The Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) latest Rooftop Solar and Storage Report shows a record number of rooftop solar systems and home batteries were installed across Australia in the first six months of 2026 with solar installations on track to reach more than 300,000 this year.
The bi-annual Rooftop Solar and Storage Report (Jan-Jun 2026) reveals that 180,878 rooftop solar systems were installed in the first half of 2026, a 35% increase on the same period in 2025 and the strongest six-month total since 2021. These systems delivered 1,894 MW of new capacity, up 41% year-on-year and the highest six-month period on record.
A record 102,234 of these new rooftop solar installations, accounting for 1,079 MW of capacity, were delivered in the June 2026 quarter, making it the largest quarterly total on record.
The CEC said the figures indicate rooftop solar installations are on track to reach more than 300,000 again this year after annual installations fell below that mark last year (273,672) for the first time since 2020.
“Installation volumes have recovered sharply” the CEC said, pointing to the success of the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program as a key driver.
“Rather than displacing rooftop PV, battery incentives appear to be drawing new solar installations with them, with many households installing or upgrading solar at the same time as adding storage,” it said in the report.
The report shows 276,011 home batteries were installed in the first six months of 2026, 52% higher than the previous six-month period. These systems added 8,691 MWh of storage, more than double the 4,221 MWh added in the second half of 2025.
In total, 457,439 batteries with a combined 12.9 GWh of consumer storage capacity were installed in the first 12 months of the federal government’s home battery rebate program.
Batteries are now being installed faster than solar systems, with the data showing 153 batteries were deployed for every 100 rooftop solar installations in the first half of 2026, up from 130 per 100 in the second half of 2025.
“This indicates substantial retrofitting to homes with existing solar, alongside the new-build solar and storage packages driving the rooftop PV recovery,” the CEC said.
CEC Chief Executive Jackie Trad said the record rollout of rooftop solar and batteries is a win-win for Australians, providing energy security and lowering bills at a time of global instability and economic uncertainty.
“Australia is in the midst of household solar boom,” she said. “We now have more rooftop solar capacity in Australia than the capacity of all our remaining coal-fired power stations combined.”
“The historic growth in household renewables is a win for both consumers and the country, delivering value and reliability for Australians and greater security for our nation’s energy supply.”
The rollout of rooftop PV continues to be a reliable contributor to the nation’s energy mix, with a generation share of 12.9% in the first six months of 2026.
Trad said the coming expansion of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to support solar systems up to 1 MW in size will provide another boost for solar installations.
Household and small business investment is already running well ahead of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) central planning scenario for both solar and energy storage.
At current rates, rooftop solar in Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) is expected to reach 40.3 GW by 2029-30, about 4.5 GW or 13% above AEMO’s ISP Step Change scenario. Consumer battery storage would reach 59.2 GWh by 2029-30, 79% above the ISP projection of 33 GWh.
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