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Renewable Energy News

TUESDAY 17 MARCH, 2009 |

Queensland Push For National Solar Gross Feed In Tariff

by Energy Matters

Queensland Labor supporting national gross feed in tariff

With a Queensland election just days away and the issue of renewable energy a hot topic, Premier Anna Bligh has promised Labor will advocate a national solar gross feed in tariff at the next Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

Gross feed in tariff programs have repeatedly proven around the world to stimulate solar power uptake by home owners and businesses, often rapidly exceeding the targets set; such as has been the experience in Spain, Florida and Ontario, Canada.

Australia currently has a fractured feed in tariff infrastructure and like other states with a feed in tariff program aside from the ACT, Queensland currently offers a net feed in tariff scheme where only surplus electricity generated by a grid connected solar power system attracts a premium payment. Under a gross model, all electricity generated by a system would be payable.

Premier Bligh made the commitment while on the election trail, stating that she feels the best thing for the solar industry in Australia would be for a uniform and consistent approach right across the country. While Ms. Bligh did not commit to a gross feed in tariff program for Queensland in the interim, Queensland Labor's support for a national program is a crucial step forward for not only the solar industry, but towards the reduction of Australia greenhouse gas emissions.

The Liberal National Party has promised that if elected, a gross feed in tariff program paying a rate of 44 cents per kilowatt hour and available to every home, school, shopping centre, sporting club and community facility will be implemented in Queensland.

The next COAG meeting has identified renewable energy targets as one of its top agenda items. Initial discussions regarding a national feed in tariff scheme were carried out at a COAG meeting last December, but many supporters of solar power were disappointed by the vague principles discussed that amounted to a watered down, temporary scheme based on a net model; one that will impede uptake and overseas investment.

As a result of that meeting, a major petition was launched by Victoria based Energy Matters at FeedInTariff.com.au that has gathered over 12,000 signatures so far of Australians who support a national, gross feed in tariff program. Energy Matters has been intensely lobbying on the issue, most recently having discussed feed in tariffs with the NSW government and opposition and a member of its management team also joining the World Future Council (WFC) panel