Australians are now generating enough power from the sun to light up all homes in Brisbane and Perth combined, according to the latest industry analysis.
Figures released by solar energy consultancy firm SunWiz show there is now 5 gigawatts (GW) of solar power installed across the country with Queensland leading the charge with 1.4 million kilowatts (kW).
This means Australia is generating enough solar power to light up 1.25 million households – which is the same number of homes in Brisbane and Perth combined.
SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston said 5GW was such a huge figure it was difficult to fathom.
“Solar power now makes up nine per cent of Australia’s total electricity generation capacity (of 56GW) with more solar power added to the system last year than any other fuel source. In fact, 913 megawatts (MW) of solar was added to the grid in 2015,” Johnston said.
By comparison, 774MW of new wind power was connected to the national energy market last year, while 1300MW of coal power was decommissioned in 2015.
Johnston said solar power output was expected to keep growing in 2016 but not at the same rapid rate.
“Last year, the Australian solar industry grew overall but this was primarily due to large-scale solar power stations coming on line," he said.
"Other major solar projects are in the pipeline but unlikely to be built until 2017 and onwards."
The number of Australian homes using solar energy has officially surpassed the 1.5 million mark, cementing Australia as the world leader in rooftop solar.
Breaking the figures down by household, there are now 1,507.766 homes with rooftop solar.
Figures released by the the Clean Energy Regulator overnight show there is now at least one solar panel in use for every man, woman and child living in the country.
Australian Solar Council chief executive John Grimes said collectively rooftop solar systems in Australia are generating more than 4.7 gigawatts of power, which was equivalent to four of the country’s major power stations.
Grimes said these homes are generating the same amount of energy as four large power stations, with zero emissions, which gives new meaning to the term ‘people power’.
“Rooftop solar has created a whole new industry which employs some 20,000 people and creates clean energy at times when we need it most, like during heatwaves," he said.
"This helps the system cope and suppresses electricity prices.”