More Queensland homes have rooftop solar than don’t, the only state in Australia to have more than 50 percent take up of the technology.
A new Climate Council report shows that the Sunshine State is taking advantage of its nomenclature, with 50.5 percent of all homes sporting solar panels.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said the Race to the Top report compared states and territories on rooftop solar, home batteries, electric vehicle registrations and emissions targets and found Queensland was well placed in several areas.
It showed Queensland was also the leading state in electric vehicles registered per 1000 people (3.1), with only the Australian Capital Territory (6.8) better.
“Queenslanders aren’t just driving this change, they’re fanging it. The Sunshine State has embraced solar panels and electric vehicles so rapidly it’s hard to keep up with their impressive progress,” Ms McKenzie.
Climate Councillor and former energy executive Greg Bourne said Queensland was also cleaning up its electricity grid.
“The switch is on in Queensland, with new investment, jobs and infrastructure in clean energy projects picking up pace. Communities like Gladstone are showing that even heavy industries can phase out coal for a more modern energy mix.”
The report also showed areas where Queensland lagged the rest of the country.
When looking at the “share of electricity generated from renewable sources”, Queensland stood at 26.5 percent, which was the lowest state in the country and only better than the Northern Territory (6.7 percent).
Download the full Race to the Top report.
