Rooftop solar output surges 20 per cent
The amount of energy generated by rooftop solar has surged by one-fifth this summer, now reaching 16 per cent of Australia's total electricity mix.
According to new data released by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the spike is driven by new installations and favorable weather conditions.
The total output produced across the country from the start of December last year through to the end of February was 10,592GWh, compared to 8,852GWh last summer period and 8,102GWh in 2022/2023. Rooftop solar provided 16 per cent of the grid over the summer months. NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui Credit: News Corp Australia
Across the country, New South Wales led the charge with rooftop solar energy output up by 25.4 per cent, followed closely by Victoria at 23.1 per cent and South Australia at 22.5 per cent.
Queensland's rooftop production jumped by 18 per cent, Tasmania saw a 8.9 per cent spike while Western Australia's South West Interconnected System lifted output by 6.2 per cent. One in three households now have rooftop solar. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen hailed the results, saying total rooftop solar output had grown 55 per cent since the Albanese Labor government was elected with one in three households now using solar panels.
'There's a reason that Australia's solar is the envy of the world – it means cleaner, cheaper energy for millions of households,' he said.
'This new data reinforces why Labor's Cheaper Home Batteries program makes so much sense – with record solar output, we want to help more households use that energy when it's needed most, to get bills down and take pressure off the grid.' Chris Bowen hailed the growth. NewsWire / David Swift Credit: News Corp Australia
There are now more than 4 millions solar panels across the country's rooftops, the data reveals, with Queensland leading the pack at 1,104,200, while NSW and VIC round out the top three with 1,067,900 and 809,500 respectively.
WA now has 534,800 panels, SA is home to 426,800, while the ACT has 61,400, TAS 61,400 and the NT contains 24,200.
According to the Australian Energy Market Operator, renewable energy sources supplied a record 46% of the market's electricity in the final quarter of 2024.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Victorian Labor government to spend $81 million on economic and policy advice
Victoria Shadow Treasurer James Newbury discusses the prediction of the Victorian Labor government to spend $81 million in the current budget on economic and policy advice. 'The government is hiring an executive on $220,000 a day,' Mr Newbury told Sky News host Steve Price. 'For $81 million, I don't think we're getting very good advice because the government doesn't seem to be getting any better. 'What's this $81 million going towards?'
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Labor vows to slash red tape to turbocharge housing
Breaking ground on delivering 1.2 million homes starts by untangling the maze of bureaucratic approvals, the federal government says. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has signalled a second-term Labor administration will move quickly to boost construction. "We've just been elected with a really clear mandate to improve our housing system in this country," she told reporters on Saturday. "We've got big reforms to implement, and not a day to waste in getting on with them." The minister vowed to simplify local, state and federal planning regulations by leading a council of planning ministers. "If we are going to address the housing needs of Australians, it is going to require the three levels of government to work together in new ways," she said. She will work with the building sector to implement innovative technologies to move past time consuming and costly methods of construction. Her comments come after an interview with ABC on Friday where she said "builders face a ridiculous thicket of red tape that is preventing them building the homes we need." Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the cost of building a home had skyrocketed by 40 per cent over the past five years while construction times had ballooned by 80 per cent over the past decade. "It is critical that we remove the red tape that is hampering our capacity to build homes," she said. Ms Wawn was hopeful the ambitious goal of 1.2 million homes coming onto the market would be achieved, but said the group's projections showed there could be a slight drop-off. She argued that along with the focus on reducing red tape, there was an urgent need to apprenticeships and fast-tracking migration for skilled people. "For the first time, the federal government is leaning in and trying to ensure that there is a focused attention on housing," she said. But opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg said the government's plans were a "joke" and described Labor as "red tape champions." "Labor's signature housing policy, the Housing Australia Future Fund has built zero new homes in three years," Senator Bragg said. "Approvals are way down under their watch and their 1.2 million new home target is a dead duck." The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned Australia on Tuesday to boost housing supply and address falling affordability. The OECD said easing zoning restrictions would strengthen competition and productivity, as well as raise housing investment to "reverse the long-standing decline in housing affordability". Breaking ground on delivering 1.2 million homes starts by untangling the maze of bureaucratic approvals, the federal government says. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has signalled a second-term Labor administration will move quickly to boost construction. "We've just been elected with a really clear mandate to improve our housing system in this country," she told reporters on Saturday. "We've got big reforms to implement, and not a day to waste in getting on with them." The minister vowed to simplify local, state and federal planning regulations by leading a council of planning ministers. "If we are going to address the housing needs of Australians, it is going to require the three levels of government to work together in new ways," she said. She will work with the building sector to implement innovative technologies to move past time consuming and costly methods of construction. Her comments come after an interview with ABC on Friday where she said "builders face a ridiculous thicket of red tape that is preventing them building the homes we need." Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the cost of building a home had skyrocketed by 40 per cent over the past five years while construction times had ballooned by 80 per cent over the past decade. "It is critical that we remove the red tape that is hampering our capacity to build homes," she said. Ms Wawn was hopeful the ambitious goal of 1.2 million homes coming onto the market would be achieved, but said the group's projections showed there could be a slight drop-off. She argued that along with the focus on reducing red tape, there was an urgent need to apprenticeships and fast-tracking migration for skilled people. "For the first time, the federal government is leaning in and trying to ensure that there is a focused attention on housing," she said. But opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg said the government's plans were a "joke" and described Labor as "red tape champions." "Labor's signature housing policy, the Housing Australia Future Fund has built zero new homes in three years," Senator Bragg said. "Approvals are way down under their watch and their 1.2 million new home target is a dead duck." The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned Australia on Tuesday to boost housing supply and address falling affordability. The OECD said easing zoning restrictions would strengthen competition and productivity, as well as raise housing investment to "reverse the long-standing decline in housing affordability". Breaking ground on delivering 1.2 million homes starts by untangling the maze of bureaucratic approvals, the federal government says. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has signalled a second-term Labor administration will move quickly to boost construction. "We've just been elected with a really clear mandate to improve our housing system in this country," she told reporters on Saturday. "We've got big reforms to implement, and not a day to waste in getting on with them." The minister vowed to simplify local, state and federal planning regulations by leading a council of planning ministers. "If we are going to address the housing needs of Australians, it is going to require the three levels of government to work together in new ways," she said. She will work with the building sector to implement innovative technologies to move past time consuming and costly methods of construction. Her comments come after an interview with ABC on Friday where she said "builders face a ridiculous thicket of red tape that is preventing them building the homes we need." Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the cost of building a home had skyrocketed by 40 per cent over the past five years while construction times had ballooned by 80 per cent over the past decade. "It is critical that we remove the red tape that is hampering our capacity to build homes," she said. Ms Wawn was hopeful the ambitious goal of 1.2 million homes coming onto the market would be achieved, but said the group's projections showed there could be a slight drop-off. She argued that along with the focus on reducing red tape, there was an urgent need to apprenticeships and fast-tracking migration for skilled people. "For the first time, the federal government is leaning in and trying to ensure that there is a focused attention on housing," she said. But opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg said the government's plans were a "joke" and described Labor as "red tape champions." "Labor's signature housing policy, the Housing Australia Future Fund has built zero new homes in three years," Senator Bragg said. "Approvals are way down under their watch and their 1.2 million new home target is a dead duck." The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned Australia on Tuesday to boost housing supply and address falling affordability. The OECD said easing zoning restrictions would strengthen competition and productivity, as well as raise housing investment to "reverse the long-standing decline in housing affordability". Breaking ground on delivering 1.2 million homes starts by untangling the maze of bureaucratic approvals, the federal government says. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has signalled a second-term Labor administration will move quickly to boost construction. "We've just been elected with a really clear mandate to improve our housing system in this country," she told reporters on Saturday. "We've got big reforms to implement, and not a day to waste in getting on with them." The minister vowed to simplify local, state and federal planning regulations by leading a council of planning ministers. "If we are going to address the housing needs of Australians, it is going to require the three levels of government to work together in new ways," she said. She will work with the building sector to implement innovative technologies to move past time consuming and costly methods of construction. Her comments come after an interview with ABC on Friday where she said "builders face a ridiculous thicket of red tape that is preventing them building the homes we need." Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the cost of building a home had skyrocketed by 40 per cent over the past five years while construction times had ballooned by 80 per cent over the past decade. "It is critical that we remove the red tape that is hampering our capacity to build homes," she said. Ms Wawn was hopeful the ambitious goal of 1.2 million homes coming onto the market would be achieved, but said the group's projections showed there could be a slight drop-off. She argued that along with the focus on reducing red tape, there was an urgent need to apprenticeships and fast-tracking migration for skilled people. "For the first time, the federal government is leaning in and trying to ensure that there is a focused attention on housing," she said. But opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg said the government's plans were a "joke" and described Labor as "red tape champions." "Labor's signature housing policy, the Housing Australia Future Fund has built zero new homes in three years," Senator Bragg said. "Approvals are way down under their watch and their 1.2 million new home target is a dead duck." The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned Australia on Tuesday to boost housing supply and address falling affordability. The OECD said easing zoning restrictions would strengthen competition and productivity, as well as raise housing investment to "reverse the long-standing decline in housing affordability".
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Premier ditches privatisations amid political chaos
Repairing Tasmania's public finances does not hinge on selling government assets, the premier has asserted after caving to pressure on his party's privatisation exploration. "Our budget has a sensible pathway to surplus without selling any assets," Jeremy Rockliff told reporters at the Transend substation in Devonport on Saturday. Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses - before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA". "They will try to do it again and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the motion of no confidence due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts. The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures, including Senator Jonno Duniam, are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Despite feuding over the state's finances, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium but recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold. Both leaders voiced support for the AFL team when asked if they would give up the stadium to secure backing from crossbenchers opposed to it. Mr Winter said he remained open to all stadium options including the so-called 2.0 proposal on reclaimed land on the River Derwent. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians to front their cause. Mr Browne said he foresaw a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. Stadium supporters remain hopeful the Devils, the planned AFL outfit, can win over stadium opponents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has offered confidence and supply to Mr Winter to form government but the opposition leader has already ruled out a deal with the minor party. Repairing Tasmania's public finances does not hinge on selling government assets, the premier has asserted after caving to pressure on his party's privatisation exploration. "Our budget has a sensible pathway to surplus without selling any assets," Jeremy Rockliff told reporters at the Transend substation in Devonport on Saturday. Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses - before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA". "They will try to do it again and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the motion of no confidence due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts. The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures, including Senator Jonno Duniam, are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Despite feuding over the state's finances, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium but recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold. Both leaders voiced support for the AFL team when asked if they would give up the stadium to secure backing from crossbenchers opposed to it. Mr Winter said he remained open to all stadium options including the so-called 2.0 proposal on reclaimed land on the River Derwent. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians to front their cause. Mr Browne said he foresaw a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. Stadium supporters remain hopeful the Devils, the planned AFL outfit, can win over stadium opponents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has offered confidence and supply to Mr Winter to form government but the opposition leader has already ruled out a deal with the minor party. Repairing Tasmania's public finances does not hinge on selling government assets, the premier has asserted after caving to pressure on his party's privatisation exploration. "Our budget has a sensible pathway to surplus without selling any assets," Jeremy Rockliff told reporters at the Transend substation in Devonport on Saturday. Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses - before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA". "They will try to do it again and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the motion of no confidence due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts. The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures, including Senator Jonno Duniam, are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Despite feuding over the state's finances, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium but recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold. Both leaders voiced support for the AFL team when asked if they would give up the stadium to secure backing from crossbenchers opposed to it. Mr Winter said he remained open to all stadium options including the so-called 2.0 proposal on reclaimed land on the River Derwent. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians to front their cause. Mr Browne said he foresaw a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. Stadium supporters remain hopeful the Devils, the planned AFL outfit, can win over stadium opponents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has offered confidence and supply to Mr Winter to form government but the opposition leader has already ruled out a deal with the minor party. Repairing Tasmania's public finances does not hinge on selling government assets, the premier has asserted after caving to pressure on his party's privatisation exploration. "Our budget has a sensible pathway to surplus without selling any assets," Jeremy Rockliff told reporters at the Transend substation in Devonport on Saturday. Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses - before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA". "They will try to do it again and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the motion of no confidence due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts. The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures, including Senator Jonno Duniam, are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Despite feuding over the state's finances, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium but recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold. Both leaders voiced support for the AFL team when asked if they would give up the stadium to secure backing from crossbenchers opposed to it. Mr Winter said he remained open to all stadium options including the so-called 2.0 proposal on reclaimed land on the River Derwent. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians to front their cause. Mr Browne said he foresaw a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. Stadium supporters remain hopeful the Devils, the planned AFL outfit, can win over stadium opponents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has offered confidence and supply to Mr Winter to form government but the opposition leader has already ruled out a deal with the minor party.
