, which includes Narrabri and goes west to the border, has emerged as the clear leader, recording 24,537 homes and businesses with rooftop solar systems.
Not far behind with 22,743 installations is Ballina, second highest in the State, followed by 22,162 in Lismore, and 22,161 in Tweed. The, coming in at seventh position is Clarence with 20,506, Oxley with 19,790, and Port Macquarie with 19,457 installations.
While regional areas account for most of the leading electorates, Riverstone in Sydney’s north-west ranks fifth overall for solar uptake and holds the number one position nationally for household battery installations. Around 1,500 households in Riverstone have installed batteries to store solar power for use beyond daylight hours.
Electorate Solar PV Installation Barwon 24,537 Ballina 22,743 Lismore 22,162 Tweed 22,161 Riverstone (Western Sydney) 21,037 Dubbo 20,584 Clarence 20,506 Oxley 19,790 Port Macquarie 19,457 Albury 19,161
The latest data shows NSW continues to lead the nation in rooftop solar, with more than one million homes and businesses now fitted with panels — equivalent to one in three households statewide.
Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said regional communities were driving the transition.
“From the Far West to the Northern Rivers, regional NSW is leading the charge on rooftop solar.” she said.
Across NSW, rooftop solar is now playing a significant role in electricity generation. When conditions are favourable, rooftop systems collectively produce more power than all of the state’s coal-fired power stations.
“In the final quarter of last year, solar farms and rooftop solar provided 32 per cent of our state’s electricity,” Ms Sharpe said.
“Families and businesses are saving on their bill with solar, and the highest concentration is in the regions and Western Sydney.”
Cost savings remain a key driver of adoption. An average four-person household with a 6.6kW solar system could save up to $1,400 per year on electricity bills, according to the latest figures.
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