New South Wales consumers saved up to AU$3.3 billion in a year through rooftop PV

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Rooftop solar PV systems are estimated to have saved energy consumers in the Australian state of New South Wales between AU$2.2 billion and AU$3.3 billion (US$1.7 billion to 2.6 billion) in a 12-month period, according to a report commissioned by campaign group Solar Citizens.

Solar Citizens said the report is evidence of substantial benefits for entire communities and that more people are ready to make the shift to solar energy.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The report, which analysed a one year period from 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2017, was delivered by Energy Synapse an energy market consultancy.

Energy Synapse concluded that without rooftop solar, wholesale electricity prices would have been between 33% and 50% higher.

It found wholesale costs were reduced by AU$1,400 to AU$2,200 for each Megawatt hour produced by small-scale solar. The biggest monthly cost reduction was AU$740 million in February 2017.

Small-scale solar PV reduced the length of peak demand by 58%, from an average of 5.3 hours to 2.2 hours, while the severity of peak demand was reduced on average by 3% (432MW).

Solar Citizens accused the federal government of political point scoring when it comes to clean energy and appealed for wider use of solar in households, schools, hospitals and other public buildings.

Shani Tager senior campaigner at Solar Citizens said: “This shoots an enormous hole in the federal Government’s ongoing rubbishing of renewable energy.”

Rooftop solar has been taken up by 1.7 million households and businesses in Australia and 370,000 in NSW, with 2% of power in NSW produced by rooftop solar.

Solar Citizens said it is expecting similar outcomes for other Australian states and territories including in South Australia and Queensland.

21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.

Read Next

October 6, 2025
Genesis Energy and FRV Australia have mutually agreed to terminate their solar development joint venture while maintaining co-ownership of the 63MWp Lauriston solar PV power plant in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Premium
October 6, 2025
Talon PV aims to be the first US company to safely manufacture TOPCon cells at scale, backed by European technology and a crucial First Solar licensing deal.
October 6, 2025
Indian infrastructure company focused on rooftop and ground-based solar power installations, PVV Infra has secured solar power orders worth INR7.9 billion (US$90 million) through two of its subsidiaries. 
October 6, 2025
US utility AES Corporation is reportedly in discussions to be acquired by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a subsidiary of global asset owning giant BlackRock.
October 6, 2025
Indian solar developer ACME Group has established a new subsidiary to manage its renewable equipment manufacturing business, under which it is planning to scale production of TOPCon PV modules.
October 6, 2025
Rajasthan government will develop 500MW/2,000MWh of standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a four-hour single-cycle configuration and extended operational life.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland