The Victorian Government is celebrating what it calls a clean energy revolution across the suburbs and regions from its Solar Homes program, with more than 71,700 successful applications for rebated solar panels, solar batteries and solar hot water systems.
More than 61,700 solar systems have now been installed and $124.6 million in solar rebates paid out. Around 41 per cent of these applications have come from households across rural and regional Australia.
These upgraded households have added more than 300 megawatts of new capacity to the energy grid.
Data gathered since July 209 has found that Victorians aged between 36 and 60 were leading the charge for solar, with 18 per cent of applicants ages 18 to 35, 40 per cent ages 36 to 50, 26 per cent aged from 51 to 65 and 16 per cent aged 65 or older.
The Solar Homes program aims to reduce energy bills for families that need it most, with 69 per cent of solar rebates going to households with incomes less than $105,000 and at least 10 per cent earning less than $16,000 a year.
Related stories:
- Tenders open to install 6000 solar panels across SA hospitals
- Construction complete on Victoria’s biggest solar farm
- Victoria launches new solar farm planning guidelines
Melbourne’s 10 most popular Solar Homes suburbs are Tarneit, Clyde North, Point Cook, Craigieburn, Truganina, Wyndham Vale, Cranbourne East, Berwick, Werribee and Pakenham.
Outside Melbourne, the 10 most popular regional towns to adopt panels include Shepparton, Mildura, Warrnambool, Wodonga, Torquay Wangaratta, Mornington, Ocean Grove, Traralgon and Lara.
The State Government has also delivered 191 solar systems directly to community housing organisations.
When completed, the Solar Homes program will have created 5500 jobs and reduced Victoria’s carbon emissions by almost 4 million tonnes, the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road.
“Solar Homes is saving families hundreds of dollars on their energy bills – which is great for all Victorians, helping with the cost of living,” said Solar Homes Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
“Through Solar Homes and our ambitious renewable energy targets, we’re creating jobs, boosting energy supply, driving down emissions and slashing energy bills for Victorians.”