WA SOLAR POSTCODES – EXCLUSIVE REPORT – May 2015, Office of Senator Scott Ludlam More than 180,000 West Australian households now have photovoltaic (PV) power cells on their roofs – or 18% of the WA populationi. This is an increase of 19% in just one year.

WA’s combined solar rooftops have a total rated output of 463.396 MW – the equivalent rated output of two typical coal fired power stationsii. (By comparison, the biggest ‘nameplate capacity’ is Pinjar 500MW, Kwinana C is 400MW and Collie is 340MWiii).

If just under a third of current WA solar households upgraded to 4.1kW solar panels they’d generate an extra 230MW of peak electricity capacity.

WA now has four postcodes in the Australian top 20 solar installers: Mandurah at #2; North East Wanneroo at #8; Canning Vale/Willeton at #12, and Cockburn at #19.

Australia hit the milestone of 1 million solar rooftops in March 2013iv, compared with just 20,000 systems in 2008. There are now just under 1.4 million solar rooftop installations nationwide.

Meanwhile the WA government is asleep at the wheel. WA’s Treasurer and Energy Minister Mike Nahan is the former head of the notoriously anti-renewable conservative think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs. He recently expressed surprise at the rapid take-up of rooftop solar by the state’s households and leads a department completely underprepared for the rapid switch to solar.

The Office of Senator Scott Ludlam has compiled the most recent figures from the Clean Energy Regulator and specially commissioned data from the ABS to show:

- WA’s Top 20 postcodes by percentage of homes with solar - WA’s Top 20 postcodes by number of rooftops with solar, and - Top 20 postcodes by generation – that is, which postcodes are our biggest producers of solar power

Part 1: Top 20 Solar Postcodes by percentage of homes with solar

WA’s top 20 postcodes by percentage of homes with solar have now hit a massive 32% installation on average.

A big surprise this year is the number of postcodes in the Wheatbelt and farming regions that have made it to the top 20. Specifically:

• WA’s top three solar postcodes in 2015 are: o The #1 postcode for the second year in a row is 6171 – the community of Baldivis near the

City of Rockingham, where close to 40% of households have solar. o The #2 postcode is 6227 of Dardanup in the South West region of Western Australia where

36% of rooftops have solar o The #3 postcode is 6411 – the community of Mundijong in the southern area of the greater

Perth region, with 34% of households with solar rooftops • A surprise new trend in the top 20 is the number of Wheatbelt communities to make it to the list:

these include communities in Moora, Gingin-Dandaragan and Northam. • A large number of the top 20 are regional farming communities: a total of six postcodes made it to

the list: Dardanup, Moora, Morawa/Eneabba, Gingin/Dandaragan, and Donnybrook/Balingup, and Northam.

• In a separate analysis, the communities of Yealering (6372) and Pingaring (6357) in the southern Wheatbelt shire of Kulin achieved a massive increase in solar uptake of 37% in just one year.

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• Metropolitan and farming communities alike are getting on board the solar revolution and taking their power back at a pace that has caught the government unaware.

Table 1: Top 20 Solar postcodes – By Percentage of Uptake in the Suburbs

Rank Postcode

SA2 (ABS Suburb Name) SA2 Identifier (Area) Suburbs within Postcode % Uptake

1

6171

Baldivis

Rockingham

Baldivis

38.85%

2 6227 Dardanup Bunbury Burekup 36.32% 3 6121 Mundijong Serpentine - Jarrahdale Oakford, Oldbury 34.30%

4 6208 Mandurah - East Mandurah Blythewood, Fairbridge, Meelon, Nirimba, North Yunderup, Oakley & Pinjarra Point Grey Ravenswood South Yunderup West Pinjarra

33.98%

5 6106 Welshpool Canning Welshpool 33.34%

6 6155 Canning Vale - West

Canning Canning Vale, Willeton 32.92%

7 6035 Yanchep Wanneroo Yanchep 31.55%

8 6170 Kwinana Bertram – Wellard (West)

Leda, Wellard 30.85%

9 6172 Baldivis Rockingham Port Kennedy 30.74%

10 6084 Bullsbrook Swan Avon Valley National Park, Bullsbrook, Chittering, Lower Chittering, Walyunga National Park

30.43%

11 6065 Kingsley Joondalup Ashby, Darch, Hocking, Kingsway, Landsdale, Madeley, Pearsall, Sinagra, Tapping, Wangara, Wanneroo

29.58%

12 6566 Moora Wheat Belt - North Bejoording, Carani, Coondle, Culham, Dumbarton, Hoddys Well, Katrine, Nunile, Toodyay

29.54%

13 6124 Mundijong Serpentine - Jarrahdale Jarrahdale 29.41%

14 6125 Mundijong Serpentine - Jarrahdale Hopeland, Mardella, Serpentine 29.03%

15 6026 Joondalup - Edgewater

Joondalup Kingsley, Woodvale 28.92%

16 6518 Morawa Mid West Eneabba, Warradarge 28.74%

17 6083 Mundaring Mundaring Gidgegannup, Morangup 28.68% 18 6041 Gingin -

Dandaragan Wheat Belt - North Caraban, Gabbadah, Guilderton, Wilbinga,

Woodridge 28.31%

19 6239 Donnybrook - Balingup

Manjimup Argyle, Beelerup, Brookhampton, Charley Creek, Donnybrook, Glen Mervyn, Paynedale, Queenwood, Thompson Brook, Upper Capel, Yabberup

28.13%

20 6562 Northam Wheat Belt - North Bakers Hill, Copley, Woottating 28.10%

Average 31.09%

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Maps: Solar postcodes by percentage uptake

Map 1a: Solar postcodes by percentage uptake

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Map 1b: Solar uptake by percentage – Perth metropolitan area (inset)

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Part 2: Top 20 postcodes by number of rooftops with solar

The top 20 have installed more than 75,202 Small Generation Units (SGUs) - small PV units, and are collectively generating a total of 180.6 MW. The top postcodes by installation are:

• Mandurah at #1 (6210) including Dudley Park, Erskine, Falcon, Greenfields, Halls Head, Madora Bay, Meadow Springs, San Remo, Silver Sands, and Wannanup;

• North East Wanneroo at #2 (6065), including Ashby, Darch, Gnangara, Hocking, Landsdale, Madeley, Mariginiup, Melaleuca, Pinjar, Sinagra, Tapping, Wangara, and Wanneroo, and

• Canning at #3 (6155), which includes Canning Vale and Willetton • The same top five postcodes appear this year as they did 2014 and have increased their number of

SGUs by a massive average of 20% in one year • On average the top 20 installers are lower income earners and earn $2,174.00 less than the average

WA income. The top five $2606 less than the average WA incomev • There are no newcomer postcodes entering the top 20 this year, but the order has changed • The suburbs that have placed in a higher ranking this year are 6169 Rockingham, 6110 Gosnells, 6069

Swan and 6168 Rockingham • The top 20 Solar Postcodes – by number installed communities average yearly salary falls $2422.00

below the state average of $57,430

Table 2: Top 20 Solar postcodes – by number installed

Rank

Shire Suburbs

Total PV Units

Installed KW Total

Dif WA avg

income

1 6210

Mandurah (C)

Coodanup, Dudley Park, Erskine, Falcon, Greenfields, Halls Head, Madora Bay, Mandurah, Meadow Springs, San Remo, Silver Sands, Wannanup

8457

18513.27

-$4,602

2 6065 Wanneroo (C) - North-East

Ashby, Darch, Gnangara, Hocking, Jandabup, Landsdale, Lexia, Madeley, Mariginiup, Melaleuca, Pearsall, Pinjar, Sinagra, Tapping, Wangara, Wanneroo 3

5847 15566.13 -$3,560

3 6155 Canning (C) Canning Vale, Willetton

5440 13328.08 -$3,733 4 6164 Cockburn (C) Atwell, Aubin Grove, Banjup, Beeliar, Cockburn Central, Hammond

Park, Jandakot, South Lake, Success, Yangebup

4828 12126.937 -$6,916

5 6112 Armadale (C) Armadale, Bedfordale, Brookdale, Forrestdale, Mount Nasura, Mount Richon, Seville Grove, Wungong

4409 10978.78 -$699

6 6163 Cockburn (C) Bibra Lake, Coolbellup, Hamilton Hill, Hilton, Kardinya, North Coogee, North Lake, O Connor, Samson, Spearwood

3961 9494.04 -$2,656

7 6169 Rockingham Safety Bay, Shoalwater, Waikiki, Warnbro 3855 8724.44 -$2,565 8 6027 Joondalup (C)

- North Beldon, Connolly, Edgewater, Heathridge, Joondalup, Mullaloo, Ocean Reef

3530 8846.75 -$4,120

9 6110 Gosnells (C) Gosnells, Huntingdale, Martin, Southern River 3496 8070.735 $1,562 10 6030 Wanneroo (C)

- North-West Clarkson, Merriwa, Mindarie, Quinns Rocks, Ridgewood, Tamala Park

3414 7893.45 -$2,372

11 6056 Swan (C) Baskerville, Bellevue, Boya, Greenmount, Helena Valley, Herne Hill, Jane Brook, Koongamia, Middle Swan, Midland, Midvale, Millendon, Red Hill, Stratton, Swan View, Viveash, Woodbridge

3216 8326.24 -$539

12 6069 Swan (C) Aveley, Belhus, Brigadoon, Ellenbrook, The Vines, Upper Swan

3181 8372.77 -$7,062 13 6107 Canning (C) Beckenham, Cannington, Kenwick, Queens Park, Wattle Grove, Wilson

3145 7328.56 $4,795

14 6230 Bunbury (C) Bunbury, Carey Park, College Grove, Dalyellup, Davenport, East Bunbury, Gelorup, Glen Iris, Pelican Point, South Bunbury, Usher, Vittoria, Withers

3032 7097.01 -$3,634

15 6171 Rockingham Baldivis

2993 7555.77 -$10,689 16 6025 Joondalup (C)

- South Craigie, Hillarys, Kallaroo, Padbury

2669 6383.26 -$11,122

17 6168 Rockingham Cooloongup, East Rockingham, Garden Island, Hillman, Peron, Rockingham

2497 5495.63 -$1,120

18 6280 Busselton (S) Abbey, Abba River, Acton Park, Ambergate, Anniebrook, Boallia, Bovell, Broadwater, Busselton, Carbunup River, Chapman Hill, Geographe, Hithergreen, Jindong, Kalgup, Kaloorup, Kealy, Ludlow,

2444 5711.36 $5,580

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Marybrook, Metricup, Reinscourt, Ruabon, Sabina River, Siesta Park, Tutunup, Vasse, Walsall, West Busselton, Wilyabrup, Wonnerup, Yalyalup, Yelverton, Yoongarillup

19 6026 Joondalup (C) - South

Kingsley, Woodvale

2422 5653.15 -$5,453

20 6064 Wanneroo (S) - South

Alexander Heights, Darch, Lansdale, Madeley, Marangaroo, Girrawheen, Koondoola

2366 5174.38 $4,157

Total 75202 180,640.77 -$2,422

Maps: WA Solar postcodes – by installation

Map 2a: Number of Solar installations by postcode – Perth metro area (inset)

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Map 2b: Number of solar installations by postcode in WA

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Part 3: Top 20 postcodes by generation

When we look at which postcodes are the biggest generators of solar power, we find:

• The top 20 have a collective installed capacity (or rated output) of a total of 182 MW. • The City of Mandurah is once again the top generator in WA, with a rated output of over 18.5 MW • When we look at the Australian Top 20 generators, two WA postcodes have made it to the list: 6210

Mandurah at #6; and 6065 North East Wanneroo at #13 • The top eight postcodes appear as they did in 2014, the difference being in just one year they’ve

increased their capacity (or rated output) by a massive 25% • Four postcodes have improved their ranking in one year: these are postcodes 6069, 6056, 6110 and

6171 • Newcomer 6076 Kalamunda has entered the top 20 this year • Postcodes in our regional cities of Busselton and Geraldton are also in the top 20

Table 4: Suburbs ordered by Generation (rated output)

# rank Post Code Suburb

No. Rooftop Solar Installations (SGU) April 2015

Rated Output - Total (kW) April 2015

1 6210 Mandurah: Coodanup, Falcon, Halls Head, San Remo, Silver Sands 8,457 18,513.26

2 6065 North East Wanneroo 5,847 15,566.13

3 6155 Canning Vale, Willetton 5,440 13,328.07

4 6164 Cockburn: Atwell, Aubin Grove, Beeliar, Jandakot, South Lake, Success, Yangebup

4,828 12,126.93

5 6112 Armadale, Bedfordale, Forresdale, Mt Nasura, Seville Grove 4,409 10,978.78

6 6163 Cockburn: Bibra Lake, Bibra Lake, Coolbellup, Hamilton Hill, Hilton, Kardinya, North Coogee, North Lake, O Connor, Samson, Spearwood

3,961 9,494.03

7 6027 Joondalup North: Beldon, Connolly, Edgewater, Heathridge, Joondalup, Mullaloo, Ocean Reef

3,530 8,846.75

8 6169 Rockingham: Safety Bay, Shoalwater, Waikiki, Warnbro 3,855 8,724.44

9 6069 Aveley, Belhus, Brigadoon, Ellenbrook, The Vines, Upper Swan

3,181 8,372.77

10 6056 Baskerville, Bellevue, Boya, Greenmount, Helena Valley, Herne Hill, Jane Brook, Koongamia, Middle Swan, Midland, Midvale, Millendon, Red Hill, Stratton, Swan View, Viveash, Woodbridge

3,216 8,326.24

11 6110 Gosnells, Huntingdale, Martin, Southern River 3,496 8,070.73

12 6030 Clarkson, Merriwa, Mindarie, Quinns Rocks, Ridgewood, Tamala Park 3,414 7,893.45

13 6171 Rockingham: Baldivis

2,993 7,555.76

14 6107 Beckenham, Cannington, Kenwick, Queens Park, Wattle Grove, Wilson 3,145 7,328.55

15 6230 Bunbury, Carey Park, College Grove, Dalyellup, Davenport, East Bunbury, Gelorup, Glen Iris, Pelican Point, South Bunbury, Usher, Vittoria, Withers

