Date : 1 November 2009 

Eligible Victorians will now receive a premium rate for solar energy fed back into the electricity grid under a new Brumby Labor Government initiative that begins today.

Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said households, community organisations and small businesses with solar panels up to 5 kilowatts can sign up for the scheme and receive more than three times the current electricity price for solar energy they fed into the electricity grid.

“A clean environment is crucial to our future and that’s why we are helping Victorians reduce their individual carbon footprint,” Mr Batchelor said.

“Those who signed up with their electricity companies to receive the tariff and are feeding solar electricity back into the grid will receive a minimum of 60 cents per kilowatt hour – more than three times the current rate of electricity in Victoria.

“The new solar feed-in tariff will not only reward Victorians for taking action to reduce carbon emissions, it will help create jobs to supply and install solar panels to meet growing demand.”

Mr Batchelor said case studies showed retired couples, working couples and family with two children, who had with solar panels varying in size from 1.5kW to 2kW, would receive benefits of between $600 and $1200 per year.

“These benefits combine the amount saved on buying electricity by having the panels and the amount credited for electricity fed back into the grid,” he said.

“These are significant benefits. I encourage anyone with, or planning to install, solar panels to approach their energy retailer to check their eligibility and sign up to the tariff if they haven’t already done so.”

The capped scheme is a 15 year initiative for solar panel systems of up to 5KW.

The premium tariff is available for households that are a principal place of residence and for small businesses and community organisations, including schools, with annual consumption of less than 100 megawatt hours.

“Household solar panels were relatively limited in Victoria until recently but initiatives such as this are helping to make solar energy more accessible to all Victorians,” Mr Batchelor said.

“Since the Brumby Government’s premium feed-in tariff was announced in March 2008, the number of Victorian households with grid-connected solar panels has risen from just 1479 to over 10,000.”

Further information, including a step-by-step guide to eligibility and signing up, visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/feedintariff or phone 136 186.

A Heidelberg West solar panel company is experiencing unprecedented growth at a time when other markets are still struggling from the hangover of the global financial crisis.

SolarGen chief executive Marcus Denning said sales figures had been “going up and up” since the Federal Government introduced solar panel rebates of up to $8000 in November 2007, and the National Solar Schools Program last July.

SolarGen, providing installation services nationally, has quadrupled in size in less than a year.

“We had 10 people in December ... we’ve now got 42,” Mr Denning said. “A vast majority of them came in around May ... to cope with the massive demand.”

The rebates have concluded, but the industry is experiencing a second wave of customers who made the June 8 cut-off date for the rebates, but whose applications have only just been approved.

“About 53,000 applications are being approved nationally, so the entire industry, as far as getting stock into the country, is struggling to keep up with the demand,” Mr Denning said.

The demand from schools has been so high the Federal Government suspended the National Solar Schools Program on October 15 after claims met the 2009-10 Budget allocation. “We’ve got about 40 schools in the pipeline,” Mr Denning said.

An “emerging commercial market” was now indicated, he said.

The Australian Securities Exchange said last month that trading for renewable energy certificates would begin on Tuesday, November 24, with carbon credits to follow in early 2010.

The announcement came after the Federal Government passed legislation requiring 20 per cent of the nation’s power to come from renewable sources by 2020.

The certificates, which each represents one megawatt hour of electricity generated from renewable energy, are earned by installing solar panels, wind turbines and small-scale hydroelectric projects.

“Renewable energy certificates, they’re the new currency,” Mr Denning said.

Source : http://whereilive.com.au/

Date : 5 November 2009

http://heidelberg-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sales-looking-sunny/

24/8/2009

The solar industry has welcomed the recent passing of the renewable energy target (RET) in the senate last week, paving the way for the new solar credits scheme which will replace the previous means tested, $8,000 rebate.

Under the new solar credits program, residential homes can receive solar credits funding of up to $7,000 towards the purchase of a grid connect solar system. The actual amount will depend on the location of the installation which is determined by RECS zones of which there are four (4) within Australia.

For customers who need assistance paying for a grid connect solar power system, the Federal Government are offering through financial institutions, a green loan known as "green loans for aussie homes" for up to $10,000. Under this scheme, home owners organise a free home sustainability assessment paid for by the Government. This report will document the house holders specific environmental impact which is released in the form of a "home sustainability report". This report is provided to participating financial institutions which entitles the customer to a four (4) year no interest loan. The interest will then be paid to the financial institution by the Government.  The Green Loans For Aussie Homes program is available to 320,000 Australian homes.

The Government expects that the vehicle for delivering the money to solar companies (REC Registry) will be amended to facilitate the solar credits transactions by late September 2009.

JOINT STATEMENT
MINISTER FOR ENERGY IAN MACDONALD
MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT CARMEL TEBBUTT

Solar bonus scheme for NSW announced details of a new solar bonus scheme to operate across the State have been announced by the NSW Government today.
Minister for Climate Change, Carmel Tebbutt and Minister for Energy, Ian Macdonald said the scheme - flagged late last year - would support people in NSW who produce
renewable energy through roof-top solar panels and feed it back into the grid. “This is a significant boost for renewable energy in NSW and has the potential to generate an additional 500 green jobs.

Our scheme is designed to be the most generous to operate anywhere in Australia, apart from the ACT,” Ms Tebbutt said. “We expect the scheme to reward customers with around $900 annually - meaning an average solar panel system could be paid back within 12 years.“We have delivered a balanced outcome that will support the uptake of solar panels, without unduly burdening all electricity consumers. “Our scheme is a net scheme that will operate for 20 years, equal to the longest in the country. “It will pay eligible systems 60 cents per kilowatt hour for the renewable energy they feed back into the grid - this is around four times greater than the average price of electricity.

“The scheme will include systems up to 10 kilowatts in size, which will capture households, small businesses, some community organisations and some schools.
“While the scheme will initially apply to roof-top solar panels, we will consider the inclusion of micro wind turbines and community solar farms. “The NSW Government has a comprehensive renewable energy plan that includes the solar bonus scheme, significant funding for new renewable energy projects and wind renewable energy precincts.”

Minister for Energy Ian Macdonald said it was vital the NSW Government got the balance right when developing its solar bonus scheme. “Solar bonus schemes such as this are paid for by all electricity customers. It is important to shield vulnerable individuals and families who are not in a position to install solar panels from a significant increase in their electricity bills,” Mr Macdonald said. “A net system was chosen because it encourages people to better manage their power
use and use energy more efficiently – this is because you get paid for energy you produce but don’t use. “It will also provide a greater degree of harmonisation with schemes in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.

“This is a shot in the arm for the solar energy industry and comes on the back of the recent announcement of solar manufacturing Silex Systems Ltd to develop the BP Solar
manufacturing facility at Homebush.”Silex will invest an estimated $30 million in the Homebush plant over coming years, which will create 165 Green Jobs, ensuring its future use as a high technology solar manufacturing base.

This investment demonstrates the Government's commitment to developing renewable energy alternatives, where green skills and green jobs can thrive.
Key details of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme:
• will operate for 20 years;
• pay 60 c/KWh that is fed back into the grid;
• be payable to energy customers with solar panel systems up to 10 kW in size;
• commence on 1 January 2010; and
• will be reviewed in 2012 to make sure the scheme is operating effectively.