Rooftop solar has chalked up a record month of newly installed capacity across Australia, in a stunning reversal of what looked to be a slow decline in a market currently obsessed with discounted battery storage.
The latest data from industry analysts SunWiz reveals that monthly PV capacity registered over March for small-scale solar systems (<100 kilowatts) hit a new high of 341.6 megawatts (MW). SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston says the new record volume of monthly registrations – which beats the previous record of 328 MW set in December 2025 – is unusual to see in the first quarter of a year. And while the number of rooftop solar installations isn’t at a record high – as the chart below shows, that record was set back in 2020 – the huge volume of new solar being installed by homes and businesses across the nation tells an interesting new story. Monthly PV capacity registered has leapt to record levels because the Cheaper Home Batteries boom is driving a symbiotic trend of households either upsizing their existing PV system or taking the plunge and putting panels on the roof for the first time. Data from SunWiz’s upcoming Annual Battery Market Report will show that the growing number of consumers installing of solar and storage at the same time is split almost evenly between upgrades and “green-roof” systems, says Johnston. And the surge in system upgrades is closely linked to the extraordinary and somewhat unexpected run on supersized home battery systems that has forced changes to the design of the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate, that will take effect in May. “People realise that in order to make use of such a large battery as is commonly being installed, you need to have a decent-sized solar system,” says Johnston. “Hence March 2026 was not a record month for the number of installations of solar power systems, but because the average installation was very large, this has led to a record monthly volume being installed. “Therefore, one of the bonuses of the Cheaper Home Battery program has been to increase the amount of solar power installation that is occurring, reversing a slow decline trend that had been in place.” Home battery uptake, meanwhile, continues to boom – as the monthly battery data, which is also due out next week, is bound to show. Earlier this week, federal energy minister Chris Bowen announced that the scheme had passed the 300,000-mark, with more than 300,000 households and businesses having invested in a discounted home battery since the launch of the rebate in July 2025. “What’s good for the planet is good for the pocket,” said Bowen on LinkedIn on Tuesday. “These batteries have helped shield everyday Australians from shocks overseas.” Johnston says the latest data on rooftop solar shows that this sort of message is getting through. “At a time where Australia is keenly aware of its dependence upon foreign energy suppliers, it is great to see houses becoming more self-sufficient with their energy needs through a combination of large solar systems and batteries,” he told Renew Economy on Friday. If you would like to join more than 29,000 others and get the latest clean energy news delivered straight to your inbox, for free, please click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter. Sophie Vorrath Sophie is editor of Renew Economy and editor of its sister site, One Step Off The Grid . She is the co-host of the Solar Insiders Podcast. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade. Share this: Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Email Print