--- title: Rooftop solar surges to record highs before lockdown description: Analysis from Green Energy Markets shows the Australian rooftop PV market in robust health during the first three months of 2020. According to STC data, more than 30,000 rooftop installations were registered in the month, for a total of close to 250 MW of capacity. And then came Covid-19. image: https://2dvriazy5as2cpf171km7oj1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2018/04/UQ_PACE_shaded_C_I_rooftop-1200x900.jpg --- [![vast.png](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo_transparent_background-2.png?width=3400&height=1556&name=logo_transparent_background-2.png "vast.png")](http://breiterplanet.com) - [HOME](https://www.breiterplanet.com/) - COMPANY - [HOW WE HELP OUR CLIENTS](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#HowWeHelpOurClients) - [ABOUT US](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#AboutUs) - [OUR BACKGROUND](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#OurBackground) - [LEADERSHIP TEAM](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#LeadershipTeam) - [CONTACT US](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#ContactUs) - [CAREERS](https://www.breiterplanet.com/careers) - SOLUTIONS - [LAND LEASE](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#LandLease) - [ROOF LEASE](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#RoofLease) - [COMMUNITY SOLAR SUBSCRIPTION](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#CommunitySolarSubscription) - [SOLAR AS A SERVICE](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#SolarAsAService) - [BREITER PLANET HOME](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#BreiterPlanetHome) - [COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS](https://www.breiterplanet.com/#CommunityBasedPrograms) - [Solar Equipment Distribution](https://distribution.breiterplanet.com) - [BLOG](https://blog.breiterplanet.com) - [CONSTRUCTION](https://www.breiterplanet.com/unitedstates) - [CAPITAL](https://www.breiterplanet.com/capital) - [SHOP](https://shop.breiterplanet.com/) # Breiter Planet Australia ## [Rooftop solar surges to record highs before lockdown](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/rooftop-solar-surges-to-record-highs-before-lockdown) Apr 16, 2020 7:15:00 PM / by [Jonathan Gifford, pv magazine](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/author/jonathan-gifford-pv-magazine) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![](https://2dvriazy5as2cpf171km7oj1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2018/04/UQ_PACE_shaded_C_I_rooftop-1200x900.jpg) Commercial installations could be incentivised by tax stimulus measures. Image: Solar Hybrids       2020 could have smashed all previous records for rooftop solar installations. A mind-boggling 3 GW of residential and small-scale commercial rooftop PV could have been added to Australia’s grids in 2020. But it increasingly appears that despite an extremely strong start to the year, rooftop solar’s stellar trajectory is unlikely to hold as measures to tackle Covid-19 mount and consumer confidence takes a hit. The small-scale technology certificate (STC) data compiled by Green Energy Markets (GEM) for March shows Australian households and businesses purchasing record volumes of rooftop solar systems in the month. The result builds of what had already been an incredibly strong start to year, with few signs that installation crews had taken much of summer break. The GEM data shows around 31,500 sub-100 kW solar installations being carried out in the five big states, or at least registered with the Clean Energy Regulator, in March. In total, almost 250 MW of rooftop PV capacity was added in the month. ![](https://2dvriazy5as2cpf171km7oj1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/04/Oz_rooftop_PV_March_2020_GEM.png) If the trend had continued, something approaching 3 GW of solar could have been installed on Australian rooftops in 2020. This would have been [a big jump on the 2.13 GW installed in 2019](https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2020/01/15/australia-installs-2-13-gw-of-rooftop-solar-in-2019/). “The STC registrations data up to March 31 doesn’t show any evidence of a slowdown,” said Green Energy Markets’ Director, Analysis and Advisory, Tristan Edis. “However, these are subject to lags of about three weeks between install date and registration of the STCs and then you could add further lags between the install date and when that system might have been sold to the customer,” Edis added. In short, the STC data are unlikely to be showing any signs of the Covid-19 related shutdown currently underway in Australia – and the result may actually be biased by any slowdown, as installers catch up on paperwork and register installations as demand drops. ![](https://2dvriazy5as2cpf171km7oj1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/04/Oz_rooftop_kWp_PV_March_2020_GEM.png.png) But there are signs that the rooftop solar market could show some resilience in the face of the massive economic upheaval currently being felt. “Many installers had a solid backlog of secured sales which will keep them busy for a few weeks to come,” said Edis. **Positive impacts** Rooftop PV could receive somewhat of a boost from the current crisis facing the wider economy. Solar installations can be carried out with limited face-to-face contact, and customer purchasing decisions could be positively impacted by people wishing to take control of their power bills, as uncertainty mounts. “Battery interest is up,” said Edis, [“people want to store up on more than just toilet paper in fear of pending Armageddon.”](https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2020/03/19/forget-toilet-paper-consumers-are-panic-buying-solar-pv/) Small business too could be incentivized by generous tax-based stimulus measures, such as the expanded criteria for an immediate tax write off on capital expenditures. Edis said he spoke to one installer who reported being flat out with [the “instant tax write off” a major driver](https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2020/03/18/australian-government-stimulates-solar-pv-in-the-face-of-coronavirus-threat/). “Green Energy Markets’ analysis finds that food production and distribution, like supermarkets, cold storage, food manufacturing, animal husbandry such as piggeries and egg laying, is one the biggest markets for larger solar systems and so far Covid-19 panic buying should be helping their revenue and economic downturn shouldn’t blunt sales too much.” Edis added that such businesses have “goldilocks conditions for solar” – being regular daytime electricity demand for things like refrigeration or heating and cooling, but insufficient demand to receive major discounts from electricity retailers. Despite the record-breaking STC figures and reasons for some optimism in certain applications, there are many reasons to suggest that rooftop solar demand will not be spared the impact of Covid-19 and the necessary measures taken to prevent its spread. “Another installer I have spoken to has seen sales completely dive,” said Edis. “That installer is focussed on shopping centres and aged care, which are another key market segment for commercial solar.”   