Regional NSW is dominating rooftop solar adoption across the state, with nine of the top 10 electorates for installations outside of Sydney – and number 1 is right here.
The Barwon electorate, which includes Narrabri and goes west to the border, has emerged as the clear leader, recording 24,537 homes and businesses with rooftop solar systems. The strong result highlights the scale of renewable uptake in communities stretching across regional and remote NSW.
The latest data shows NSW continues to lead the nation in rooftop solar, with more than one million homes and businesses now fitted with panels — equivalent to one in three households statewide.
On the other side of the New England, the Northern Rivers is also prominent, with 22,743 installations in Ballina and 22,162 in Lismore, just beating Tweed on 22,161. Six of the top ten electorates are on the North Coast.
| Electorate | Solar PV Installation |
|---|---|
| Barwon | 24,537 |
| Ballina | 22,743 |
| Lismore | 22,162 |
| Tweed | 22,161 |
| Riverstone (Western Sydney) | 21,037 |
| Dubbo | 20,584 |
| Clarence | 20,506 |
| Oxley | 19,790 |
| Port Macquarie | 19,457 |
| Albury | 19,161 |
The Northern Tablelands came in 14th with 17,810, and Tamworth came in 26th 16,061 installations.
While regional areas account for most of the leading electorates, Riverstone in Sydney’s north-west ranks fifth overall for solar uptake and holds the number one position nationally for household battery installations. Around 1,500 households in Riverstone have installed batteries to store solar power for use beyond daylight hours.
Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said regional communities were driving the transition.
“From the Far West to the Northern Rivers, regional NSW is leading the charge on rooftop solar.” she said.
Across NSW, rooftop solar is now playing a significant role in electricity generation. When conditions are favourable, rooftop systems collectively produce more power than all of the state’s coal-fired power stations.
“In the final quarter of last year, solar farms and rooftop solar provided 32 per cent of our state’s electricity,” Ms Sharpe said.
“Families and businesses are saving on their bill with solar, and the highest concentration is in the regions and Western Sydney.”
Cost savings remain a key driver of adoption. An average four-person household with a 6.6kW solar system could save up to $1,400 per year on electricity bills, according to the latest figures.
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