Super solar spark: GV solar panel installations up in 2020

By Max Stainkamph

May 18, 2021

The numbers of solar panels across the Goulburn Valley jumped last year, echoing a trend across the nation.

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Australia-wide, 28 per cent more solar panels were installed in 2020 than in 2019, and data from the CSIRO showed postcodes in the Goulburn Valley adding up to 20 per cent more solar panels in 2020.

Solar Australia Energy Co managing director Steve Levy said the second lockdown had caused orders for panels to "fall off a cliff", but otherwise 2020 had proven a strong year.

Mr Levy is based in Moama, where 156 panels were installed in 2020, while across the river 358 were installed in Echuca.

In Kyabram, 205 panels were installed, 188 in Cobram and Barooga and 224 in Benalla.

In Shepparton, 529 solar panels were installed in the 3630 postcode, while 390 were put in place in Kialla and 137 in Mooroopna.

One hundred and fourteen solar panels were put on roofs in Tatura.

Mr Levy said while a lot of places limited the amount of business they did from March, 2020, "we went the opposite way when the pandemic hit" and became busier.

“People had more time at home to do things they'd previously put off or been too busy to do,” Mr Levy said.

He said while there had been a slight delay in installations at the peak due to shortages of parts, he hadn't seen the backlog that many tradies had, although second lockdown hit the solar industry harder than it did tradies.

“When the second lockdown hit, we were down a lot. With the second lockdown people were more worried about their jobs and there was a lot of uncertainty,” Mr Levy said.

It has rebounded since then, and Mr Levy said solar was as cheap as it would be for the foreseeable future, as both federal and state governments rebates decreased over time.

CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall said the figures showed renewable power was becoming more and more popular.

“Science has made renewables cost competitive with conventional power, letting market forces take over to drive a global transition to lower emissions,” Dr Marshall said.

“Australia’s solar advantage creates an economic opportunity for us on the world stage and an environmental benefit for the globe — even better when it’s powered by Australian science and research.”