Schedule a call with us to see how solar can work for your facility. [![SCHEDULE A CALL WITH US](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4287976/17866f77-d8e8-4f34-af4f-9d8fda2e6256.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4287976/17866f77-d8e8-4f34-af4f-9d8fda2e6256)     This article originally appeared on [pv-magazine-australia.com](https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/) and has been republished with permission by pv magazine ([www.pv-magazine.com](http://www.pv-magazine.com/) and [www.pv-magazine-australia.com](https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/). Topics: [Installations](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/topic/installations), [Highlights](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/topic/highlights), [Australia](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/topic/australia), [Residential PV](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/topic/residential-pv), [Covid-19](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/topic/covid-19) #### Written by [Jonathan Gifford, pv magazine](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/author/jonathan-gifford-pv-magazine) - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [Australia (9)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/australia) - [Installations (7)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/installations) - [Markets (7)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/markets) - [Highlights (6)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/highlights) - [Finance (5)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/finance) - [Policy (5)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/policy) - [Utility-Scale PV (5)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/utility-scale-pv) - [Energy Storage (4)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/energy-storage) - [Grids (4)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/grids) - [Integration (4)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/integration) - [Hydrogen (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/hydrogen) - [Industrial PV (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/industrial-pv) - [Residential PV (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/residential-pv) - [Sustainability (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/sustainability) - [utility scale storage (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/utility-scale-storage) - [Commercial PV (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/commercial-pv) - [Covid-19 (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/covid-19) - [Green Hydrogen (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/green-hydrogen) - [Markets & Policy (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/markets-policy) - [Politics (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/politics) - [Renewable Energy (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/renewable-energy) - [Solar Capital (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-capital) - [Solar Energy (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-energy) - [Solar Finance (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-finance) - [Technology (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/technology) - [World (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/world) - [Austria (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/austria) - [Clean Energy Economy (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/clean-energy-economy) - [Climate Change (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/climate-change) - [Commercial Solar (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/commercial-solar) - [Community (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/community) - [Competencia (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/competencia) - [Corporate (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/corporate) - [Distributed Storage (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/distributed-storage) - [Electric Vehicles (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/electric-vehicles) - [Employment (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/employment) - [Global Warming (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/global-warming) - [Hydrogen Economy (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/hydrogen-economy) - [Hydrogen Production (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/hydrogen-production) - [Industrial Solar (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/industrial-solar) - [PPA (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/ppa) - [Power Purchase Agreement (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/power-purchase-agreement) - [Pumped Hydro (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/pumped-hydro) - [Queensland (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/queensland) - [Renewables (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/renewables) - [Solar (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar) - [Solar Cost & Prices (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-cost-prices) - [Solar Development (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-development) - [Solar Rooftop (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-rooftop) - [South Australia (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/south-australia) - [Step Change (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/step-change) - [Tasmania (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/tasmania) - [Utilities (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/utilities) - [Utility Scale Markets (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/utility-scale-markets) - [Western Australia (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/western-australia) see all ### Posts by Topic - [Australia (9)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/australia) - [Installations (7)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/installations) - [Markets (7)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/markets) - [Highlights (6)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/highlights) - [Finance (5)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/finance) - [Policy (5)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/policy) - [Utility-Scale PV (5)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/utility-scale-pv) - [Energy Storage (4)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/energy-storage) - [Grids (4)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/grids) - [Integration (4)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/integration) - [Hydrogen (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/hydrogen) - [Industrial PV (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/industrial-pv) - [Residential PV (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/residential-pv) - [Sustainability (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/sustainability) - [utility scale storage (3)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/utility-scale-storage) - [Commercial PV (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/commercial-pv) - [Covid-19 (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/covid-19) - [Green Hydrogen (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/green-hydrogen) - [Markets & Policy (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/markets-policy) - [Politics (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/politics) - [Renewable Energy (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/renewable-energy) - [Solar Capital (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-capital) - [Solar Energy (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-energy) - [Solar Finance (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-finance) - [Technology (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/technology) - [World (2)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/world) - [Austria (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/austria) - [Clean Energy Economy (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/clean-energy-economy) - [Climate Change (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/climate-change) - [Commercial Solar (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/commercial-solar) - [Community (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/community) - [Competencia (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/competencia) - [Corporate (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/corporate) - [Distributed Storage (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/distributed-storage) - [Electric Vehicles (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/electric-vehicles) - [Employment (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/employment) - [Global Warming (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/global-warming) - [Hydrogen Economy (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/hydrogen-economy) - [Hydrogen Production (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/hydrogen-production) - [Industrial Solar (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/industrial-solar) - [PPA (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/ppa) - [Power Purchase Agreement (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/power-purchase-agreement) - [Pumped Hydro (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/pumped-hydro) - [Queensland (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/queensland) - [Renewables (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/renewables) - [Solar (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar) - [Solar Cost & Prices (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-cost-prices) - [Solar Development (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-development) - [Solar Rooftop (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/solar-rooftop) - [South Australia (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/south-australia) - [Step Change (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/step-change) - [Tasmania (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/tasmania) - [Utilities (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/utilities) - [Utility Scale Markets (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/utility-scale-markets) - [Western Australia (1)](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/australia/tag/western-australia) See all ### Recent Posts # About Us Breiter Planet Construction is a Northeast-based solar and electrification contractor specializing in the design, engineering, and construction of residential and commercial energy systems. Our work includes solar PV installations, battery storage and backup power systems, EV charging infrastructure, and broader electrical and building upgrades such as service upgrades, roofing integration, and energy-efficient retrofits. We operate as a developer-led builder, bringing a practical, field-driven approach to every project with a focus on long-term performance, code compliance, and system reliability. From initial concept through permitting, construction, and ongoing service, Breiter Planet delivers clean energy solutions that are built to perform and supported for the life of the system # Blog # Links - [Home](https://www.breiterplanet.com) # Contact Us 617-334-5785 [info@breiterplanet.com](mailto:info@breiterplanet.com) 800 Boylston St, 16th Floor Boston, MA 02199 # Licenses - MA HIC #208705 - RI #GC-46431 - ReCheck ID: #888996337 ![white_logo_transparent_background](https://blog.breiterplanet.com/hubfs/white_logo_transparent_background.png "white_logo_transparent_background") Copyright 2026 | Designed by [Breiter Planet Properties](https://www.breiterplanet.com)