Tasmania’s government is due to hand down its budget Thursday and sources say there will be announcements related to renewable energy. Solar power supporters in the state are hoping that among them will be an announcement of a proper solar feed in tariff for Tasmania.
Tasmania is one of the only remaining Australian states or territories not to have a solid feed in tariff program ; an incentive that pays grid connected solar power system owners a premium rate well above the market rate for electricity exported to the mains grid. Currently, system owners in Tasmania only receive the market rate for surplus electricity generated and exported.
Elsewhere in Australia, the ACT and NSW offer a gross feed in tariff that pays for all power generated, others have far more generous net feed in tariff schemes that pay the premium rate on surplus electricity supported.
While a gross feed in tariff provides the most stimulus for acquiring a home solar power system, even a properly designed net feed in tariff helps boost solar power uptake to a degree; an important part of Australia’s carbon emissions reduction strategy.
Tasmania’s solar industry has languished without such a program and while promises were made prior to the election, post-election there appears to have been little in the way of action towards making them a reality.
Another blow to Tasmania’s solar power industry came in the form of a report last week that says it can take up to 45 years for payback for solar power systems installed in the state.
National solar power solutions provider Energy Matters, who have a branch in Launceston that services Tasmania, says their figures indicate payback period is far shorter than that; as little as 8-10 years. The shorter time span is due to the recent substantial drop in the cost of solar power equipment, along with other solar rebates – and with the introduction of a feed in tariff in line with other states, the payback period could be even more rapid.
A fractured feed in tariff system such as the arrangements in Australia have led to a great deal of inequity across the nation and confusion in the industry and among consumers. Energy Matters has been lobbying for a national, uniform gross feed in tariff system and the company has set up a petition at FeedInTariff.com.au to gather signatures of support. The petition has so far attracted over 20,000 signatures.
