Queensland solar panels can now produce twice as much electricity as the state’s biggest power station.
Energy Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, said rooftops and solar farms together had just passed the 4,000MW milestone for generating capacity.
That’s compared to the 1,680MW of capacity of the state’s biggest power station at Gladstone.
“More than 560,000 Queensland roofs now sport solar systems, and 30 solar farms are now generating across the state,” Dr Lynham said.
“The incentives in the Palaszczuk Government’s Affordable Energy Plan are fuelling the renewable energy switch by Queenslanders and unlocking new market segments and jobs for solar installers.
“Under our solar and battery scheme that provides loans and grants, almost 2,500 households and small businesses have installed a battery system with a further 1,500 people with approval to do so before the program ends mid next year.
“Queenslanders are embracing solar energy because they know that solar reduces power bills and carbon emissions.”
Dr Lynham said Queensland was on track to achieve its 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030, and was forecast to hit 20 per cent next year.
“And we are also turning our remote isolated communities renewable, like Lockhart River and Doomadgee Aboriginal communities, where solar is replacing expensive, high-emission diesel,” Dr Lynham said.
“Work is underway extending an existing solar farm at Doomadgee, Mapoon is next cab off the rank, and government officials have started talks with Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire and the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.”
Solar success stats:
- One in three Queensland households has solar, making Queensland a world leader
- Queensland has more solar systems than any other state
- Queensland boasts six of the top ten solar postcodes in Australia
- Queensland has about 800W of solar, or about three solar panels, per person
- In August alone, almost 5,000 business and residential solar systems were connected across Queensland
- In the past 12 months, about 1,400MW of solar energy has come online
- In 2018, a new solar system was installed every 12 minutes
