Australia’s rooftop solar market is currently in a holding pattern, with many consumers delaying new installations as they await potential announcements on home battery incentives from major political parties ahead of the federal election on May 3.
Recent data from SunWiz shows that around 253 megawatts of new rooftop solar capacity were installed in March. While this marks a 2% increase from February, it also represents a 3% decline compared to the same period last year.
One of the most notable slowdowns occurred in Queensland, where new installations—particularly in the 10–15 kW range—dropped by 11%. This dip aligns with the end of the state’s Battery Booster program in May 2024, which previously offered up to $4,000 in rebates for residential battery systems.
With feed-in tariffs decreasing, the financial benefit of exporting excess solar energy back to the grid has diminished. As a result, more households are considering battery storage to boost self-consumption and maximize return on investment.
Both major parties are expected to release their respective home battery subsidy policies in the lead-up to the election. In the meantime, many consumers are choosing to wait, hoping that new government incentives will improve the economics of solar-plus-storage systems.
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