Rapid rooftop PV uptake in Southwest Australia is shifting demand profile

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
AEMO expects an on-going strong growth in rooftop installations. Credit: ARENA

The rapid uptake of rooftop solar in southwest Australia is significantly shifting peak demand periods to later in the day as the sun sets, according to analysis from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

Estimates suggest that rooftop PV reduced 2016/17’s peak demand in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) by 7.2% to 3,670MW on 1 March this year, which is the lowest summer peak in eight years.

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

The estimates were part of AEMO’s 2017 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) for the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM).

AEMO’s executive general manager, Western Australia, Cameron Parrotte, said: “The rapid adoption of rooftop solar is not only slowing annual operational consumption growth but also eroding the mid-day grid demand and shifting peak demand to later in the day.”

The operator also expects an on-going strong growth in rooftop installations and further shrinking of electricity demand in the middle of the day.

Parrotte said this would result in “in a rapid increase in demand in the lead up to the evening peak once the sun sets.”

The resulting ‘duck curve’ in the load profile then requires generation to start up and shut down more often and in shorter spaces of time. AEMO said this could mean thermal generators face higher operational costs as well as reduced demand.

“Market and system reforms will need to be put in place to maintain system security and enable this transition at the lowest cost to consumers,” added Parrotte.

The comments come at a critical point in Australia’s power history following the release of Finkel Review on the energy market last week, which recommends adopting a Clean Energy Target (CET) and introducing energy security obligations for new large-scale renewable energy plants.

Read Next

Premium
August 7, 2025
July 2025, the peak of the Australian winter season, saw generation from utility-scale and rooftop solar increase by 12.78% year-on-year in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
August 4, 2025
Australia’s Productivity Commission said the country should phase out subsidies for renewables and replace them with market-based incentives.
August 1, 2025
Western Australia network operator Western Power has confirmed it has granted two more network connection offers to two new large-scale renewable energy projects, bringing its total for 2024/25 to 759MW.
August 1, 2025
Dutch pension fund APG has agreed to provide Octopus Australia with AU$1 billion to support its solar, wind, and BESS portfolio.
July 31, 2025
Lucy Nation has said bp paid the price for proceeding “too quickly,” resulting in its exit from the 26GW AREH project in Pilbara.
July 28, 2025
Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has announced it has invested a record AU$4.7 billion (US$3.09 billion) in large-scale renewables, energy storage, and transmission projects during the 12-month period ending 30 June 2025.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines