Australian Solar Feed In Tariff Petition Tops 10,000

 

Melbourne, Victoria, 25 February 2009. A petition calling for the Federal Government to implement a national solar gross feed-in tariff program has already gathered over 10,000 signatures in support, less than a month after it was launched.

The FeedInTariff.com.au petition is backed by key lobby and industry groups, including the Australian Greens, the Alternative Technology Association, a range of environmental sites and renewable energy bodies.

FeedInTariff.com.au calls for the introduction of a uniform gross feed-in tariff system similar to the model being launched by the ACT Government, where owners of solar power systems are paid a premium rate for each kilowatt hour of electricity they produce.

Each state in Australia currently has its own tariff system. Most programs, where they exist, use an inferior net model, where only surplus electricity generated receives a premium payment.

FeedInTariff.com.au was launched by Australian renewable energy provider Energy Matters in response to customer frustration over the Government's slow progress in drafting a gross feed-in tariff platform.

Energy Matters spokesman Andrew Scarlett said the organisation had been lobbying for a gross feed-in tariff for a long time. "We were frustrated by the lack of action from more subtle behind-the-scenes efforts, so we decided to take this more public initiative." 

“Feed-in tariffs work. They’re good for the economy, good for the environment and they make people part of the solution to climate change. This petition tells Government its electors are watching, they want to be part of the solution and expect Government to give them that opportunity", Mr Scarlett said.

Energy Matters also launched a Facebook group "Help PM Rudd Choose a solar future", which accumulated more than 1,000 members in under a week. 

"The incredible response to the initiative has not been driven by paid advertising, but mostly through word of mouth by Australians concerned about the country's future. These people are saying they want to be part of the solution to the problems caused by coal. The results show considerable support for a national gross feed-in tariff. The electorate wants Prime Minister Rudd to shift the focus from coal to a solar future for our nation", Mr. Scarlett said. 

"All that remains for a solid feed-in tariff program to come to fruition is for political will to reflect the will of the voting public. Successful gross feed in-tariff programs have been established around the world, resulting in marked increased uptake of solar and wind power, stimulating local economies and helping governments towards their renewable energy targets." 

While the goal of FeedInTariff.com.au is for a national program, Energy Matters also continues to lobby on a state-by-state basis. 

Markus Lambert, the company's NSW manager, met with NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate Change Carmel Tebbutt early in February to consult on the issue. Early last week, Mr. Lambert also met with NSW Shadow Minister for Climate Change, the Hon. Catherine Cusack MLC, to discuss the opposition's gross feed-in tariff proposal. 

The NSW Coalition recently made a commitment for a feed-in tariff scheme should they win the next state election in 2011. "Our discussions centred on the benefit of the gross feed-in tariff and Energy Matters' availability to help shape the NSW opposition policy, with a view to achieving the best possible program for consumers and the industry alike." said Mr. Lambert. 

Mr Lambert is also a member of a panel of experts from the World Future Council, an international organisation pursuing the implementation of feed-in tariff programs on a global scale. 

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About Energy Matters - Energy Matters is one of Australia's largest companies solely dedicated to renewable energy. Energy Matters is active on an industry level and in the community in lobbying the Government on challenges facing the local renewable energy sector and providing education on topics relating to solar and wind energy, sustainability and other environmental issues.

CONTACT: 
Andrew Scarlett
Energy Matters
PH: 1300 727 151 
andrew.scarlett@energymatters.com.au
http://www.energymatters.com.au

Solar Energy Lighting Up Schools

 

Increasing numbers of schools around the world are taking a leadership role in renewable energy education by installing solar energy systems to help power their campuses, financed by government grants and rebates.

Butte College in California recently unveiled three new solar arrays consisting of 2,400 185-watt Mitsubishi Electric solar panels. The arrays total 450 kW capacity and will generate an estimated 675,000 kWh of solar electricity annually.

Together with an existing rooftop array and additional solar panels to be added soon, the installations will power 10 buildings and save the school an estimated AUD $60,000 a year in energy costs; plus drastically reduce carbon emissions associated with electricity consumption at the school. Butte College intends to become carbon neutral by 2015

As the world's energy policies are increasingly switching to a focus on renewable energy, schools and colleges are becoming conscious of a need to incorporate curriculum applicable to the sector to better prepare students for careers in the green power generation. 

In additional to environmental and financial benefits of Butte College's system, the school is using the installation in some courses as an educational tool. The solar panels will be used  to show students solar technology at work, just as the green buildings on campus are toured as part of the curriculum. Students will also have the opportunity to disassemble and reassemble solar panels. 

The purchase of the solar equipment by Butte College was made possible by the California Solar Initiative rebate. In Australia, schools are able to access generous government grants through the Australian National Solar Schools Program (NSSP). Under the NSSP initiative, nearly every school in Australia is now eligible for a 2-5kW solar power system - with no out of pocket cost. The Australian Government is providing grants of up to $50,000 for the installation of grid connected solar power and in the case of dual campuses, the grant may reach up to $100,000. Further funding may also be available at a state level.

Japan Announces Solar Feed In Tariffs

 

 
In an attempt to spur on uptake of renewable energy sources and stimulate a flagging economy, one that's experiencing the worst downturn in decades, Japan's government is launching a net model feed-in tariff scheme where owners of grid connected solar power systems will be paid a premium rate for surplus electricity generated.
 
According to Toshihiro Nikai of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry the initial rate paid to owners of systems will be around 50 yen per surplus kilowatt hour produced, double the current rate of 24 yen. This equates to just under 80 Australian cents based on current exchange rates.
 
The premium rate was calculated in order to enable customers who have purchased grid connect systems to recover their initial outlay over 15 years. All electricity utilities in Japan will be required to participate in the scheme. It's expected the additional cost will be passed on to consumers and the government hopes to limit the increase in electricity bills to less than 100 yen (around AUD $1.60) per month on average.
 
Late last year, Japan announced funding of 9 billion yen (AUD$145 million) in the first quarter of 2009 for other incentives to encourage home solar power; with further funding to come. Japan aims to have solar power systems installed on over 70% of new houses. 
 
Once the world's top solar power producer, Japan was unseated by Germany in the 1990's when the German government introduced a gross feed in tariff program that pays a premium rate on all electricity generated by a grid connected system. The German program has not only see it become the world's leader in solar capacity, but has created tens of thousands of jobs and over 1500 new businesses in the country. Feed in tariff programs active around the world have repeatedly demonstrated, when implemented correctly, are one of the most successful ways of stimulating uptake of renewable energy
 
In Australia, the approach to feed in tariffs to date has been fractured, with each state having its own system or none at at all.

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