New research shows renewable energy is fast-becoming an alternative for Australian consumers. There was more solar power installed on rooftops between January and October this year than for the entire previous decade, according to the Clean Energy Australia 2010 report released today.

The increased affordability of solar power in Australia meant the technology was fast becoming "the Hills Hoist of the 21st century", according to Matthew Warren, the chief executive of the Clean Energy Council, Australia's peak body for more than 450 renewable energy companies.

There were more than 100,000 solar power systems installed during 2010, compared with a total of 81,232 from 2000-2009.

"Over the past year more than 100,000 households have made a significant personal investment to take individual action on climate change and protect themselves against rising electricity prices," Mr Warren said.

The report also includes new modelling that predicts more than 55,000 jobs are expected to be created in renewable energy by 2020, many in regional areas.

Mr Warren said continued policy uncertainty in the first half of 2010 had slowed development of a number of industrial scale clean energy projects.

"The enhanced renewable energy target starts on New Year's Day. With some major projects in the pipeline such as the Macarthur Wind Farm we are looking forward to continued growth of clean energy in 2011," he said.