aburnett
Member
According to http://www.smh.com.au/environment/rees-takes-a-shine-to-solar-panel-incentive-20091109-i5gt.html NSW will get a gross feed-in after all?
"After a review initiated by Mr Rees, the cabinet yesterday decided that households with solar energy systems will be paid for all of the electricity they generate, receiving the so-called ''gross'' feed-in tariff and not just the smaller ''net'' amount for surplus electricity they actually sell into the power grid."
A cynic would suggest that this is just Mr Rees getting ready to hand government back to the Liberals...
On the other hand, an optimist such as myself would be happy about this news and start planning for the installation of PV at my house. I'd want to know important details like the duration of the tariff and whether or not it will actually result in payments for excess generation or just "credits" agains bills which expire as has been seen elsewhere.
Duration of scheme - 7 years!
See: http://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/energy/sustainable/renewable/solar/solar-scheme
Solar Bonus Scheme for NSW
The NSW Government has announced a Solar Bonus Scheme for NSW with the following features:
A gross tariff of 60c/kWh for all electricity that is supplied to the grid
7 years duration.
This page will be updated with further information shortly.
Old details of proposed "Net" Scheme before change today to Gross - use as comparision:
The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme is the most generous of any State in Australia.
Key features of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme include:
* A feed-in tariff (FiT) of 60 cents per kilowatt hour (KWh) will be paid for renewable energy that is fed back into the grid - NET
* The FiT will be based on a fixed rate, that is, the FiT will not vary according to the time of the day
* The Scheme will operate for 20 years commencing on 1 January 2010
* The FiT will remain fixed during the life of the Scheme; that is, it will not be CPI-adjusted
* The tariff will be payable to energy customers with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems up to 10 kW in size, and whose own consumption does not exceed 160 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity per annum
* The Scheme's cost will be recovered by a levy placed on electricity distributors, who are expected to pass through these costs to all NSW electricity consumers
* The estimated increase to households will be between $2 and $9 per year depending on the rate of uptake
* The Scheme will be reviewed in 2012, or when installed capacity reaches 50 megawatts, whichever occurs first.
aaron
Member
I just saw a report on the NSW ABC news tonight (10/11) about the new gross feed-in tariff. They seemed to suggest that people with existing solar panel installations may not get this and have wasted their money. Not sure whether they are referring to a particular type of power meter that won't read gross, or whether the new deal only applies to new installations from 01 Jan 10. Does anyone have any accurate information on this?
More NSW Gov advice re Gross Tariff:
http://more.nsw.gov.au/articles/nsw-solar-bonus-scheme
I think the date is wrong, however it states WIND TURBINES are applicable to the gross tariff.
aburnett
Member
The ABC News story headlined "Solar households to get paid for all their power" is available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/10/2738706.htm
Solgen
Member
Your right Franks.
I had a quote from an installer I got about 2 weeks ago, I have since asked some questions about it. I have been waiting a week for the response and today I received it and what do you know the quotes have increased by $1500 for one option and $2500 for the second option.
Justification for the increase was that they are now using higher efficiency Sunpower panels rather than Sharp panels!!
Sunshine
Member
franks,
Where are you finding these prices? The SMA inverter price is excellent.
As for panels, I would prefer to buy from a manufacturer who has a proven track record of quality panels, I wouldn't want to be the long term tester for the company.
Alot of the Chinese panel manufacturers have only been making panels in the last year of two, so, long term durability of the product is still unknown.
Hi all,
We just sent this out to all NSW members today. Be great to hear from anyone running wind <10 kW up there, thanks, Damien.
NSW gross feed-in tariff: wanted small wind system info
As you may be aware the NSW Government this week announced a gross feed-in tariff that will pay 60 cents per kilowatt hour for the clean energy that solar photovoltaic and wind power systems, up to 10kW in size, generate.
The ATA applauds the NSW government for introducing one of Australia’s most progressive payments for small-scale renewable energy.
We are keen to hear from any NSW members, especially rural-based members, to gain a better understanding of how many ATA members have small wind and how the scheme will benefit them.
If you are operating a wind turbine up to 10 kW in size anywhere in NSW and it is grid-connected, please contact Damien Moyse, ATA Energy Policy Manager on damien@ata.org.au
