Australia’s Victoria promotes rooftop solar as part of gas substitution roadmap

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Solar panels installed on roofs in South Australia. Image: CSIRO.

The Australian state of Victoria is promoting the uptake of rooftop solar as part of a new strategy aimed at reducing gas use and lowering household energy bills.

Designed to empower Victorian households and businesses to embrace sustainable alternatives to fossil gas, the gas substitution roadmap outlines how the state will use energy efficiency, electrification, hydrogen and biomethane to drive down bills and cut carbon emissions.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

“Clean energy produced by household solar panels combined with modern, energy-efficient electrical appliances is now the most cost-effective way to warm Victorian homes in winter, cool them in summer and power our households throughout the year,” the state’s energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio wrote in the roadmap.

The strategy said decarbonising the gas sector requires immediate investment in the existing technologies that are available now – energy efficiency and renewable electricity – and in the new technologies that can play an increasingly larger role in the future, such as hydrogen and biomethane.

As part of an expanded energy upgrades programme, there will be new incentives to support people to maximise self-consumption of rooftop solar systems and replace gas appliances with electric alternatives.

According to the state government, an all-electric new home with solar panels can have electricity bills as low as AU$850 a year (US$583), which can drop even further if a battery is installed. This is significantly lower than the average annual energy bill of AU$2,660 for a new home with gas and electricity.

“Gas is no longer the cheap fuel it once was – we know renewables are the cheapest form of energy and we’re making it easier for Victorian households and businesses to go all electric with more choice and more support,” D’Ambrosio said in a statement.

Victoria is aiming to halve emissions by 2030 before transitioning to a net zero economy by 2050. The state’s gas sector currently contributes around 17% of its net greenhouse gas emissions.

The state’s Solar Homes programme has to date helped more than 200,000 Victorians install solar systems.

Read Next

July 11, 2025
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has revealed that several utility-scale solar PV power plants experienced curtailment of above 25% in the National Electricity Market (NEM) in 2024.
July 10, 2025
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced a new AU$60 million (US$39.4 million) funding round to bolster R&D efforts to achieve ultra-low-cost solar.
Premium
July 8, 2025
In the latest NEM data spotlight, solar generation in Australia reached its yearly lowest month, while rooftop solar prices spiked to AU$225.57/MWh.
July 4, 2025
Australian retailer AGL Energy has confirmed its acquisition of South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant (SAVPP) from Tesla.
July 2, 2025
A new state-owned green bank, the Energy Security Corporation (ESC), has launched in New South Wales, Australia, with an initial funding allocation of AU$1 billion (US$640 million).
July 2, 2025
Indigenous-led renewable energy company Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has submitted plans for a hybrid wind and solar PV renewable energy project to the Australian government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK