Tarneit leads the country as the ‘greenest’ suburb for solar installations

Tarneit, located in Melbourne’s western growth corridor, is emerging as one of the leading suburbs in the country when it comes to the use of renewable energy.

According to Solar Run, data from the Clean Energy Council shows that there were 2,177 solar installations in Tarneit between January 2020 and December 2023.

The next place was Box Hill in southwest Sydney, where 2,152 photovoltaic installations were installed.

Queensland suburbs also feature prominently in the top 10 greenest suburbs list, with Bundaberg coming third with 1735 solar installations.

Further up the coast, Caloundra had 1,651 solar panels installed, followed by Mackay with 1,502.

Solar Run CEO Anthony Kurta said that the dynamics of renewable energy development in Australia is increasing.

“Communities are increasingly recognizing the benefits of solar energy, not only for the environment but also for economic resilience,” he said.

“Our report highlights the leaders in this green revolution and underscores the importance of continued support and investment in clean energy.”

By state, the greenest state was Queensland with 54,365 solar installations, followed by Victoria with 51,104 and New South Wales with 48,470.

Tasmania was the least green, with 6070 solar installations.

MDP architecture director Glen Ollerton said demand for energy-efficient homes was growing.

“The rising cost of living is a problem for everyone in the community, including homeowners and the rental market,” he said.

“The rise in energy costs highlights the direct impact on people’s financial situation.

Keeping our homes warm, cool and lit is a basic requirement of every home.

“Customers are now asking, ‘How can we lower our energy bills?’

“This is often the question that opens the door to sustainability and what it means for them and the environment.”