GridPower: Solar System Government Schemes













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Government Schemes

National Solar Schools Program

The National Solar Schools program offers grants of up to $ 50,000 (GST exclusive) to install solar and other renewable power systems, solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks, and a range of energy efficiency measures.

Please see the National Solar Schools Program Guidelines for the full list of eligible items. Schools can apply for grants under the National Solar Schools Program from July 2008 to June 2015. Or go to GridPower^® for Schools for our schools' offering.

Federal Government Renewable Energy Target and the Solar Multiplier

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is the centrepiece of the Federal Government's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CRPR has two distinct elements - the cap on carbon pollution and the ability to trade. The cap achieves the environmental outcome of reducing carbon pollution. The ability to trade ensures carbon pollution is reduced at the lowest possible cost. See http://www.climatechange.gov.au/emissionstrading/index.html for more information.

The Federal Government is on the record as saying that it is prepared to reduce Australia's emissions by up to 25% of 2000 levels by 2020, around 45% below "business as usual" levels. However, the actual target to be set will depend on the negotiations in Copenhagen at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2009, and the targets set by other industrialised countries and newly industrialising nations such as China and India. The timetable is for fixed-price period commencing on 1 July 2011, and fully flexible price trading is scheduled to commence one year later.

On 10th August 2009 the Tracking to Kyoto and 2020 report was released. This is an interim update of the previous Tracking to the Kyoto Target projections released in 2008. A full update of the projections will be released in late 2009. To download a copy of the report, visit http://www.climatechange.gov.au .

The government aims that the CPRS will be complemented by the new expanded national Renewable Energy Target (RET). The national RET Legislation was passed by both Houses of Parliament during early August 2009. Regulations for operation of RET are now being drafted by the Department for Climate Change.

The new national RET (which replaces the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target - MRET - and incorporates all State RETs) expands the electricity target for generation required from renewable energy technologies to 20%, or 45,000 gigawatt-hours per year by 2020. Please refer to the Department for Climate Change website, and specifically to the following link for the scheme design: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/renewabletarget/publications/pubs/ret_schemedesign.pdf

The RET Legislation includes a 5 times multiplier for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), for solar photovoltaic installations up to 1.5 kW in size. The scheme will run for x years tapering off in each subsequent year to 4x, 3x, 2x and finally no multiplier. This is known as the Solar Credit scheme. The complementary Regulations are currently being drafted (September 2009) for this scheme.

The 15-year 'deeming' of RECs is expected to also apply to the Solar Credit scheme. It would also appear that the Solar Credit scheme is also for caravans, houseboats, cathodic protection, off-grid home systems and water pumping systems - provided that there is a mail address, and that there has not been a prior rebate for that address.

To be eligible to receive the Solar Credit scheme, all solar photovoltaic systems have to be designed and installed by a CEC-Accredited installer. If a solar power system is not installed by an Accredited installer (regardless of application), then it is only allowed 5 years "deemed" RECs and no Solar Credits.

The Solar Credit Regulations are not yet completed, and Solar Credit RECs cannot be traded until then. This is currently expected to be October 2009. Solar Credits are to be back-dated to 6 June, as promised by Minister Wong when the SHCP was closed. RECs will still have the 12 month creation rule (from installation of system). Please see DCC Fact sheet on Solar Credits.

For more information please visit http://www.climatechange.gov.au/renewabletarget/index.html or read the attached Australian Government fact sheets.

Australia Government Fact Sheet
SOLAR CREDITS Solar Credit - Frequently Asked Questions