By Alesha Capone
Rooftop solar installations in the 3029 postcode were among the highest in the nation last year.
A report from the Clean Energy Council said the postcode, which covers Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina, placed seventh in Australia with 9736 installations in the 12 months, providing 42,148 KW of clean energy capacity.
Bundaberg, in Queensland, placed first on the list with 13,942 installations.
Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton said 2019 saw the construction of 34 new large-scale renewable energy projects in Australia, adding 2.2 GW of clean energy to the grid.
“This represents around $4.3 billion in investment and the creation of more than 4000 new jobs,” he said.
“Renewable energy is now responsible for almost a quarter of Australia’s total electricity generation, and the industry continues to grow and evolve as we transition to a cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy system.”
Mr Thornton said the Clean Energy Council was lobbying federal, state and territory governments to ensure renewable energy and energy storage was a key part of their COVID-19 response packages.
“The renewable energy industry is uniquely placed to lead Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis,” he said.
“In addition to providing much-needed stimulus to the Australian economy, we can insulate households and businesses from high electricity costs while also ensuring that we meet our emissions reductions obligations.”
