Central Coast households lead NSW in rooftop solar as energy cost management drives uptake

The Central Coast has one of the highest rates of residential rooftop solar installation of any NSW region, driven by the combination of a housing stock that predominantly consists of freestanding homes with large roof areas, strong solar irradiance along the coast and hinterland, and electricity prices that have made the financial case for solar increasingly compelling for households across the income spectrum.

Solar installation businesses have grown substantially on the Central Coast to serve this demand, with local companies competing with national franchise operators for the installation and maintenance work generated by the region's high adoption rate. The skill base in solar installation has developed to a point where the Central Coast can service its own demand without relying primarily on crews travelling from Sydney, which improves installation timelines and supports local employment.

Battery storage adoption has been growing alongside solar, with households that already have solar panels considering battery additions to extend the self-consumption of their solar generation into evening hours when grid power demand and prices are typically higher. The improving economics of battery storage relative to several years ago have brought the investment within reach of a wider range of households.

Council and state government programs targeting low-income households have worked to ensure that solar adoption is not limited to higher-income homeowners, with subsidy programs and community energy projects that extend the financial benefits of solar to households that cannot otherwise afford the upfront investment. These programs recognise that the cost savings from solar are most material for households whose electricity bills represent a larger share of their discretionary income.

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