Australia’s Energy White Paper – in the right direction, but SOLAR is going even faster
Rooftop solar generators now produce electricity for less than the retail tariff everywhere in Australia. This could fundamentally change the nature of the electricity business, leading to the establishment of millions of small generators to supplement wind farms and large conventional generators.
Energy White Paper underestimates solar http://theconversation.edu.au/energy-white-paper-underestimates-solar-10645 Andrew Blakers 10 Nov 12 The 2012 Energy White Paper has much to commend it. In particular, the far greater acknowledgement of the need to shift to clean energy sources is a fundamental shift from previous White Papers.
The emphasis on the need for power demand management, rather than simply meeting peak demand though capital expenditure, is also very welcome.
The energy landscape is changing rapidly. A fundamental change is the extraordinarily rapid decline in the cost of solar energy. Results from the 2012 Australian Energy Technology Assessment of various energy technologies is included. This was a radical departure from previous Government assessments in that it recognised that solar and wind are on track to be low cost, fully competitive energy generation technologies rather soon.
The White Paper notes that “few could have predicted the dramatic reduction in solar PV costs that has occurred
over the past few years”. The White Paper could perhaps have emphasised more strongly the large implications of this fact for electricity providers. Continue reading
Climate Change Authority’s disturbing idea to hold back commercial solar energy
Commercial solar – putting solar panels on the roofs of shopping centers and factories – currently represents just 3 per cent of the total solar industry.
SunWiz and Solar Business Services found the unintended consequences of tinkering with the SRES and LRET were likely to greatly outweigh any benefits.
Commercial solar should be encouraged, not discouraged, and the embedded barriers to greater commercial take up should be addressed. Rather than jumping at shadows and trying to fix a non-existent commercial solar boom, it would be better if the CCA helped us to get off the ‘solar-coaster’ and provide the stable policy footing for solar the industry and public so desperately want.
Putting the brakes on commercial solar? http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/putting-brakes-commercial-solar, 7 Nov 2012 John Grimes One of the more peculiar proposals that has surfaced in the Climate Change Authority’s review of the renewable energy target is the suggestion of reducing the size of solar systems covered by the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.This was a thought bubble in search of a home – neither a specific recommendation nor a detailed proposal.
It is the sort of tinkering that has dogged the renewable energy target since it was first established in 2001, and it is making
Australia’s solar industry nervous.
The Climate Change Authority explicitly recommended against merging the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target.
They also recommended that the SRES structure should remain largely unchanged.
However, the CCA went on to float the idea of a half-way house that would see smaller commercial PV systems placed into the large-scale scheme as a way of reducing the cost of the SRES. The CCA’s Discussion Paper states, “the Authority is continuing to consider whether the threshold for a small-scale solar PV system should be reduced below its current 100 kW limit to for example 10 kW.”
This would be an uncertain solution to a non-existent problem. Continue reading
How embarassing for Australia’s politicians! Solar power will influence election results
Solar’s irresistible political spell, CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Tristan Edis, 6 Nov 2012 “….. the seats 
most likely to influence who takes the reins of government. Not all the seats have high solar PV penetration, (indeed it seems some of the highest solar PV penetration is in safe regional Liberal and National Party seats). But as an overall average, around one in 10 households have a solar PV system. Even in Victoria, where solar PV tends to be less popular than the sunnier states, all the marginal seats have at least one in 20 households with solar PV. Continue reading
Australia is way behind on centralised solar energy – lack of political vision
Solar Insights: How Australia trails the world in big solar REneweconomy By Giles Parkinson 6 November 2012 How is it that the Energy Minister in London, who possibly spends much of his time dressed in Wellington Boots and a sou’wester, should articulate a solar vision for the UK vastly more ambitious than anything expressed by a government minister in Australia? Continue reading
Australian Solar Council Releases RET Recommendations Analysis,by Energy Matters, 6 Nov 12 The Australian Solar Council has released a detailed analysis by industry experts of the Climate Change Authority’s (CCA) draft recommendations for the Renewable Energy Target.
The Council recently expressed serious concerns relating to the Climate Change Authority’s (CCA) recommendations to slash incentives for residential solar power past what is already set to occur, i.e. the final phase-out of the Solar Credits multiplier next year.
Particularly troubling was the suggestion of introducing a “solar divider” if the cost of solar panel systems fell in the previous year; if the payback period for solar customers was less than 10 years; or if the scheme made up more than 1.5% of electricity bills…….. The full report can be viewed here. http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3452
Rooftop solar energy will be an issue in Australia’s 2013 election
MP’s – How Many Pro-Solar Voters In Your Electorate? http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3450 by Energy Matters, 5 Nov 12 Some MP’s will get a nasty shock and others a pleasant surprise this morning as they gain more insight into how many pro-solar voters live in their electorates.
