Dubbo, NSW the Solar PV System Capital of Australia

By James Martin II on

With over 28% of homes having installed solar PV systems, Dubbo NSW has emerged as Australia’s top solar postcode, according the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Solar Choice has played a major role in helping Dubbo claim this crown: of the 2,100 solar PV systems installed in the 2830 postcode area (i.e. Dubbo and surrounds), more than 1/3–around 900–were organised or otherwise facilitated through the Solar Choice Dubbo office.

The evolving solar PV system market in Dubbo

As the changing nature of incentives for grid-connect solar PV and the dynamics of the solar industry change, in NSW Myles has observed a shift from from smaller systems for residences to larger systems for businesses. At the peak of NSW’s solar boom, the vast majority of systems installed were 1.5 kilowatts in capacity. “These days we’re seeing more interest in systems in the 3 to 5 kilowatt range. Since the withdrawal of NSW’s Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff Scheme, we’ve seen increasing interest in systems for businesses that operate during daylight hours. With electricity prices on the rise, there’s plenty of sense in going solar in rural NSW.”

Growing numbers of solar PV installations thanks to a number of factors

Increasing uptake of solar systems has been attributed to solar incentives across the country (in particular the Federal Solar Credits Rebate scheme and state-by-state Solar Feed-in Tariffs), the steadily rising price of electricity nationally, as well as the falling price of solar PV technology globally. Confirming that the growing trend of affordability of solar systems as a reality, CEC acting CEO Kane Thronton was cited as saying that the price of solar PV has dropped 33% since 2009. He is optimistic about the future of the technology. “We now have more than half a million solar power systems in Australia, but really we are just in the early stages of tapping in to the power of this technology,” he said in a statement.

Top solar postcodes are in country Australia

The CEC’s the top solar postcode list, compiled using data from the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER), reveals that many of Australia’s solar power hotspots–those with the highest penetration of solar installations–are located in rural areas. The reasoning is easy to follow: solar power helps homes and businesses save money on electricity bills, so the places most adversely affected by high and rising electricity prices opt to install systems. These areas tend to be away from urban centres and electricity generation plants.

The Top 10 solar postcodes for each state (source: RenewEconomy):

The top 10 Queensland solar postcodes at the end of 2011:

  1. 4551 Caloundra, Pelican Waters, Golden Beach 27.3% of houses have solar power systems
  2. 4280 Jimboomba, North Maclean, South Maclean 23.9%
  3. 4208 Ormeau, Jacobs Well 23.2%
  4. 4505 Burpengary, Burpengary East 22.2
  5.  4507 Bribie Island 21.7%
  6.  4165 Victoria Point, Mount Cotton, Redland Bay 21.0%
  7. 4116 Calamvale, Drewvale, Stretton 21.0%
  8.  4133 Chambers Flat, Waterford 20.2%
  9.  4124 Greenbank, Boronia Heights, Spring Mountain 19.7%
  10.  4520 Samford Valley, Mount Glorious, Mount Nebo 19.5%

The top 10 West Australian solar postcodes:

  1. 6208 Pinjarra, Oakley, Blythewood, Ravenswood          24.7% of houses have solar power systems
  2. 6069 Ellenbrook, Brigadoon, The Vines 23.8%
  3. 6155 Canning Vale, Willetton 19.7%
  4. 6065 Ashby, Madeley, Sinagra, Wangara, 19.2%
  5. 6233 Australind, Binningup, Leschenault, Parkfield 18.7%
  6. 6210 Dawesville, Falcon, Halls Head, Wannanup, 18.0%
  7. 6164 Atwell, Banjup, Hammond Park, Yangebup 17.0%
  8. 6280 Ambergate, Busselton, Jindong, Kaloorup 15.7%
  9. 6109 Maddington, Orange Grove 15.7%
  10. 6111 Canning Mills, Champion Lakes, Karragullen         15.7%

The top 10 South Australian solar postcodes:

  1. 5211 Victor Harbor, McCracken, Hindmarsh Valley 25.9% of houses have solar power systems
  2. 5214 Currency Creek, Goolwa, Hindmarsh Island 24.7%
  3. 5173 Aldinga Beach, Port Willunga, Silver Sands 24.1%
  4. 5158 Hallett Cove, Sheidow Park 23.6%
  5. 5169 Seaford, Moana 20.7%
  6. 5095 Mawson Lakes, Pooraka 20.5%
  7. 5251 Mount Barker, Bugle Ranges 20.5%
  8. 5098 Ingle Farm, Walkley Heights 19.6%
  9. 5161 Reynella, Reynella East, Old Reynella 18.7%
  10. 5118 Gawler, Evanston 18.7%

The top 10 Victoria solar postcodes:

  1. 3564 Echuca  13.3% of houses have solar power systems
  2. 3690 Wodonga 13.2%
  3. 3551 Emu Creek, Axe Creek, Myrtle Creeknning Vale, Willetton 13.2%
  4. 3818 Drouin, Jindivick 12.9%
  5. 3023 Caroline Springs, Deer park, Burnside 11.6%
  6. 3029 Dawesville, Falcon, Halls Head, Wan, 11.6%
  7. 3024 Wyndham Vale, Mambourin, Mount Cottrell 11.3%
  8. 3037 Calder Park, Sydenham 10.9%
  9. 3076 Epping 10.2%
  10. 3173 Keysborough         9.8%

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

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James Martin II
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