Categories: CommentarySolar

Graph of the Day: Rooftop solar returns outstrip stocks, property

Published by

Today’s Graph of the Day comes from leading Australian solar provider Energy Matters, which has released a table that compares the return on investment on rooftop solar in various state, and compares these with shares, property, gold, global fixed interest and fine art.

As the table shows, based on the assumptions made by Energy Matters, rooftop solar easily outperforms all other investment options, although the solar returns do vary from location to location.

The northern Queensland city of Townsville was rated the location with the highest return (21 per cent), courtesy of its hours of sunshine, the cost of solar PV, the local electricity rates, and the level of government support.

“Australians are constantly looking for the best place to invest their money, yet these figures show they’re overlooking one of the best around, and it’s right above their head,” co-founder Nick Brass said in a statement that accompanied the graph. “The upside to solar investment is its green credentials. For many clients, this is a strong secondary motivator.”

(Please click on graph to enlarge).

graph

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor-in-chief of Renew Economy, and founder and editor of its EV-focused sister site The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

Giles Parkinson

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor-in-chief of Renew Economy, and founder and editor of its EV-focused sister site The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Gas pipeline giant must come clean on the true cost of new projects

Now more than ever, gas companies must be upfront on the fundamentals of projects they…

8 April 2026

Wind power sets a new state record, big batteries continue to edge out gas

Latest monthly data shows Australia's wind and solar assets continuing to grow their contribution to…

8 April 2026

Neoen unveils plan to add biggest battery yet to France’s nuclear-powered grid

Plans unveiled for France’s largest battery storage project, yet, to support the power supply to…

8 April 2026

Contentious solar project scrapped after work fails to start on time

After another change of hands, a solar project opposed by some locals has missed its…

7 April 2026

Coal to liquids: Coalition’s latest energy brain-fart is their craziest yet, and that takes some doing

Coalition's proposed solution to the fossil fuel crisis is its craziest yet. Meanwhile, credible solutions…

7 April 2026

Local council seeks annual $100,000 per road maintenance fee from wind and solar developers

A council at the heart of major wind and solar projects wants renewable energy developers…

7 April 2026