Queensland Energy Minister Mark Bailey has confirmed Queensland now has more than 1,500 megawatts of installed solar generation capacity, equal to half a million rooftops.
Mr Bailey said this means solar is now generating enough electricity to effectively make it the second largest power station in Queensland and it brings Queensland more than halfway towards the state government’s 2020 solar target of 3,000 megawatts.
“This milestone sees Queensland continue to demonstrate its world leading credentials in the uptake of Solar Photovoltaics (PV),” Mr Bailey said.
“Our state already has one of the highest uptake of residential rooftop solar panels in the world, and more Queenslanders continue to jump on board.
“30 per cent of all detached homes in South East Queensland now have a solar system installed. Not only that, but system sizes are increasing as businesses start to take up the opportunities that solar offers.
“There is strong potential for future growth in emerging sectors, especially as battery storage systems enter the market and product costs continue to fall.”
Mr Bailey said customers are installing smaller scale solar at a rate of approximately 1 panel a minute.
“Couple that with Queensland’s impressive pipeline of proposed large scale solar PV projects and the state is well on its way 2020 solar target of one million solar rooftops, or 3000 megawatts of solar generation capacity,” Mr Bailey said.