A map and accompanying tables compiled by consultancy firm Sunwiz and released by the Australian Solar Council, 100% Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association shows substantial solar uptake in many marginal seats and a particularly strong showing in the mortgage belts of our big cities and in rural regions. For pro-solar MP’s, the news will be heartening, but to those opposed, the results could be a little worrying.
The map indicates Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s electorate of Lalor in Melbourne has the second highest uptake of solar panels and solar hot water systems.
“Four million Australians now have solar on their roofs, thanks to the Renewable Energy Target, and we know many more Australians want to go solar to cut their power bills”, said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council. “This is true peoples’ power.” Lindsay Soutar, 100% Renewables National Campaign Co-ordinator, says solar will be an important issue in the election next year.
“Solar offers householders the ultimate financial control over their power bills so voters will be looking to see which party will help them manage their energy bills now and in the future.”
Our politicians shouldn’t just be concerning themselves with the favour of current solar households, but those wanting to make the switch. An additional estimated 1.5 million Australians are likely to install solar panels on their roofs over the next two years – if the Renewable Energy Target isn’t interfered with.
“Politicians in all electorates are on notice,” says Brian England, National Chairman of the Solar Energy Industries Association
The Climate Change Authority’s (CCA) Review of the Renewable Energy Target Discussion Paper had an unpleasant surprise for small scale solar. The CCA has suggested reducing the level of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) attached to home solar power systems; which would impact on the subsidy available. This suggested action would be in addition to the Solar Credits multiplier ending next year.
The Australian Solar Council has strongly opposed the recommendation and 100% Renewables recently undertook a “People’s RET Review” to show the Climate Change Authority the depth of support for an unchanged RET in the wider community.
Who’d have thought it? Solar PV becoming a political issue
Climate-Action Canberra via 100% Renewable News in today! Get set for the 2013 solar election. Rooftop solar in Australia is spreading like wildfire, especially in marginal seats. Check out new data released today by Australian Solar Council, SunWiz and us, showing number of solar homes in each Australian electorate. Sunny days ahead!
How rooftop solar PV suddenly became a hot political issue http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/how-rooftop-solar-pv-suddenly-became-a-hot-political-issue-13825 By Giles Parkinson 4 November 2012
For years, some politicians have wanted to dismiss rooftop solar PV (and other renewables), as a middle class fetish for wanting to be green. The last thing they would have expected was solar emerging as a political issue, not just on the state and national scale, but in their own electorate.Both views have now been shown to be mistaken.
A whole series of surveys and postcode analysis have shown that Australia has one of the highest deployments of small scale systems on household roofs in the world – beaten only by Japan – and most of this has been put on the rooftops of households in the nation’s mortgage belts, in the city and in regional areas.
Finally, someone has done the obvious and made the effort to link these installations with electoral divisions. The results will take many politicians by surprise. Now they must now sit up and take notice. Continue reading
USA solar PV sales set to grow in Australia
Mixed Greens: USA solar giants target Australia and Asia, REneweconomy, 2 November 2012 The two largest US solar PV manufacturing companies, First Solar and SunPower, said they will target growth in “sustainable” markets such as Australia as part of a new focus on the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East markets. SunPower CEO Tom Werner said Asia-Pacific is offering the best opportunity for growth, with shipments to Japan up 30 per cent and growth expected in Australia, China and India, he told Bloomberg in an interview. First Solar CEO Jim Hughes said his company will be looking to expand in the same regions, along with the Gulf region, where the company has selected the company to build its first solar farm, a 13MW project in the first step of a $US3.3 billion initiative
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) find S.A.’s solar rooftop energy is lowering mains consumption
Thanks in part to the state’s solar feed in tariffs, currently at nearly 26c per kilowatt hour for new participants for any surplus electricity exported to the mains grid; South Australia has the highest penetration of rooftop PV of all the National Electricity Market (NEM) states.
Solar Driving Down South Australia’s Mains Electricity Consumption http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3448 by Energy Matters, 31 Oct A report from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) shows a substantial drop in demand for mains grid supplied electricity in South Australia. Continue reading
Caloundra’s solar energy array now in operation
SPS Energy Installs 80 kW Solar Array for Caloundra-Based STC AZO CleanTech October 26, 2012 Today marks a new milestone for Australia’s private businesses seeking heightened energy efficiency: the unveiling of what’s believed to be one of the largest privately funded solar installations in the nation , installed by SPS Energy and now operational in Caloundra, Queensland. The Honourable Mark McArdle, Queensland’s Minister for Energy and Water Supply, officiated at the commissioning celebration.
SPS Energy, based in Eumundi, is a preeminent supplier of energy management and renewable energy solutions across Australia.
The 80kWatt solar array is located on the rooftop of the Caloundra-based Saddlery Trading Company (www.saddlerytrading.com ), and powers 75kWatts of inverter capacity. ….
“The installation has already delivered benefits for our business: an energy consumption decline of over 60% in the first billing period after commissioning, followed by further reductions in subsequent periods,” Mr Grant said.
“As a family-owned business, it’s critical for us to keep an eye on the bottom line, while integrating environmentally conscious practices.
“Our family business is proof that solar power can deliver savings, efficiency, and sustainability.”
The solar array provides STC with certainty of power costs into the future and provision for even greater energy autonomy, if needed. …. http://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=17503
Small scale solar power racing ahead in Australia
The full report: “Benefits of the Renewable Energy Target to Australia’s Energy Markets and Economy” can be viewed here (PDF).
$21.1 Billion Small Scale Solar Power Investment In Australia By 2020 http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3440, by Energy Matters, 26 Oct 12, An independent report shows Australia’s 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target (RET) has generated $18.5 billion in investment overall so far, with potentially many billions more to be invested – if the policy is left unchanged.
Released by the Clean Energy Council, the report shows Australia’s Renewable Energy Target has resulted in a reduction of fossil-fuel base power generation since it was introduced since 2001 and has also assisted in reining in wholesale electricity prices.
“The report shows that, if left unchanged, the Renewable Energy Target will result in 12 per cent less coal-fired generation and 13 per cent less gas-fired generation between now and 2030, with no reliability or security of supply issues identified,” said CEC Chief Executive David Green. Continue reading
CSIRO mapping Australia’s wealth of solar energy
Solar mapping to shed light on rich resource , SMH, October 24, 2012 Peter Hannam We may be a nation of sun-worshippers but when it comes to forecasting where the sun shines longest, Australia’s energy authorities are stuck in the dark ages.
The CSIRO is hoping to fill that information void with a lot more riding on it than the best place to get that tan. Energy energy suppliers – current and future – need the data to predict how much solar electricity is likely to flow through the nation’s power grids.
For potential developers of large-scale solar power plants, radiation records are needed to bolster investment certainty as they try to secure finance from bankers or government agencies. The real urgency for hard numbers, though, is coming from the rapid take-up of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, with the total now approaching 900,000 across the country. Continue reading
Australia’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) needs to be kept
Australian Solar Council Goes Into Bat For Home Solar Support by Energy Matters, 22 Oct 12, “……..The Australian Solar Council has firmly rejected the call by the Productivity Commission to abolish the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
“We all know that many more Australians want to install solar panels and solar hot water, but the upfront cost of these systems remains a significant barrier. That is why the SRES is so important and must be continued,” says John Grimes,Australian Solar Council Chief Executive.
“Demand for solar PV has reduced significantly since the solar multiplier was reduced on 1 July, and there are no signs that demand is picking up. The last thing the solar industry needs is more uncertainty.”
The Australian Solar Council is seeking direction and reassurance that the SRES and associated mechanisms are not under threat.
Mr. Grimes says his organisation endorses the view of Giles Parkinson of RenewEconomy who wrote recently that “until organisations such as the Productivity Commission get their mind around solar PV…then we cannot rely on them to make sensible recommendations”.
Under the current timetable, the Solar Credits multiplier is not due to be phased out until July 1 next year. If the Commissions draft recommendations were implemented, that could be brought forward to as early as towards the end of this year. http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3435
South Australia to hold Parliamentary Enquiry into Solar Thermal Energy for Port Augusta
Solar Thermal Energy Parliamentary Enquiry For South Australia http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3430 by Energy Matters The efforts by supporters of the construction of a solar thermal power station in Port Augusta, South Australia have paid off.
SA Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said a select committee will research a proposal to replace Alinta Energy’s Northern and Playford coal-fired power stations at Port Augusta with a concentrated solar thermal plant. Continue reading
Queenslanders Urged To Act On Solar Installations http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3429 18 Oct 12 Tens of thousands of Queensland households that registered for the state’s previous solar feed in tariff rate are yet to finalise their paperwork and installations – and may miss out if they wait too long. Continue reading
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