Yesterday, in our Insights series, we saw where Australia’s solar PV had been installed, and the trends that have emerged. Today we’re going to have a look at the large scale success stories, and overall market share.
The graph above shows companies that self-register STCs who have registered more than two systems exceeding 30kW in 2012, and the associated size and the state of installation. The lower half of the chart shows the same information stacked, where each boxed area represents an individual system in this range.
Now, this is only a subset of the market, as many smaller solar businesses are particularly successful in commercial PV but use an aggregator to register STCs are are thus hidden from view. Still, it is clear to see that there are some businesses having repeated success in commercial PV.
Infinity Solar leads the way with over 1MW of 30kW+ installations, most of which are in Queensland. Todae Solar registered three 100kW systems in NSW, plus a host of others. The graph also speaks of local success – only two companies have installations cross more than two states: Energy Matters and Ingenero; the rest have been concentrated in one state with possible a single installation in a second state.
The competitiveness of the solar industry as a whole is attested to by the limited market share of its leaders. True Value Solar is the clear market leader in most states, and yet only manages to secure 7.4% of national market share. Indeed, five major PV retailers only hold 15% national market share. This is a highly competitive industry! (*To see the market share of top retailers in each state, subscribe to SunWiz’s special mailout here.)
The table below is an extensive list of known PV systems exceeding 40kW in size. This list is not exhaustive, but is the most complete list of large PV systems in Australia. This list is regularly updated and lives on SunWiz’s website. 30MW of systems exceeding 100kW in size are listed.
Keeping track of large-scale systems helps SunWiz advise the government and industry organisations about the growth of commercial PV in Australia, and helps solar businesses make valid marketing claims about where individual systems are ranked. If a system is not listed, please provide details via this website.
Name
|
Total Capacity (kWp)
|
Date Commissioned
|
Companies
|
Greenough River Solar Farm, Geraldton
|
10000
|
Oct-12
|
Verve, GE Financial Services
|
Mildura CPV
|
2000
|
Planned H1 2013
|
|
University of Queensland
|
1221
|
2011
|
Trina, PowerOne, Ingenero
|
Newington Atheletes’ Village
|
1100
|
2010
|
BP Solar
|
Adelaide Showground
|
1000
|
2009
|
Solar Shop, Built Environs,
|
Uterne
|
969
|
2011
|
SunPower, Satcon/SiClean Energy, Power and Water, Solar Cities
|
KJM Contractors
|
495
|
May-13
|
Trina, Power1, Ingenero
|
Kalkarindji
|
402
|
||
Fraser Coast Community Solar system
|
401
|
Being installed
|
|
NEXTDC
|
400
|
May-12
|
|
Singleton
|
400
|
1998
|
Energy Australia
|
Dandiiri Contact Centre
|
396
|
2011
|
Conergy, SMA, Sun Elec, Glenzeil, Kane Constructions
|
The Wharf (Sydney Theatre Co)
|
384
|
2010
|
Suntech, SMA, DCM
|
Griffith University
|
380
|
Feb-13
|
Sunpower, Stowe Electrical
|
Ernabella (Umuwa Community)
|
350
|
2003-2008
|
Solar Systems
|
Townsville RSL Stadium
|
348
|
2012
|
Ergon
|
Ti Tree
|
324
|
||
Alice Springs Airport
|
308
|
2010
|
SolFocus, SMA, Ingenero, CAT Projects
|
Crowne Plaza Hotel
|
305
|
2009
|
SunPower, SMA, CAT Projects, Odgen Electrical, Investnorth,
|
Marble Bar
|
304
|
2010
|
SunPower, Horizon Power
|
Ballarat Solar Park
|
300
|
2010
|
Sharp Solar, Origin, Central Vic. Solar City, PSG Elecraft, Powercor
|
Bendigo Solar Park
|
300
|
2010
|
As Ballarat
|
Carnarvon
|
290
|
2012
|
|
Lajamanu (Community)
