Rooftop Solar Hits 1 GW Record in Three Months Driven by Battery Rebate
Just when it seemed that the momentum of rooftop solar in Australia had stalled, installations soared to an impressive new high over the last three months. For the first time ever, more than 1 gigawatt of solar capacity was added within a single quarter, as reported by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).
The CER’s Quarterly Carbon Market Report for April through June indicates that a remarkable 1 GW of rooftop solar systems were installed during this period, surpassing the previous record of 942 megawatts (MW) set in the final quarter of 2023.
Boost from Government Schemes
The increase in installations is largely attributed to the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries scheme, which incentivised homeowners to pair new solar systems with battery storage. Remarkably, over 80% of the rooftop solar units installed in April were coupled with batteries, all in an effort to take advantage of rebates before changes on May 1.
The second quarter of 2026 also marked a significant achievement in home battery installations, with more than 111,000 batteries gaining approval, amounting to 3.6 gigawatt-hours of storage capacity being added from April to June.
Ongoing Demand Post-Rebate Changes
Despite the rebate reductions that took effect in May, CER acting chair Carl Binning noted that the demand for Cheaper Home Batteries remains strong. “We’ve now received more than 500,000 battery applications since the programme began, which indicates a substantial household interest when the financial incentives align,” he stated.
The report further highlights the influence of this record-setting consumer energy uptake on the national grid, resulting in the “lowest average Q2 grid demand since 2020” and driving down wholesale electricity prices.
Record Investments in Large-Scale Solar
Total investment in large-scale solar has also reached remarkable heights, with 1.8 GW of projects making final investment decisions during this quarter, marking the highest quarterly result since CER started recording investment statistics.
Binning emphasised, “The speed of the transition to clean energy is increasing. We’re witnessing continuous growth and record achievements across various sectors, including rooftop solar, household batteries, large-scale solar investment, and the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) market.”
Anticipating Future Growth
Key drivers for this ongoing expansion include the ongoing development of projects under the Capacity Investment Scheme, significant reductions in battery storage costs, and the stimulus provided by the Cheaper Home Batteries Programme, which has unleashed demand for decentralised energy solutions.
Looking ahead, Binning advised that further significant figures from the rooftop solar sector are expected soon, especially with the federal Labor government’s recent announcement to extend the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to systems up to 1 megawatt (MW) starting in October.
To receive the latest news in clean energy directly to your inbox, you can subscribe for free to our daily newsletter.
Support independent journalism in the fight against misinformation surrounding energy transitions by considering a one-time donation or becoming a regular supporter of Renew Economy.
