Chris Bowen used his address to the National Press Club on Wednesday to highlight the significant take-up of the government's home batteries and electric vehicle discount schemes.
The home batteries scheme adopted by nearly 2000 households contributed 13 gigawatt hours of small-scale battery storage to the national grid in the past year.
It's more than the entire residential capacity for the United States, which is nine gigawatt hours.
Mr Bowen said he wouldn't have been brave enough to assert Australia would overtake the US in a year.
"I would not have come here and made that prediction, but we've managed it," he said.
In the face of "climate denial and negativity", Mr Bowen said a quiet majority of Australians were getting on with the energy transition.
It comes as figures revealed electric vehicles make up just over one-fifth of all vehicles sold in Australia for the third month running, as unleaded fuel prices jump above $2 a litre.
Wholesale energy prices have also fallen by nearly 50 per cent in the latest data to a six-year low.
Mr Bowen said he would take full responsibility if Australia failed to reach the government's 82 per cent renewable energy target by its 2030 deadline.
"Is it on me?' Yes, that's my job," he said.
The energy minister said the creation of new AI data centres would not threaten the target.
Commonwealth guidelines will require data centres to finance renewable projects or invest in their own direct energy source to offset power use.
An expansion of solar power rebates to medium-scale projects for businesses was the centrepiece of Mr Bowen's address.
Solar systems of up to one megawatt will be eligible for financial incentives, taking about 20 per cent off the installation price.
Larger buildings, like businesses or apartment complexes, have not previously been able to access incentives under the government's scheme.
Independent retailers could save roughly $50,000 a year on power by installing solar.
The expansion is expected to be budget-neutral, as it will add renewable energy to the nation's grid to put downward pressure on wholesale prices.
Mr Bowen has also requested the Australian Energy Market Commission to consider changing its rules to allow commercial and industrial solar installations at far faster rates than now.
The commission, which sets the standards for how power can be generated, used and bought, has a fairly complex process for large solar system use.
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