Australian Government Boosts Solar Hot Water Rebate

 

BREAKING NEWS: Just over an hour ago, the Australian Government released details of its $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan. Among the initiatives was a commitment to raise the solar hot water rebate of $1000 to $1600.

To be eligible for the rebate, the solar hot water system must be eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) at the time and place of installation and be installed by a suitably qualified person. The rebate is in addition to any state based incentives.

Among the other energy efficiency related initiatives, the government will provide free insulation to 2.7 million Australian homes and double of the Low Emissions Plan for Renters from $500 to $1,000. The free insulation will allow householders to cut their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme would reduce emissions by approximately 49.4 million metric tons by 2020.

Further details regarding the solar hot water rebate increase will be published here as new information becomes available.

UPDATE - 2.56PM Australian Eastern Time: According to a press release from the Prime Minister's office, the solar hot water rebate increase is effective from today.

UPDATE February 4 - In addition to increasing the solar hot water rebate to $1600, the government is also removing the $100,000 income test. The rebate will now be available to all households replacing an electric hot water system

Frustrated Solar Owner Threatens To Smash Panels

 

Brunswick home owner and environmental consultant Peter Allan recently invested $24,000 on a 2.4 kilowatt grid connected solar power system consisting of 14 solar panels, but was frustrated to discover that his contribution to reducing Australian greenhouse gas emissions was penalised.

According to a recent article in a series by The Age's Royce Millar on challenges facing consumers, the solar industry and its supporters in Australia, the Victorian state government's feed in tariff scheme, under which residents with panels would be paid a premium for the surplus power they export into the electricity grid, excluded Mr Allan's systems as it was too large. 

The Victorian feed in tariff  is available to households, not businesses, with systems of less than two kilowatts. Mr Allan's grid connected system exceeded that by a mere 400 watts. Disgusted with the limitation, Mr Allan has now removed solar panels from his roof, stating he says he will smash  the panels on the steps of Parliament House as a protest unless the Victorian government lifts the 2 kilowatt cap.

Mr Allan believes that the cap should be lifted to at least 10 kilowatts and furthermore that the subsidy should apply to all solar electricity producers including farmers and business.

Mr Allan's sentiments are being echoed around Australia by many wishing to install systems or to be properly financially recognised for the contribution the system they have is making towards Australia meeting its renewable energy target. Feed in tariff programs vary wildly from state to state, with most only offering a net feed in tariff model. The net based system only pays on energy  exported to the grid in excess of what is consumed by the building where it is installed. A gross feed in tariff system pays a premium on all electricity produced.

Thousands of current and potential solar power system owners are asking why the ACT can offer a gross feed in tariff of approximately 60 cents per kilowatt hour produced by systems as large as 20 kilowatts and guaranteed for 20 years, whereas other states offer far less and a net system or, as is the case in Western Australia, nothing at all.

Victoria based Energy Matters, a country-wide supplier and installer of grid connect solar power systems believes the solution is a national, uniform gross feed in tariff system administered by the Australian federal government. The company recently launched a petition at FeedInTariff.com.au to gather support to present to the Australian government. The petition has so far gathered over 5,800 signatures from concerned Australians wanting to see a better deal for owners of solar power systems who are making a solid contribution to reducing the nation's greenhouse gas emissions. 

Solar Powered Air Conditioning Being Developed In Australia

 

The recent heatwave conditions in Australia's southern states has highlighted the fragility of the country's mains electricity supply during extreme weather events. In hot conditions, a blackout is more than an inconvenience that impacts on a local economy. It can mean death for the very young and elderly if they are not able to keep cool.

With the likelihood of extreme weather events becoming more frequent and the demand for air-conditioning during heatwaves continually increasing, Australia's electricity infrastructure faces dire challenges.

Dr Mike Dennis, a senior research fellow in the Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems in the Australian National University College of Engineering and Computer Science, somewhat prophetically recently stated that peak period power blackouts are imminent for Australia. Dr Dennis is currently developing extremely efficient solar-powered air-conditioning systems that will not only lighten the load on the mains transmissions grid, but also address the huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by the use of air conditioners. 

His research goes beyond the carbon emissions associated with coal-fire generated electricity use in favour using clean solar energy and extends to the refrigerants used in air conditioning units. According to Dr. Dennis, for every kilogram of refrigerant in a split air conditioning systems, there's two to three thousand kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent in refrigerant chemicals - around the average car emits in a year. While evaporative air conditioners use far less electricity, they only work effectively in dry areas - the same areas where water is becoming increasingly scarce.

Dr. Dennis's solar powered air conditioner design replaces the electrical compressor in a conventional air-conditioner with a solar-powered thermal compressor. Solar power is provided in the form of heat, not electricity, from conventional solar hot water collectors. 

The technology,  known as ejector cooling, operates using compressed air expanding out of a jet that sucks refrigerant and air into a line and then expels the air at a much cooler temperature. The refrigerant is  recirculated back and then recompressed. The closed loop system can utilise any form of refrigerant, including water.

A two-year development program is due to begin this year, with the units expected to be available commercially in Australia during 2010. While an approximate price is not yet available, with only one moving part and no dangerous chemicals, Dr. Dennis predicts the cost to manufacture the system will be low.
 
Related:
 
Solar Energy - A Solution To Australia's Heatwave Blackouts
 

News for Monday 02 February, 2009

 

• Solar Energy - A Solution To Australia's Heatwave Blackouts
  


• Sunpower Powers Along
  

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