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WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER, 2009 | |

South Australia Boosts Solar Power Goals And Support

by Energy Matters     

South Australian Premier Mike Rann yesterday announced solar panels will be mandatory for all new and substantially refurbished government and government-operated residential buildings from July 1 next year.
 
Speaking from Copenhagen where an important climate change conference is under way, the Premier also pointed out the South Australian government has increased the state's target for renewable energy generation to 33% by 2020. 
 
This revised target is much higher than Australia's national RET (Renewable Energy Target) of 20% and "puts us in a world leading position on renewable energy targets along with California", said Mr Rann.
 
Under the new scheme, government owned and operated residential buildings will have a minimum of 1.5kW of solar panels installed while all other new government buildings will have a minimum of 5kW.
 
Also announced by Premier Rann was another initiative to stimulate investment in the state's solar sector. Investors will benefit from payroll tax rebates of up to $5 million for large solar farms and up to $1 million for wind power projects. This program will also commence in July 2010.
 
Australian states have been in fierce competition with each other on the solar front during 2009, likely triggered when early in the year the A.C.T Government implemented what was at the time the nation's most generous feed in tariff for solar power. 
 
More recently, Victoria's feed in tariff; originally labeled somewhat of a failure, has gained momentum not so much due to government policy, but thanks to market forces 
 
New South Wales has also stepped into the solar spotlight with its Solar Bonus Scheme which pays 60 cents per kilowatt hour to owners of home solar power systems and other forms of renewable energy based micro-generation for all electricity produced 
 
While South Australia's announcement will be welcomed by solar power supporters in the state, it's still unknown if the Rann government will follow the lead of other states and also switch its feed in tariff from a net system to a gross model. 
 
Currently, owners of home solar power systems in South Australia receive 44c per kilowatt hour for surplus electricity exported to the mains grid. Under a gross model such as in the A.C.T and New South Wales, all power generated would be eligible for the premium rate and therefore make investing in home solar power systems an even more attractive proposition.
 
Gross feed in tariffs have been demonstrated time and again one of the best ways to stimulate solar power uptake and formed the basis of Germany becoming one of the world's leaders in residential solar power based electricity generation.
 

• Survey: Australians Favour Renewable Energy Over Nuclear
• World's Largest Solar Powered Commercial Building Opened

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