Solar power: Queensland postcodes top nation for number of units installed

IT’S fitting that the Sunshine State is leading the country when it comes to embracing solar power, but as these images show, there are a few unlikely postcodes that made the nation’s top 10 list. WATCH THE CHANGE.

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QUEENSLAND is living up to its tag as the Sunshine State by snaring seven of the top 10 Australian areas for solar panel installations with Bundaberg taking out the No.1 spot.

The Queensland city led the survey of postcodes which have had the highest number of small solar generation units since 2001.

The survey, prepared by aerial imagery company Nearmap, is dominated by Queensland while WA is the only other state to make the top 10.

The top 10 is based on data from the national Clean Energy Regulator and complemented by imagery from Nearmap.

Bundaberg postcode 4670, which takes in 20 delivery areas, tops the list with 11,756 having been installed in the past 17 years.

WA postcode 6210, which covers 15 delivery areas including Erskine, was second with 11,409 while regions in the Hervey Bay postcode of 4655 was third with 10,517 units.

Overall, Queensland’s top seven suburbs have installed more than 62,000 units.

Energy Minister Anthony Lynham says Queensland was striving towards 3000 megawatts of solar power by 2020. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

It’s one thing to talk about how strong the solar panel uptake has been, but it’s also changed the rooftop landscape over the years, said Nearmap executive Shane Preston.

“From the ground it can be difficult to see the progress our country is making to reduce energy costs and our carbon footprint,” Mr Preston said.

“When you look at it from the air, you can observe in incredible detail the renewable energy uptake occurring across our country.

“We’ve been capturing aerial images of Australia for the last 10 years, and have recently seen a dramatic change in the rooftop landscape, with many more solar panels on Aussie homes.”

Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham said solar is now the state’s largest power generator, with more than 2075 megawatts of installed solar capacity, more than any other state.

Mr Lynham said Queensland was striving towards 3000 megawatts by 2020.

“This target is helping Queensland to grow its solar up-take for businesses, community buildings and large commercial industrial sites,” Mr Lynham said.

“Beyond household solar, the Palaszczuk Government is also working in the large-scale solar space – bringing major investment to the state for generation.”

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