Australian rooftop solar installations hit record pace but maintenance gaps threaten asset lifespan
By Eve
Australia installed roughly 181,000 rooftop solar systems in the first half of 2026, 35% more than the same period in 2025, marking the strongest six month result since 2021. The country now has more than 28 gigawatts of rooftop solar installed, the most per capita globally, with roughly 36% of households owning a system. Andrew Barrington of Solar Shine Australia warned that the industry focuses on new installations while neglecting maintenance of existing systems designed to operate for 25 years or longer, according to pv magazine.
Why it matters
For CPOs and infrastructure operators, the maintenance gap in Australia's 28 gigawatt rooftop solar base signals a potential service market and highlights operational risks if distributed energy assets degrade prematurely. The warning underscores the need for asset management protocols as solar becomes critical grid infrastructure, a lesson applicable to EV charging networks also designed for multi decade lifespans.
Source
- Original title
- “In Australia, rooftop solar is surging, but neglected systems could fail years too soon”
- Published
- 25 October 2026
In this story
- Topic
- Grid & Energy
- Place
- Australia
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