The NSW Greens have announced plans for a sweeping $1.25 billion solar spree ahead of the state election on March 23, including mandatory solar for new homes.
NSW Greens MP and Environment spokesperson Cate Faehrmann wants one million extra households to install solar panels or be part of community renewable energy schemes within four years.
Under the Greens plan, 500,000 households will receive a $2,000 rebate for rooftop solar panels and batteries.
Solar battery systems will also be mandatory for all new dwellings. This will cover around 350,000 homes by 2023.
Faehrmann said more ambitious solar power schemes were needed than those put forward by Labor and the Coalition.
“The Greens’ Household Solar plan will make it mandatory for all new dwellings to either have solar power and batteries or pay into a community renewable energy offset scheme,” she said.
“It is negligent that in 2019 we have over 70,000 new dwellings in NSW every year and no requirement for solar panels on these developments.”
Mandatory solar part of renewable roadmap
The Household Solar Plan is part of the Greens’ Roadmap to 100 per cent Renewable Energy by 2030.
The plan will tackle climate change and includes the following measures.
- $2,000 rebate for rooftop solar panels and batteries for 500,000 households;
- Mandatory solar battery installations for all new dwellings;
- Solar panels on all government and public housing buildings;
- Community solar offset scheme for tenants and apartment owners; and
- Fair prices for solar.
Apartment owners and renters will be able to buy credits in registered community clean energy providers.
Plan to stop people falling through the ‘renewables net’
The NSW Greens also want to help Australians who currently have no access to solar power. This includes apartment dwellers, renters and those living in public housing.
Around 110,000 public housing tenants would receive electricity rebates under the proposed Greens scheme.
Over four years, 200,000 apartment owners and renters will also take part in the community solar offset scheme.
Under new solar pricing, NSW consumers would receive a mandatory additional 4.4c/kW for the solar power they feed in to the grid.
Solar power for all residents, regardless of circumstances
The Greens plan calls for all new detached dwellings to install at least a 5 kW solar power system with 4.5 kW battery. This will cost around $3,800 per new home.
Meanwhile, all new apartments and attached dwellings must have a 3 kW solar system installation per household. Otherwise they will pay $2,000 to a registered community renewables provider.
The rebate scheme will cost $1 billion over four years. Households with weekly income of up to $3,000 per week will be eligible.
Solar batteries will be installed on public housing buildings. The power generated will then be deducted from the electricity bills of 110,000 public housing tenants. Annual savings of around $500 per year are expected.
