Solar Data & Research
Why Solar aggregates data from the Clean Energy Regulator, AER Consumer Data Right, SAA, NETCC, state regulators, and our own installer network to build the most comprehensive picture of the Australian solar market. Below is a summary of our key datasets, how they are sourced, and where they appear on the site.
Cite This Data
Journalists, researchers, and content creators are welcome to cite data from Why Solar with attribution. Please use: "Source: Why Solar (whysolar.com.au), [dataset name], [date accessed]". For data enquiries or bulk access requests, contact hello@whysolar.com.au.
Installations
CER Solar Installations by Postcode
2,811 postcodesSolar PV installation counts, average system sizes, and STC volumes for every Australian postcode. Derived from CER Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme data.
Methodology
Raw STC creation data from the CER public register is aggregated by postcode using the accreditation code and generation state fields. System size is estimated from certificate count (1 STC = 1 MWh of expected generation over the deeming period).
Market Data
REC Registry STC Leaderboards
Daily updatesReal-time STC creation, trading, and clearing house activity. Tracks volumes by state, installer, and certificate type. Powers the statistics dashboard.
Methodology
Daily API calls to the CER REC Registry public endpoint. Each certificate action is parsed, normalised, and aggregated into daily, weekly, and monthly rollups by state and action type.
Energy Plans
Feed-In Tariff Plans by State
594 plansEvery published solar feed-in tariff rate from Australian energy retailers, broken down by state and distributor zone. Includes plan name, retailer, rate, and conditions.
Methodology
Plans are sourced from the AER CDR API, filtered for solar feed-in tariff components, and normalised to a per-kWh rate. Time-of-use export rates are broken into peak and off-peak components.
Energy Plans Database
6,159 plansComprehensive database of residential electricity plans from all Australian retailers. Includes usage rates, supply charges, solar feed-in rates, demand tariffs, and controlled load rates by distributor zone.
Methodology
Plans sourced from AER CDR API, parsed into individual rate components, and indexed by distributor zone and postcode. Annual cost estimates assume average household consumption of 5,500 kWh/year.
Installers
Solar Installer Database
92,590 recordsInstaller profiles aggregating accreditation status (SAA), NETCC Approved Seller status, CER compliance history, and state-level enforcement data. Powers the installer check tool and installer directory.
Methodology
Data aggregated from SAA accreditation register, NETCC Approved Seller directory, CER enforcement actions, and state electrical safety regulators. Records are matched by ABN and trading name.
Collapsed Solar Companies Tracker
270+ companiesA living database of Australian solar companies that have ceased trading, cross-referenced with ASIC insolvency notices and CER STC agent data. Includes estimated affected households by state and year.
Methodology
Collapsed companies are identified through ASIC deregistration and external administration notices, then cross-referenced against the CER STC agent registration data. Installation estimates are derived from STC certificate volumes attributed to each registered agent prior to cessation of trading.
Locations
Suburb Solar Profiles
~4,800 suburbsSuburb-level solar adoption rates, average system sizes, estimated savings, local installer availability, and climate data. Each profile combines CER installation data with Bureau of Meteorology solar irradiance and ABS demographic data.
Methodology
CER postcode data is mapped to suburbs via ABS postcode-suburb concordance. Solar irradiance data from BOM satellite-derived datasets. Savings estimates use local electricity rates from the energy plans database.
Pricing
Solar System Pricing Estimates
8 states x 4 system sizesMedian installed prices for 5kW, 6.6kW, 10kW, and 13kW solar systems in each Australian state. Based on aggregated quote data from the Why Solar installer network.
Methodology
Anonymised and aggregated quote data from participating Why Solar network installers. Median prices exclude outliers (below 10th or above 90th percentile). All prices include installation, GST, and STC rebate applied as a point-of-sale discount.
Battery Price Tracker
11 models trackedInstalled prices for every major home battery brand sold in Australia, tracked monthly. Includes price per kWh, state rebate information, and warranty terms.
Methodology
Prices gathered from installer network quotes and public pricing where available. Ranges reflect metropolitan installed prices including GST and standard electrical work. Remote or complex installations may cost more.
Our Data Sources
| Source | What We Use | Access | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Energy Regulator (CER) | STC creation data, installation volumes, compliance actions | Public register + REC Registry API | Daily |
| AER Consumer Data Right | Energy plans, feed-in tariff rates, tariff structures | CDR API (open access) | Monthly |
| Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) | Installer accreditation status, CPD compliance | Public lookup tool | Weekly |
| NETCC | Approved Seller directory, compliance reports | Public directory + reports | Monthly |
| Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) | Solar irradiance, peak sun hours by location | Satellite-derived datasets | Annual |
| State regulators | Enforcement actions, licensing, safety alerts | Public registers and reports | Weekly |
| Why Solar installer network | Quote data, pricing trends, product preferences | Proprietary (anonymised) | Quarterly |
Explore More
Industry Intelligence
Market data, compliance resources, and tools for solar professionals.
Solar & Battery Guides
Plain-language guides covering solar basics, batteries, and buying advice.
Rebates by State
Federal and state solar rebate eligibility, amounts, and how to claim.
Tools & Calculators
Solar calculator, battery calculator, and payback estimator.
Use Our Data to Make a Better Decision
All of our consumer-facing tools are powered by these datasets. Find out what solar costs in your area, compare feed-in tariffs, and get matched with quality installers.