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Solar Credits Comment
by Hugh
I just read your comment on Australia's proposed Solar Credits scheme where you quote 1.5 kW as "more than enough for an average Aussie house".
I think you will find that the average household electricity consumption in Australia is about 15 or 20 kWh per day and that a 1.5 kW system will provide about 5 kWh per day, averaged across a year. This Solar Credits scheme is yet another way of sprinkling the country with small systems that are energy intensive to manufacture and install and not in the best interest of the planet.
I heartily agree with your condemnation of the means test on the existing rebate system. Incredibly, the means test was added to the scheme by the Rudd Labor Government.
all of you know by using solar energy it is less expensive and we are using the resource more effectively. by using this we save some quantity of current. ----------------------------------------------------- Carla green
Jan 28, 2009 Rating
Comparing the old and new systems by: Hugh
I completely agree that there needs to be much more discussion about all matters relating to climate change.
Here's my take on the existing system and the new system
Existing system:
---introduced by the Howard government at a time when they were still in climate change denial
---the government pays a rebate of $8 per watt up to a 1000W (=$8000) system. Any bigger than that; you pay the rest.
---installing a system will also give the owner some Renewable Energy Certificates which are tradeable. The RECs for a 1 kW system would have been worth about $1000 in mid '08.
---The Rudd government added a $100,000 income means test
---Conclusion, no incentive to install larger than 1 kW systems and only if your income is less than $100,000. Combined rebate plus sale of RECs on a 1kW system about $9000 to be deducted from about a $10,000 system.
New system:
---rebate scrapped
---no means test
---RECs issued at five times the previous rate but only up to a 1.5 kW system. Any increase in system size will attract further RECs but not at the five times rate. RECs will also be issued on a system output basis. A 1.5kW system in QLD might attract $7500 worth of RECs but one the same size in Tas only about $5400
---Conclusion, with sale of RECs a maximum of $7500 against a probable $15000 cost for a 1.5kW system it's going to become more expensive to install and this from a government who claim to acknowledge climate change. Have I missed something?
Hugh.
Jan 28, 2009 Rating
I agree by: Roger
I was very interested to read your comments on the new Solar Credits scheme. I believe that we need to have an open and loud discussion about the future of energy and the policies that affect it in Australia and do something about the half-assed approach the Government is taking.
