While feed in tariffs exist in most states and territories of Australia, Tasmania remains in the backwaters of solar power generation through lack of solid incentives .
In other states such as New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the A.C.T and South Australia, a premium payment is made to owners of solar power systems for electricity they generate, well above the market rate. In the case of New South Wales, the current rate paid is 60 cents per kilowatt hour.
Tasmania only offers the normal market rate, which some claim is creating a barrier to solar power uptake. Even with an election looming in Tasmania, it appears doubtful the Tasmanian government will change its position.
Max Sylvester, co-founder of national solar power solutions provider Energy Matters said of the situation, “It really surprises me given the upcoming state election in just a couple of weeks; none of the parties appear to have addressed the lack of a suitable feed-in tariff in the state as an election issue. We have plenty of signatories from Tasmania on our petition at FeedInTariff.com.au that indicates there is significant local support for a gross feed in tariff.”
“Tasmania is a state of environmentally-minded people and has the ability to export extra electricity across the Tasman, thanks to the underwater cable built in 2006. A solid solar presence in the state could be a revenue earner for Tasmania over the long term through generation of clean electricity and jobs. Rooftop solar can also help prevent more of Tasmania’s wilderness being destroyed in the future for hydro projects and help bolster the state’s environmental reputation. In my opinion, a party promising a gross feed in tariff, one that pays on all power produced, would be a vote winner.”
Mr. Sylvester believes the lack of a suitable gross feed in tariff is definitely holding back solar power uptake in the state. “Aside from our petition, we see evidence of this every day – in customer comments, we see it stated in our community forums – Tasmanians saying that as much as they would like to install home solar power systems, they won’t do so until a gross feed in tariff is implemented.”
“While a national, uniform gross feed in tariff is likely still some way off, there is nothing stopping those in power or aspiring to power from committing to introducing one at a state level soon, just as other states have done.” says Mr. Sylvester.