|
288
|
2006
|
Solar Systems
|
Hervey Bay Hospital
|
266
|
2011
|
|
Yuendumu Community
|
240
|
2005
|
Solar Systems
|
Perth Zoo (walkway and roof)
|
237
|
2011
|
|
De Bortli Winery
|
230
|
Oct-13
|
Hanwha Q Cells, The Solar Project
|
Ferngrove Wines
|
227
|
Jul-13
|
Great Southern Solar
|
Alpurrurulam
|
226
|
||
Kings Canyon
|
225
|
2003
|
Shell, PSA, Ecoenergy, Satcon, SiClean Energy, Ogden
|
Nullagine
|
203
|
2010
|
SunPower, Horizon Power, PowerCorp
|
Queensland University of Technology
|
202
|
||
Johnson & Johnson
|
200
|
2010
|
Sanyo/Energy Matters /SMA/Apollo Energy
|
Metricon Stadium (Carrara)
|
200
|
2010
|
Stowe Electrical
|
Queen Victoria Market
|
200
|
2003
|
BPSolar Multi / Origin/Melbourne City Council / ?SMA
|
Hermannsburg Community
|
192
|
2005
|
Solar Systems
|
Desert Knowledge Precinct
|
170
|
2010
|
Various
|
Araluen Arts Centre
|
162
|
Under constr. Jul-2012
|
Q-Cells, Ingenero
|
Kogarah
|
161
|
2003
|
Unisolar Roof integrated + BP Solar BiPV Glass
|
Mt Isa
|
154
|
2010
|
Q-Cells
|
Monash Clayton 85
|
154
|
2011
|
Eging, SMA , Maxim Renewable (Developer/PM), Vibrant Energy Solutions (Designer); Ecotech Electrical (Installer)
|
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef HQ Aquarium
|
153
|
2011
|
|
Hamersley Iron
|
151
|
2003
|
|
Australian Wool Testing Authority (WA)
|
150
|
Aug-13
|
Conergy, SMA, Infinite Energy
|
Galaxy Mine
|
150
|
2011
|
LG, Swan Energy
|
Olympic Boulevarde
|
150
|
2000
|
BP Solar
|
Kamberra Winery
|
146
|
2012
|
|
Symonston
|
144
|
2012
|
Aide, Photon Energy
|
Tyree Energy Technologies Building, UNSW.
|
141
|
2012
|
|
Quality Press
|
141
|
2012
|
|
Fyshwick
|
140
|
2012
|
Aide, Photon Energy
|
Bridgewater (Solar Systems Bendigo R&D)
|
140
|
2008
|
|
ANZ Head Quarters
|
138
|
2011
|
Lendlease
|
Rigby House – Coffs Harbour
|
137
|
2010
|
Kyocera/SiClean Energy (Solar Inverters) /Power One
|
Willoughby CC
|
135
|
2011
|
SMA, Schott
|
Sandvic Mining – Hunter Valley
|
132
|
2012
|
|
5 Murray Rose Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park
|
130
|
2012
|
Lendlease
|
Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation
|
130
|
2010
|
Solar Frontier, SMA
|
Windorah Solar Farm
|
130
|
2008
|
Solar Systems, Ergon Energy
|
Newman Airport
|
120
|
2011
|
SolarChoice
|
Monash Berwick
|
118
|
2011
|
SMA, Clenergy
|
Adelaide Airport
|
114
|
2009
|
BP Solar, Solaris Technology, Hansen Yuncken
|
Bradshaw (Defence Dept)
|
113
|
2005
|
Department of Defense
|
Perth Arena
|
111
|
late 2012
|
UNLTD Solar, Perth Solar City, O’Donnell
|
Coca Cola – Eastern Creek
|
110
|
2009
|
BPSolar , Blacktown Solar City
|
King Island Solar
|
110
|
2008
|
KI Solar Pty Ltd (CBD Energy)
|
University of Queensland, Gatton
|
107
|
Aug-12
|
Infinity Solar
|
200 Collins – Hobart
|
106
|
Aug-12
|
|
CSIRO Newcastle
|
102
|
2003
|
BP Solar, Donovan Electrical, John Holland
|
Richmond Football Club (microinverter)
|
100
|
2013
|
Yingli, GreenStar, MetroSolar
|
Mount St Benedict College<
|
This concludes our Insights free mini-series. To access this information (and more) each month, you’ll have to become a subscriber, which costs as little as $275/month (ex GST). Subscribe to Insights Now
Transmission remains the fundamental building block to decarbonising the grid. But the LNP is making…
Snowy blames bad weather for yet more delays to controversial Hunter gas project, now expected…
In 2024, Renew Economy's traffic jumped 50 per cent to more than 24 million page…
In our final episode for the year, SunWiz's Warwick Johnston on the highs and the…
CEFC winds up 2024 with record investment in two huge transmission projects, as Marinus reveals…
Regulator says big energy players are manipulating prices to their benefit. It's not illegal, but…