Tasmania’s recent energy crisis appears to have triggered increased interest in solar power systems in the Apple Isle.
An ABC report indicates uptake of small scale residential and commercial solar power was up by at least 25% during the first five months of this year – and was possibly higher due to lagging in reporting.
Solar Citizens consumer campaigner Reece Taylor attributed this to the Basslink outage, coupled with low hydro reserves at the time.
The report cites the example of a Derwent Valley farmer who recently installed a 40 kilowatt system comprising 250 solar panels. Apparently the Basslink failure was “a real driver” in the purchase decision, along with power price hikes and uncertainty about the future. The farmer, Michael Parsons, says the system will pay for itself in five to six years.
His advice to other farmers?
“It’s definitely worth looking at, I think.”
Whether for powering a farm, a home or a business, now could be a great time for Tasmanians to go solar.
All businesses and households in Tasmania on standing electricity offers were hit with a 3.43% increase from July 1. However, there was good news for solar owners, with the Tasmanian Economic Regulator increasing the regulated solar feed in tariff for 2016/17 to 6.671 c/kWh – a boost of 21% compared to 2015/16.
Adding to the attractiveness of going solar now is a looming solar subsidy reduction that will be significant.
According to Energy Matters, a good quality, professionally installed 5.2kW solar panel system in Hobart can provide a financial benefit of $1,000 to $2,000 a year, depending on the scenario. With the addition of a battery system, energy independence can be further increased.
The six-month Basslink outage cost the Apple Isle up to $180 million and put the issue of energy security in Tasmania front-and-centre. Earlier this month, Tasmania’s Energy Security Taskforce released a Consultation Paper and interested parties have been invited to provide feedback.
Along with increased wind and solar, there’s healthy support for a second interconnector across Bass Strait that could also bolster Tasmania’s renewable energy industry.
