Solar news and views
India turns
State of the
Healthy growth projected for Solar
Big numbers emanate from India, and in this instance we are looking at 26 million … which is the number of fossil-fuel-powered groundwater pumps the government aims to replace with solar-powered ones. The pumps are used by farmers throughout the country to pull in water for irrigation, and they currently rely on diesel generators or India’s fossil-fuel-reliant electrical grid for power. Irrigation pumps have now been identified as the single largest application for solar in the country. Small steps are also important, which brings us right back to a small community in the scenic rolling hills lying to the north of Melbourne …
The Queensland government is ditching the state’s 8c/kWh rooftop solar feed-in tariff at the end of June, leaving solar households with the challenge of negotiating a tariff with their electricity retailer. The move by the government – which will affect 40,000 households, and any new rooftop solar adopters – was expected, and was justified by claims it would “lift the cost burden” from electricity network businesses and put “downward pressure” on electricity prices for all Queenslanders. The State’s Energy Minister blames carbon tax and renewable energy targets for driving electricity prices “much higher than they should be [and that] left unchecked, the 8 cent feed-in tariff would cost Queensland households and businesses an extra $110 million on their power bills over the next six years,” We are uncertain if the Minister responded to questions about rising generation costs and network costs … The ACT solar scene appears more positive and progressive.
The latest Bloomberg prediction for the solar market is growth of 20%+ in 2014, taking installation levels to around 44.5 GW; just a smidgeon below the 46 GW forecast by Deutsche Bank. Tracking nations: Germany (for six years market leader) is expected to install 3.3 GW this year, while China is expected to install 12 GW or more, ahead of Japan’s 10.5 GW and the US’s anticipated 5 to 6 GW. Brazil, Chile, Thailand and Australia are also mentioned as “having made significant progress”. Market analysts state worldwide PV installations are set to rise by double digits in 2014, and on the back of that “solar manufacturing capital spending is recovering, module prices are stabilising and emerging markets are on the rise.”
to the sun
Community Climate Chest (C3) Residents in central Victoria have joined forces to launch a national green power and carbon offsets scheme that provides households and businesses with access to cheaper, taxdeductible green power and carbon offsets, while using the proceeds to back local environmental groups. Participants will make savings on standard GreenPower fees of 25 per cent to 50 per cent, thanks to the C3 scheme’s direct purchasing power, low administrative fees, the fact that GST does not apply, and the tax deductibility of donations. Involved in the co-op are the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group (MRSG), the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) and GreenPower provider ACXargyle.
nation
ACT’s
community solar program
WA Senate election In its Save Solar campaign the Australian Solar Council is urging Western Australians to vote to support solar. “Solar saves money and creates jobs,” says CEO John Grimes. “We hope WA will send a message for all Australian’s that the Renewable Energy Target needs to stay so more households can invest in the solar advantage.” The key message in the campaign that targets families, young people and pensioners could not be clearer: “The current policy – the Renewable Energy Target – gives everyone access to affordable roof-top solar so they can save on average half their power bill … these saving can make a real difference to the quality of life of Australians … Everyone has the right to take advantage of solar savings.”
In early March Canberrans were provided with a new opportunity to invest in solar power under a community solar feed-in tariff (FiT) from the ACT Government which provides opportunities to people – namely renters and people living in flats and apartments – who were unable to take part in previous feed-in tariff programs. Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell explained that the new Canberra Community Solar initiative will allow households to pool their resources to develop new large-scale solar installations, with a guaranteed income stream; the FiT under the initiative being up to 20 cents per kilowatt hour for 20 years. This is slightly higher than the nation leading price achieved by successful proponents in the Government's successful largescale Solar Auction conducted in 2012-13. "Eighty-one per cent of Canberrans surveyed in 2013 wanted this government to show leadership when tackling climate change; this initiative will assist the community to take ownership of building a stronger, sustainable Canberra,” Corbell said. SolarProgress | 41