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ARENA is pleased today to highlight a new solar map website, which tracks the contribution of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Australia’s energy mix and provides a guide to the location and capacity of PV installations across the country.

Live solar PV map

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the maps were developed by the Australian PV Institute (APVI) and supported with $270,000 of ARENA funding.

“The maps are an invaluable resource for demonstrating and tracking the contribution solar PV systems make to Australia’s energy markets,” Mr Frischknecht said.

“They have generated significant interest since they were made available late last year, recording more than 14,000 unique visits since going live in late 2013.

“The interactive or ‘live’ map allows us to track vital and timely information nationally as well as by state and territory, such as the contribution of solar to the grid during periods of high electricity demand.

“For example, at peak output in January this year, the map estimated solar PV produced more than 5% of Victoria and New South Wales’ power, more than 10% of Queensland and Western Australia’s power and almost one quarter of South Australia’s power.”

Mr Frischknecht said a second map complemented the ‘live’ solar map and indicated where PV systems were located, down to the level of local government area and postcode, as well as their installed capacity.

“The solar status map shows the percentage of dwellings across Australia with a PV system along with their total capacity – it includes small-scale rooftop installations and pinpoints larger-scale PV power stations with a capacity of more than 100kW,” Mr Frischknecht said.

Mr Frischknecht said the solar maps were a truly collaborative effort, sourcing data from PVOutput.org, the Australian Energy Market Operator, the Clean Energy Regulator and the Independent Market Operator of Western Australia.

“ARENA was pleased to contribute funding to the APVI to develop these solar maps which will provide valuable data for the solar industry, government and consumers into the future,” Mr Frischknecht said.

“This is part of ARENA’s ongoing commitment to support knowledge sharing activities and further advance renewable energy expertise in Australia.”

Last updated 25 July 2019
Last updated
25 July 2019
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