The Australian Government has just announced it has amended regulations to implement changes to Solar Credits support. The regulations will also enable the division of the Renewable Energy Target scheme into large-scale and small-scale components and establish an inspection regime for solar panel installations.
From the beginning of next year the Renewable Energy Target (RET) will separately support the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation, such as wind farms and small-scale renewable energy technologies such as solar hot water and solar power systems .
The regulations also establish a requirement for a statistically significant numbers of solar power systems to be checked each year and the Regulator will have greater enforcement power if RET support is inappropriately claimed. The Regulator will also have the power to suspend the ability of installers to create certificates for systems after three instances of non-compliance. Inspection results will be shared with State and Territory electrical safety authorities.
According to Energy Matters co-founder Max Sylvester, “We welcome the news of increased inspections. Everyone in Australia’s solar industry needs to observe the highest standards as these standards not only ensure safe installations, but also solar power systems that operate more efficiently.”
The regulations also finalise practical arrangements for operation of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), including aspects to set a minimum value of $40 per Renewable Energy Certificate for small-scale systems. It appears the $40 minimum value not will be active from January 1; but that the Regulator “is finalising preparations for the commencement of the LRET and SRES in early 2011.”
Additionally, the amendments also address aspects relating to the decision to phase out the Solar Credits program one year earlier than originally planned. The Solar Credits program wind-down will now commence from 1 July 2011
