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Queensland's New Solar Feed-In Tariff Has Commenced. |
The Queensland Government Solar Bonus Scheme pays households and other small customers for the surplus electricity generated from roof-top solar photovoltaic (PV) panel systems, that is exported to the Queensland electricity grid. The scheme is designed to make solar power more affordable for Queenslanders, stimulate the solar power industry and encourage energy efficiency.
The scheme rewards customers whenever they generate more electricity than they are using - not just the balance at the end of the quarter, but whenever generation exceeds consumption during the day.
The scheme is designed to boost the state's use of renewable energy, encourage energy efficiency and stimulate the solar power industry in Queensland.
The Solar Bonus Scheme commenced on 1 July 2008. Customers wishing to claim the solar bonus should contact the electricity retailer that supplies them with grid-connected electricity.
How much will consumers be paid?
Customers participating in the scheme will be paid 44 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for surplus electricity fed into the grid—around three times the current general domestic use tariff of 16.29c/kWh (inc GST as at 1 July 2008).
The average consumer operating a 1 kilowatt (kW) solar system could save up to 25 per cent on their electricity bill by using electricity generated by the PV system and from payments received from the Solar Bonus Scheme.
The amount of electricity a customer returns to the grid will depend on how much energy is being consumed while the solar panels are generating power. Customers may be able to maximise their solar bonus by improving the energy efficiency of their home to export more electricity to the grid. This could be achieved by reducing standby power consumption, shifting some tasks to the evening and minimising the use of air-conditioners. Visit the EnergyWise tips section for simple ways to make your home more energy-efficient.
Who is eligible to receive the bonus?
To be eligible to receive the solar bonus, customers must:
* consume no more than 100 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity a year (the average household uses 10 MWh a year)
* purchase and install a new solar power (photovoltaic) system (not solar hot water system) or operate an existing system that is connected to the Queensland electricity grid
* generate surplus electricity that is fed into the Queensland electricity grid
* have an agreement in place with their electricity distributor (Ergon Energy or Energex) and have appropriate metering installed
* have solar PV systems with a capacity of up to 10kVA for single phase power and 30kVA for three-phase power
* hold an electricity account with an electricity retailer.
How will customers receive the solar bonus?
The solar bonus of 44c/kWh will be paid for electricity fed into the grid at times when the solar system generates more electricity than the household or business is using at any instant.
When the meter reader visits a customer's home or business at the end of the quarter, the total amount of electricity exported to the grid and the total amount imported from the grid will be read and passed onto the retailer to calculate the bill.
The customer's quarterly solar bonus payment for this excess electricity exported to the grid will be deducted from their total grid-connected electricity consumption charge on their electricity bill.
The customer's grid-connected electricity consumption will also be lower (than without a solar system) as a result of the household or business consuming a portion of its electricity directly from the solar system.
If the solar bonus payments are greater than the total grid-connected electricity consumption charges over a 12-month period, the customer is entitled to have this balance refunded, rather than maintaining an ongoing credit.
When can consumers start claiming the solar bonus?
The Solar Bonus Scheme has now commenced. Customers wishing to participate in the scheme should contact the electricity retailer that supplies them with grid-connected electricity.
For customers participating in scheme, the solar bonus of 44 cents will be offered until 2028, but is to be reviewed after 10 years or when 8 megawatts of solar systems are installed (equal to 8,000 systems of 1 kW capacity), whichever occurs first.
How will the electricity metering operate?
The electricity generated by the solar power system is fed into the customer's electricity load to help power the home or business in the first instance. It is also connected to the electricity grid via a meter (or meters) which record both electricity imported from the grid and exported to the grid. When the electricity produced by the solar power system exceeds the customer's demand for electricity, this excess electricity is fed into the grid via the appropriate 'export' register of the meter.
The meter records the amount of electricity exported to the grid rather than the total amount of electricity generated by the solar system.
When the customer uses more electricity than is being produced by the solar PV system, the balance of electricity required is taken from the electricity grid via the appropriate 'import' register of the meter.
What electricity metering is required?
Customers wishing to claim the solar bonus will need electricity metering that separately records electricity imports and exports.
If required, the installation of new or additional meters will need to be arranged with the electricity distributor by your electricity retailer and costs met by the individual customer.
Customers with an existing solar PV system wired in a 'gross' metering configuration will need to rewire their system to a 'net' configuration, in order to participate in the scheme. Customers wishing to change their metering arrangements will need to consult with their electricity retailer. |
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NSW to introduce solar feed-in tariff in 2009 |
NSW households who own and operate grid connect solar power systems will be paid up to sixty (60) cents per kilowatt hour generated. The move, initiated by the Rees Government yesterday, is designed to encourage the uptake of grid connect solar panels in order to meet the 2020 target whereby 20% of all power consumed will be supplied from renewable energy.
In a statement made by NSW Environment Minister Carmel Tebbutt "A feed-in tariff makes solar panels more affordable because people are paid for the clean electricity they produce."
The taskforce has been established and will report back to government in January, with the scheme expected to be implemented by mid-2009. |
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Federal Government Grid Connect Solar Processing News Nov 2008 |
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SolarGen has just been informed of the latest figures from Canberra relating to quantities of grid connect solar rebates received each week and processed
The table also identifies the number of grid connect solar installation reports received (this happens after the system is commissioned) and paid.
The report also details which week period in each Australian State the Government is processing for grid connect solar rebate pre approvals.
To view the solar panel grid report, please click on the table below.  |
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Victorian Premier Opens First Stage Of Solar Power Project |
The Premier, John Brumby, today officially opened a $10 million state-of-the art solar plant at Bridgewater, further boosting Victoria’s status as a global leader in clean energy technology.
At Bridgewater, Mr Brumby said Victoria-based Solar Systems’ new solar pilot plant demonstrated the Victorian Government’s commitment to attracting new investment in clean energy to Victoria.
“Climate change is one of our biggest challenges for the future and that’s why our Government is taking action to stimulate new investment in solar power in Victoria,” Mr Brumby said.
“Solar power is a potentially limitless resource, crucial to tackling climate change and to meeting our energy needs into the future and the new Bridgewater research plant will play an important role in creating an environmentally sustainable solar energy industry in Victoria.
“The site at Bridgewater will be used to test and optimise technology and is a key milestone in the $420 million large-scale solar power station planned for the Mildura region.
“Experience gained at this facility will pave the way for Victoria to build the largest and most efficient PV solar power station of its kind in the world which will provide electricity for an estimated 45,000 homes, translating to about 400,000 tonnes per annum in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
“The photovoltaic technology at the Bridgewater Research and Development Facility is able to produce 1500 times more power at much lower costs than residential solar panels because it uses relatively inexpensive glass and steel to concentrate sun light onto fewer of the relatively more expensive photovoltaic cells.
“It will build on the successes Solar Systems is having in high-concentration solar photovoltaic applications, strengthening Victoria’s status as a global leader in clean energy.”
Energy and Resources Minister, Peter Batchelor said that the innovative approach converted sunlight directly into electricity that could then be exported to the national electricity grid.
“The Brumby Government is taking action to promote and attract new investment in solar technology. The Brumby Government’s Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) scheme played a crucial role in attracting the Solar Systems project to this state,” Mr Batchelor said.
“Solar Systems has also received a grant of up to $50 million from our Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS) for their 154 megawatt solar power project.
“ETIS has also facilitated the expansion of Solar Systems’ photovoltaic technology on the international market. Photovoltaic cells are among the world’s fastest growing energy technologies and since 2002 their production has increased on average 48 per cent nationally. I am pleased with the support regional councils have shown the project.”
The Brumby Government has contributed $50 million to help deliver the 154MW solar power station, with construction to begin next year once a site in the Mildura region has been finalised. |
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2400 Schools Already Signed Up For Solar |
Approximately 2,400 schools have registered an interest in the $480 million National Solar Schools Program (NSSP) since it started on 1st July 2008. Schools can see the benefits of improving their energy and water efficiency and at the same time reducing their carbon pollution and tackling Climate Change.
Through the Solar Schools Program, schools can sell their unused electricity generated by their solar systems back into the power network during weekends and holiday periods thus becoming “mini renewable power stations”.
The National Solar Schools Program enables students and the local community to become practically involved in measures to combat Climate Change in the transition to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which the Federal Government is expected to implement. |
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