Australia, where renewable sources already provide 40% of the electricity, is making steady progress towards its goal of achieving 82% renewable generation by 2030.
Its commitment to solar energy has turned the nation into a global success story, with over four million rooftop solar installations.
Growth of self-consumption in 2024
According to the Clean Energy Council, in 2024, solar rooftops generated 30,178 GWh, representing:
- 12.4% of the country’s electricity, an increase from 11.2% in 2023.
- Double the contribution recorded in 2020.
In just the second half of the year, 159,011 solar systems were installed in homes and businesses, bringing the annual total to 300,075 installations.
Economic benefits for households
Solar self-consumption has been driven by savings on the electricity bill.
If a domestic battery is also incorporated, the savings double, but only 4.5% of households with solar panels have a battery.
Challenges in energy storage
Batteries continue to be a barrier to entry for many families, with costs ranging from $12,000 to $15,000.
The Clean Energy Council has launched the campaign “It’s time to back batteries”, calling for $6,500 grants per household to facilitate access.
Energetic goal for 2030
To achieve 82% renewable generation, Australia needs to:
- Scale up solar technology deployment.
- Increase self-consumption from 25 GW to 36 GW by 2030.
- Reach 86 GW by 2050, according to the Integrated System Plan (ISP).
Distributed generation will play a key role in reducing coal dependence.
A success story for self-consumption
Australia has shown that early policy interventions, economic incentives, and high solar radiation can lead to sustained growth in the sector.
Since 2019, over 2 GW per year have been installed, with records in 2023 (3.21 GW) and 2024 (3 GW).
Future potential and grid challenges
Despite its leadership, Australia has only deployed 25% of the total self-consumption potential, according to the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
To maximize its capacity, the government is working on plans to:
- Incentivize solar energy in buildings and rental properties.
- Optimize energy storage to reduce pressure on the grid.
- Expand community solar subscription models.
With this strategy, Australia aims to ensure access to reliable and sustainable energy while maintaining its leadership in the global renewable transition.
