Climate Commission report on Solar PV potential

About this update

This dated news record has been reorganised for clear reading and connected to current guidance.

Publication date: August 5, 2013.

Status note: Present-tense statements, market figures, deadlines and program details in the archived record belong to its publication date. Check current official sources before making a decision.

What this article reported

> Over 1 million rooftop solar PV About 2.6 million people, 11% of our population, now use the sun for their electricity needs.

How to use this information now

For current use, confirm the applicable scheme rules, regulator notices, market date and reporting period. Keep historical prices or forecasts separate from present quotes and verified outcomes.

Separate source-reported facts from forecasts, targets and commentary. For a current project, retain the official source, version, effective date, assumptions and decision record in the evidence file.

What does the Climate Commission report reveal about solar PV adoption in Australia?

The Climate Commission report documents significant growth in rooftop solar PV installations across Australia, with over 1 million systems installed by the report period, compared to just over 8,000 in 2007. This represents approximately 2.6 million Australians—11% of the population—now using solar for electricity. This widespread adoption demonstrates both the technical viability of distributed solar generation and growing consumer confidence in the technology. Our knowledge library addresses solar system eligibility under Australia's Renewable Energy Target and provides guidance on measurement and verification of solar generation to support investment decisions and certificate pathways for businesses considering similar installations.

What eligibility criteria apply to solar PV systems under the Renewable Energy Target?

Solar PV systems are eligible for Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) under the Renewable Energy Target, with capacity-based thresholds determining eligibility. As of 15 September 2026, the Clean Energy Regulator announced an expansion of solar PV eligibility from 100 kW to 1 MW, effective from 1 October 2026, subject to regulations being made. However, this announced change should not be treated as operative until the regulations are formally enacted. System-specific conditions including technology type, rated capacity, installation date and whether the system is new or an expansion of existing capacity must be confirmed against current CER guidance before relying on eligibility.

How can businesses assess whether a solar installation is the right investment for their site?

Businesses should begin with an energy audit to understand current consumption patterns, tariffs and operating conditions that affect solar viability. Our audit services help identify where solar generation aligns with site loads—typically during daytime production peaks. A feasibility assessment should model solar output against the site's consumption profile, considering factors like seasonal variation, export opportunities and any applicable incentives. The investment case should separately compare energy bill savings, certificate revenue, and any grant contributions. This approach allows management to understand the project's merit independent of conditional funding, and to see how results change with assumptions about operating hours, energy prices and capital costs.

What measurement and verification approach is appropriate for a commercial solar installation?

Measurement and verification for solar requires establishing a clear project boundary that separates the generation system's output from broader site consumption changes. Evidence should document solar generation data and the proportion used on-site versus exported to the grid, along with site consumption records and any other changes affecting electricity imports. The baseline period must capture representative operating conditions before solar installation. Method selection matters: Victoria's project-based measurement and verification pathway and NSW's PIAM&V approach have different requirements. We provide measurement and verification services including project-boundary selection, baseline modelling and savings calculation, ensuring the chosen method aligns with the intended use—whether for internal performance tracking, investment validation or certificate schemes.

Can solar installations create environmental certificates, and under which scheme?

Solar PV systems can generate Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) in Australia's Renewable Energy Target scheme, or contribute to Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) under Victorian Energy Upgrades for eligible activities. Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates record renewable attributes separately and involve different creation, ownership and retirement rules than STCs. However, a facility cannot create both REGOs and Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) for the same electricity generation. The applicable scheme depends on system capacity, location, project type and applicable method. Our environmental certificate services include eligibility assessment, project registration support and certificate creation and trading guidance, helping businesses understand which pathway matches their site and investment objectives.

What role does project timing play in solar PV installations and certificate eligibility?

Project timing determines eligibility under multiple frameworks. For ACCU projects involving heating system changes, the Clean Energy Regulator's newness requirements distinguish preparatory work from actions indicating commencement, including certain investment commitments. For certificate schemes, the implementation date affects which method version and eligibility rules apply. Early timing decisions preserve measurement options by allowing baseline data collection before installation. Our project-timing guidance recommends raising funding and measurement questions during the scoping phase, documenting precise dates for feasibility, investment decisions, purchases and commissioning. This prevents missing evidence windows and ensures proposed pathways remain available. A clear chronology also supports later scheme audits and performance verification.

How should renewable electricity from solar be accounted for in carbon reporting?

Renewable electricity claims require careful boundary definition under the applicable accounting standard. GHG Protocol's Scope 2 Guidance addresses market-based accounting for purchased electricity and renewable attributes, distinguishing this from physical energy reductions or facility-level consumption improvements. A renewable electricity claim should identify the specific instrument type, generation location, ownership, registry evidence and retirement treatment. Avoid ambiguous language: acquiring renewable certificates is not the same as reducing facility energy use, avoiding emissions, or meeting net-zero targets without supporting all required boundary conditions. Our carbon advisory services help establish proper boundaries, verify instrument ownership and retirement, and ensure claims are supported by auditable documentation aligned with the applicable reporting framework and intended use.

What support does Northmore Gordon provide for solar projects at industrial or commercial facilities?

Our services span the complete solar project lifecycle. Energy audits identify sites where solar aligns with consumption patterns and production schedules. Feasibility assessments model generation and site economics under varying assumptions. Measurement and verification services establish credible baselines and calculate verified savings for investment cases and certificate schemes. Environmental certificate support includes eligibility screening, project nomination, evidence gathering and registry management for STCs, VEECs and other schemes. We also provide moREnewable100 services for renewable electricity certificate procurement where organizations seek renewable attributes without changing supply contracts. Our moreData platform offers solar generation and emissions accounting support, tracking site consumption and solar output together to inform operational decisions and reporting obligations.

What are common issues that complicate solar performance assessment, and how are they resolved?

Real-world solar projects often involve concurrent site changes that complicate baseline comparison. The Kalafatis Fresh Produce case study illustrates this: site expansion increased production loads while solar reduced grid imports, making it difficult to isolate solar's contribution without detailed boundary definition and chronology. Inverter data quality issues can also obscure generation records. Resolving these requires separating evidence: site consumption and import data answers how the energy balance changed; solar generation and export data answers how much solar was produced and used on-site; equipment expansion records document what else changed. Our measurement and verification approach addresses these challenges by establishing clear project boundaries, documenting baseline conditions and operating variables, and recording implementation details and data quality issues. This allows accurate performance assessment and defensible certificate or reporting claims.

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