Australia rooftop solar on track for record year, mid-scale boom delayed
SunWiz data shows October rooftop solar installations hit 305 MW, keeping the year on track for its highest annual total. Mid-scale system growth is currently stalled as installers wait for new Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme registrations to open in late 2026.
Australian rooftop solar installations are poised to set a new annual record, according to SunWiz. The company’s data indicates that the January–October tally is the highest on record and is running 41% ahead of the same point in 2025.
SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston highlighted the momentum, noting that October’s installations for systems between 0 and 100 kW totaled 305 MW.
Monthly Installation Trends
- October recorded 305 MW of rooftop solar installations, a 16% increase year on year from 262 MW in October 2025, according to SunWiz data.
- The monthly figure also represents an 11% rise compared to 274 MW installed in October 2024.
- SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston described the month as "the strongest October of the last four years," noting that volumes have remained above every prior year since June.
- Month-on-month capacity growth slowed, rising just 1% from September to October.
- The Federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme has expanded to include systems ranging from 100 kW to 1 MW.
- Small-scale technology certificate (STC) applications for these mid-scale systems are scheduled to open in mid to late November 2026.
- Battery storage installations in the 20-30 kWh segment reached 399 MWh in October.
- The 10-20 kWh battery segment grew 3% to 150 MWh during the same period.
State-Level Performance
New South Wales led absolute additions, while Victoria showed the strongest percentage growth.
| State | October Additions (MW) | Month-on-Month Change |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 89.9 | +5% |
| Queensland | 75.8 | -8% |
| Victoria | 60.2 | +11% |
| Western Australia | N/A | +5% |
New South Wales recorded the highest volume, adding 89.9 MW of new rooftop PV. Victoria followed with 60.2 MW, marking its best relative performance with an 11% jump from September. Queensland, which added 75.8 MW, saw installations fall by 8% compared to the previous month. Western Australia also posted growth, with rooftop PV capacity increasing by 5%.
The expansion of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, which took effect on October 1, coincided with a slight increase in average system size, which rose to 10 kW from 9.9 kW.
Battery Market Dynamics
SunWiz reports that national home battery installations totaled 1,043 MWh in October 2026. This amount signifies a 9.7% climb over September, constituting the second straight month of growth after a slight decline in August. Despite this progress, the current volume sits 68% lower than the 3,262 MWh recorded in April 2026.
Warwick Johnston, SunWiz managing director, characterized the trajectory as an ongoing rebound from the slump that followed April, highlighting that consumers are joining the market at their own pace while getting ready for summer. He pointed out that current levels are almost twice the May bottom, yet they remain far beneath the April high.
In October, the mean home battery system size climbed to 26.74 kWh. The 30-40 kWh category contributed 210 MWh to the overall figure. As the industry heads into summer, the steady re-emergence of larger systems implies shifts in consumer tastes or pricing structures, even though this month’s installed capacity lags well behind the spring peak.
Battery Segment Breakdown and SRES Timing
SunWiz data details the October battery market composition, with the 40–50 kWh segment contributing 273 MWh and the 0–10 kWh segment remaining flat at 11 MWh. Johnston noted that bands from 20 kWh upward comprised 85% of the month’s total capacity. The average home battery system size marked its fifth consecutive monthly increase to reach 26.74 kWh. This regulatory gap has caused a decline in commercial volumes above 50 kW, a segment characterized by high percentage drops but low absolute volume.
What to watch
Market participants should monitor the mid-to-late November 2026 opening of Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) applications for systems between 100 kW and 1 MW. This milestone is critical because commercial volumes above 50 kW have recently declined while developers wait for this registration window to open. The Federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate mandates that discounted storage be paired with photovoltaics, a requirement that will influence how residential installations are configured and sold.
Source: RenewEconomy. This article is an original Luminity report based on the linked source.