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Solar Electricity Generation in Australia - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

James Thomson James Thomson Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: August 2023 ANZSIC D2619b

Revenue

$1.5bn

2023-24

$1.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

4,199

Businesses

74

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Solar Electricity Generation in Australia industry analysis

As Australia looks to a cleaner future, solar power offers a bright alternative to emissions-intensive fossil fuels. Advances in solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies have made solar commercially viable, with China manufacturing most of the world's solar panels. In contrast to small-scale solar – which is covering more Australian homes than ever before – the utility-scale market remains relatively untapped. Buoyed by public sector support, private capital is now flooding into new solar projects and propelling capacity growth. Larger farms are being constructed to generate economies of scale and service industrial firms. Amid vocal consumer and shareholder support for clean energy, businesses are adopting net-zero targets and locking in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with solar generators.In recent years, solar generators have capitalised on inflated wholesale electricity prices and banked healthy profit margins. Revenue is expected to have risen at an annualised 58.9% over the past five years, including an estimated jump of 10.3% in 2022-23, to total $1.5 billion. The lack of material inputs has saved solar generators from high coal and gas prices, which have ballooned since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. Wholesale electricity markets have been in turmoil – prompting regulatory and government interventions. The National Electricity Market (NEM) was shut down for over a week in June 2022, while the Federal Government implemented temporary caps on domestic coal and gas prices in December 2022.One of the drawbacks of solar power is that it needs the sun to be shining. Energy storage mitigates this problem and firms up volatile output. That's why generators are investing in large lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage facilities. Large renewable hubs are being created to reinforce different generation technologies – combining solar, wind and battery storage.Solar generators face headwinds in the coming years. Erratic wholesale markets are set to continue, as renewable capacity grows and coal-fired generators cease operations. Large-scale Generation Certificate (LGC) markets will also contend with a fixed Renewable Energy Target, which is set at an already-met 33,000 GWh until 2030. Wholesale and LGC prices will have to adjust as more renewable projects become operational. Revenue is projected to increase at an annualised 3.6% over the next five years, coming to an estimated $1.8 billion in 2027-28.

Trends and Insights

  • The large-scale solar capacity is growing. Solid investment is pushing solar generation as a viable alternative to other forms of renewable generation. Private and public sector support is encouraging new projects.
  • Retailers are meeting the Renewable Power Percentage (RPP). Retailers have to source a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable generators, with Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) providing a secondary income source for solar generators.
  • Generators need strong sunlight. Large solar farms are located where the sun is bright, to ensure steady output to consumers and businesses. Battery storage is improving the reliability of solar power.
  • Firms race to expand capacity. Large-scale solar will need to grow significantly to meet the needs of consumers and businesses. Generators are investing heavily in new solar projects.
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Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2013-2028
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Industry Overview

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 58.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.5bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Large-scale solar capacity expands in a bright investment environment

  • Over the past decade, solar panels have become commercially viable as a renewable electricity source. China has established the world's solar panel manufacturing hub, while photovoltaic (PV) technologies have matured.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Solar Electricity Generation in Australia
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Australia's transition to renewables is heating up

  • As Australia turns away from fossil fuels, large-scale solar is set for more capacity investment over the next decade.

Biggest companies in the Solar Electricity Generation in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Neoen Australia
177.2
FRV Australia
176.7
Wirsol Energy
90.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Solar Electricity Generation in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Electricity generation and Renewable energy certificates. Electricity generation is the largest segment of the Solar Electricity Generation in Australia.

Trends and Insights

More electricity is being generated from large solar farms

  • Electricity is generated from solar panels, which is sold in wholesale markets, or directly to industrial firms.
  • More insights available in the full report

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Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Hydro-Electricity Generation in Australia
  • Fossil Fuel Electricity Generation in Australia
  • Wind and Other Electricity Generation in Australia

International industries

  • Solar Power in the US
  • Geothermal, Wind and Other Electricity Generation in New Zealand
  • Renewable Electricity Generation in the UK
  • Solar Power Generation in China

View all industries in Australia

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms supply electricity to the wholesale market using large-scale photovoltaic generation systems, or solar thermal systems. Photovoltaic systems with a generation capacity of less than five megawatts are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Solar electricity generationConcentrated solar thermal electricity generationSolar electricity storing and dispatching

Companies

Neoen AustraliaFRV AustraliaWirsol Energy

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

MEGAWATT (MW)MEGAWATT HOUR (MWH)GIGAWATT (GW)GIGAWATT HOUR (GWH)RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET (RET)LARGE-SCALE GENERATION CERTIFICATE (LGC)

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 2619 - Solar Electricity Generation in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The large-scale solar capacity is growing. Solid investment is pushing solar generation as a viable alternative to other forms of renewable generation. Private and public sec...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Retailers are meeting the Renewable Power Percentage (RPP). Retailers have to source a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable generators, with Large-scale Gen...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Generators need strong sunlight. Large solar farms are located where the sun is bright, to ensure steady output to consumers and businesses. Battery storage is improving the ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Firms race to expand capacity. Large-scale solar will need to grow significantly to meet the needs of consumers and businesses. Generators are investing heavily in new solar ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Capacity expansions continue to build momentum. Generators are investing in new, large-scale solar projects to fuel strong consumer and business demand for clean energy.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of Neoen Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of FRV Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Wirsol Energy's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Neoen Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for FRV Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Wirsol Energy, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Electricity generators face heavy regulation. As part of the electricity supply chain, generators walk a regulatory tightrope to comply with legislation. The Australian Energ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Inflated wholesale prices boost profit margins. High wholesale prices have meant a big payday for solar generators, with a lack of material inputs averting steep supply costs...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia is $1.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Solar Electricity Generation in Australia industry in 2023?

There are 74 businesses in the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 37.6 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 58.9 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Solar Electricity Generation market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Solar Electricity Generation market in Australia are Neoen Australia, FRV Australia and Wirsol Energy

What does the Solar Electricity Generation in Australia include?

Solar electricity generation and Concentrated solar thermal electricity generation are part of the Solar Electricity Generation industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Solar Electricity Generation in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Neoen Australia.

How competitive is the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Solar Electricity Generation industry in Australia.