3,032 7,097.01

16 6530 Geraldton 2,294 6,554.33

17 6025 Craigie, Hillarys, Kallaroo and Padbury 2,669 6,383.26

18 6280 Bussleton 2,444 5,711.36

19 6026 Kingsley, Woodvale

2,422 5,653.15

20 6076 Kalamunda 2,091 5,505.10

Total 74,724 182,030.18

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Maps: WA Suburbs by Generation (rated output)

Map 3a: Solar power generation by postcode – Perth metro area (inset)

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Map 3b: Solar power generation by postcode – South West WA region

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Part 4: MYTHS ABOUT SOLAR IN WA

MYTH 1: Solar PV increases the cost of power to everyone else

FACT: The WA Energy Minister has previously said solar PV is ”actually putting downward pressure on electricity costs” because people were using less power and generating electricity themselves, and causing less electricity to be generated from coal and gas. In October 2012 at a Senate inquiry into electricity prices, Senator Scott Ludlam asked about the money saved by Western Australians by the state's solar panel capacity. The need for Solar PV actually saved WA taxpayers at least $7.7 million last year by avoiding peaking power, which is the most expensive electricity, according to the Independent Market Operator in October 2012. Allan Dawson, CEO of the Independent Market Operator in WA, told the inquiry this capacity saved Western Australian taxpayers $100,000 a megawatt. In a balanced capacity market that would mean a saving of at least $7.7 million per year for the WA publicvi.

MYTH 2: The WA grid can’t handle more solar

FACT: A new study led by the CSIRO has dispelled the fears that widespread deployment of solar PV could not be supported by the electricity grid, and says the existing network as is can support a lot more solar PV. Modeling done by the study over four scenarios showed there was negligible impact on strong urban grids at 10-40% penetration. Variations in voltage at the 40% penetration level were found to be minimal and likely to go unnoticed by customers. In weak remote grids there was negligible impact at 10% penetration, and at 40% there would be voltage swings that may impact the functioning of the network but these could easily be addressed through demand management, short term storage, or just better planning.

South Australia recently saw over 40 per cent of its electricity produced by wind power. In Auckland, New Zealand residents are being encouraged to install solar and battery storage because it can reduce network costs and investments, but in WA the installation of battery storage in areas controlled by Western Power is not allowed. Opposition to solar panels and the renewable energy target is due to the fact it reduces the revenues and the profits of incumbent generators. Perversely the government has also slugged people with increased tariffs for Green Power to try and recover some of those costs.

MYTH 3: Solar PV is being installed by the rich and most of the subsidies are going to the wealthy

FACT: WA’s lower income suburbs are leading a solar energy revolution, and will continue to do so in response to rising energy prices. Contrary to popular belief, rooftop solar is not the province of the wealthy inner city postcodes. A series of surveys and postcode analysis – including the last two postcode studies by this office - have shown that most of Australia’s PV has been put on the rooftops of households in the nation’s mortgage belts, in the city and in regional areas. It’s clear that households under the most pressure from cost of living increases are driving the solar rooftop revolution, and can also see a true benefit from fair feed-in tariffs. With power prices rising, families with mortgages and households in regional areas looked at ways to cut their energy costs and were prepared to invest in solar. These are the last people that should be punished by low tariffs and barriers to installing more solar. Rather rooftop solar provides a real solution for households struggling in Perth to reduce the cost of living.

MYTH 4: The WA government is investing in renewables

FACT: The Barnett government is on a fossil spending spree. State-owned generator Verve Energy allocated $287 million for investment in fossil fuel generation over the next four years, and just $2.5 million in sustainable generation. This included another $200 million on the ageing Muja power station. The government has already spent $266 million trying to upgrade Muja’s A and B before deciding that it was a waste of money.

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In 2013/14, Verve will spend $105 million on its fossil fuel generation plant, and just $130,000 on its sustainable energy portfolio, with a small upgrade to its four-turbine wind-diesel generation facility at the town of Denham, in Shark Bay.

iUsing Clean Energy Regulator figures at January 2015 and ABS figures for WA population of 2.5891m at 2014 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3101.0 ii the full list of Synergy’s power stations is at http://generation.synergy.net.au/generating-electricity/power-stations/generating-capacity iii http://generation.synergy.net.au/generating-electricity/power-stations/generating-capacity iv Clean Energy Regulator at http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/solar-milestone-1000000-pv-systems-installed-in-australia-44201 v ABS income data from 2011 was used and is the most recent publicly available. vi In late 2012 Western Australia had almost 77 megawatts of peak PV solar installed - since then it has gone up. SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRY ON ELECTRICTY PRICES IN AUSTRALIA, OCTOBER 2 2012 –at http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/commsen/0e5450a4...

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