Rooftop Solar Installations Surge in 2025 Amid Battery Boom
Rooftop solar installations in Australia have soared to unprecedented levels in 2025, with recent data indicating a rebound for the small-scale photovoltaic (PV) market, even as home battery systems capture the spotlight this year.
According to solar market analysts SunWiz, Australia saw the registration of a remarkable 279 megawatts of new rooftop solar capacity in November, representing a 13 per cent increase compared to October, marking a new high for the year.
Stable Growth Amidst Market Fluctuations
The surge in installations during November signifies a third consecutive month of growth for the solar sector, defying what has otherwise been a tumultuous year; however, the market currently lags 13 per cent behind 2024’s figures year-to-date.
Despite a notable shift in focus towards battery storage, triggered by the growing trend of households opting for discounted batteries, Australia’s rooftop solar market is showcasing resilient activity. This comes in light of the remarkable success of the federal Labor government’s Cheaper Home Batteries rebate scheme, which launched on 1st July. Since then, the initiative has surpassed multiple milestones, including hitting the 100,000 installations landmark in October, celebrated by federal energy minister Chris Bowen.
Impressive Battery Installations Forecast
Fresh insights from the Clean Energy Regulator reveal that over 124,000 batteries, collectively offering a capacity of 2.7 gigawatt-hours (GWh), were installed by mid-November. The regulator anticipates around 175,000 valid installations by the close of 2025, translating to approximately 3.9 GWh of usable capacity.
To provide perspective, the CER report notes that this capacity surpasses that of the five largest utility-scale batteries currently operational within the National Electricity Market (NEM), all achieved within a mere six-month timeframe.
While the spotlight shines on battery installations, rooftop solar installations have steadily continued. SunWiz’s data indicates that the market has recorded three significant months of growth—marking the first occurrence since November 2023—reversing the previously observed downward trend.
Broader Growth Indicators
SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston highlighted that this growth indicates a broad-based momentum, moving beyond the usual seasonal boosts from commercial installations. Moreover, it suggests that the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries scheme is not just catalysing the uptake of home storage but also prompting upgrades to existing solar systems alongside the addition of new rooftop PV installations for households diving “all in.”
SunWiz reported growth across all segments of the rooftop solar market in November, particularly in the 30-50 kilowatt (kW) segment, which experienced a month-on-month surge of 34 per cent. Other segments, including 20-30 kW and 15-20 kW, each recorded a 19 per cent increase, as did the 50-75 kW segment.
Regional Performance
Overall, all states and territories demonstrated growth, with the notable exception of the Northern Territory. Queensland led the charge with a 21 per cent increase month-on-month, followed by New South Wales at 17 per cent and South Australia at 16 per cent.
Additionally, the average system size made a remarkable recovery in November, rising to just above 10 kW, further indicating a potential shift towards not only upgrading existing systems with battery rebates but also installing entirely new systems.
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