Renewable energy future! OUR TAKE

Brisbane, July 1, 2024

Article written by Amrita Deshpande (Editor. MCCQ and New Media Artist)

Miles Goverment’s future plan for energy is to go completely a clean green energy. This means that every household will have to use either wind power or solar power for their energy needs. Currently Miles government is also giving rebates to house owner to install the solar panels on their roof tops to promote their agenda for clean energy. Every Queenslander is getting $1000 in energy rebate. The Federal Governement is also giving $300 in energy bill rebate to all Australian households. Recently there is also a surge in households wanting to go green with solar energy. But immigrants find it difficult to take advantage of this scheme.

If you are a home or apartment owner then you need to check for eligibilty to get rebates and if the scheme is currently available in your area. For apartment owners if you are elegible then you must contact your Body Corporate.

Before one decides to go with Solar energy they must make sure that the Body corporate approves of them putting the solar panels in a strategic area on the roof top.

Many Body Corporates have supported this initiative however some are struggling to understand the real benefits of the solar energy other than the fact that it is a clean energy producer.

To put up the solar panels one needs to have a substantial space to put minimum eight panels to cover your household of two BHK. Once you have identified the area to put in the panels, you need to think about who will you give the contract to put the solar panels.

Choose wisely, consult with others and seek experienced opinions. Make sure you go with an accredited installer. There is a chance to be overcharged by your installer company. The resonable amount to pay for a 8 panel grid is about minimum $4000. The Quote depends on the number of panels to be installed, location of the panels and the energy board.

All of the quotes and information makes you aware of costs you will incur to install the panels and what amount of energy the panels will generate.

Once the panels are installed you will be switched to the renewable energy supply. You need to wait for months to know the results whether you have substantially saved or not. Any excess of energy you produce because of solar panels, will be reimbursed by the energy company and the process is simple. The excess energy is directed to the company grid and depending on the rates and energy generated, the company will pay you the amount for the excess energy produced.

This excess energy currently is not stored in your own grid to use it later. It has to be channeled to the energy service provider. You will be charged for the amount of energy you consume over the amount that your solar panels produce. Hence, it may seem that you are not earning as much or lowering your energy bill as much as you expected. The grids that are installed recently cannot switch to multiple energy storage hence it cannot generate income for you. The grid model also needs to be designed to sufficiently accomodate the household need to produce excess energy.

For most immigrants to Australia who are recent citizens, living for not more than five years, it could be difficult to afford the solar panels for their houses or owned apartments due to the costs of panels and installation charges.

The installation charges maybe far beyond their budgetted expenses. They may also not stay in one place for 10 yrs to actually reap the benefits of the solar panels. Hence, most migrants and recent immigrant who own a place are reluctant to install the solar panels. It does not seem to benefit the migrant workers or recent immigrants.

Hence the ambitious plan of going completely clean energy, fulfilling the UN sustainable goal may not be achievable if immigrant household owners do not cooperate. For the migrants, it will often be debatable whether to spend on fulfilling their immediate needs or go with the government’s clean energy for sustainability.

Moreover for the solar energy to generate income one must have the following things in place:

1. Get a good assessment of the area and number of panels needed to generate sufficient energy for the household.

2. Get an accredited installer

3. Upgrade your lights to LED

4. Upgrade your Thermostat