Solar energy not only for the rich, survey suggests

4th Sep 2012

How much you earn apparently has very little to do with how likely you are to have solar panels installed.

A new survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found that while income failed to be a factor in many cases, there are other social circumstances to consider.

According to the ABS data, house location threw up some interesting numbers to analyse, while the age of a property and whether it is owned or rented also revealed patterns.

For example, the research showed there are twice as many people with solar power systems living in the countryside than there are in Melbourne.

And even those that did have solar panels on their roofs in the city tended to reside on the outskirts – namely the outer western, outer eastern and Mornington Peninsula regions.

Individuals who bought their houses are also more likely to possess solar power, with 94 per cent of all the state's systems in owner-occupied dwellings, with homeowners making up over 70 per cent of Victoria's households.

Last month, Green Energy Markets revised upwards its predictions for solar PV installations in 2012, with the organisation saying more and more people are being enticed in by generous government schemes.

Posted by Mike Peacock

All solar power news categories

Government Rebate & Regulations
Solar Power & Technology


More Solar Power & Technology

Australia to be a part of huge Asian renewable energy growth
SunPower steps up to make solar more affordable
Canberra makes strides toward carbon neutrality
GTM puts solar's massive growth in perspective
Examining Australia's falling solar PV rooftop prices
Australia's shift toward renewable energy picks up the pace
Australia shines at solar decathlon
University of Queensland tapped as lead researcher on massive solar project
100 per cent renewable energy is possible in 10 years, environmental group says
Climate Commission releases report on solar progress
Aussie government actually shows spine for solar power
Be gone, skeptics: One million solar installations and counting
Australia embarks on its greatest solar journey ever
Australia looks to solar thermal for commercial success
Solar power helps King Island reach 100% sustainability
Australians 'heavy supporters of solar power'
Mildura solar plant officially unveiled
Solar power trumps other renewables in Australian minds
Sunshine Coast solar farm "fantastic initiative"
Sunshine Coast cashes in on namesake with solar plans
Energy storage 'could maximise solar power utility'
Solar powered family car - a world first?
Code of conduct for solar installers in the works
'Stop punishing households' for solar PV
Australian solar companies 'adjusting well'
Australian mining 'next solar frontier'
"Rooftop revolution" underway across Australia
Global PV market emerging from sluggish period
Royalla solar farm receives final approval
Leadership challenge a "debacle" for Australian solar power
Solar power giving global renewables a helping hand
Australia's largest CPV solar power plant up and running
Renewable energy misinformation "staggering"
CEC: Don't underestimate consumer desire for solar
Setting energy efficient examples on TV
Solar PV brightening up household bills
World's largest solar powered boat on the move
Climate change is heating up
The global solar power shift
New solar tech win for NSW
Industry orgs praise City of Sydney solar efforts
Clean Energy Council supports Regional Renewables scheme
Asian nations emerging as PV leaders
Solar PV demand continues to grow
Regional areas of Australia to receive more renewables
Australia's significant renewable energy growth
Solar panel reprieve for Queensland
New funding for solar research
Find love with sustainable speed dating
New Victorian solar power deal
 To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: