THE Clean Energy Council says the road ahead for the renewable energy industry is looking much better than the view in the rear vision mirror, as job figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reflect a tough period for the industry.

The council's chief executive Kane Thornton says it is hardly surprising employment numbers are down, given the long period of investment uncertainty weathered by the renewable energy industry during the review of the national Renewable Energy Target (RET).

"The ABS figures show a drop of almost 500 jobs in the 2014/15 financial year compared to the one before, clearly showing the importance of policy stability," Mr Thornton said.

"RET legislation supported by both major parties was passed in June 2015, which is right at the end of the period these new ABS figures are tracking. A lot has changed since then....

"Public enthusiasm for renewable energy is high, and the largest solar power plants ever built in Australia have been launched in the last few months in New South Wales.

"Solar power is now mainstream, the large-scale wind and solar part of the industry is primed for a busy few years and everyone is ready for the arrival of battery storage."