30 May 2011

Green solar concerns as the industry hits the cap

30 May 2011 | johnboy

Greens Energy spokesperson Shane Rattenbury is voicing his worries that the solar feed-in tariff is about to become over-subscribed leading to doom and destruction:

“Figures revealed in Estimates hearings show that within weeks Canberrans may no longer be able to obtain the Feed in Tariff,” said Shane Rattenbury.

“The Minister urgently needs to reveal how the Government intends to address this.”

…

Earlier this year, the Feed in Tariff (FIT) legislation was amended to place a limit of 15 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity on micro systems (generally household rooftop systems). In Estimates, the Minister revealed at least 9.5 MW was already installed, and at least 400 new applications are being received a week. At a conservative estimate, that means 700-800kilowatts a week being installed, which could see the cap reached in 7-8 weeks.

“Some in the industry are already speculating that the cap has been reached based on current orders.”

“The Minister urgently needs to inform Canberra consumers and installers what is going to happen when the cap is reached, and what will happen to those customers who place an order and then find they are not eligible to receive the FIT.”

“The Greens have argued that the cap will see the industry hit a brickwall, and we fear that is about to eventuate – perhaps even sooner than most people expected.”

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D210:04 am 01 Jun 11

Chop71 said :

Thank You Simon Corbell for closing this scheme. The rest of us now pay $14 a year to those who could afford solar. (as quoted by him on ABC tis morning). That’s another $14 I have been taxed, this and every year, thanks.

Only $14? Talk about a bargain!

D210:02 am 01 Jun 11

breda said :

Just in passing, under the Federal Government’s recent public housing spendfest, they are currently building a block of 8 units near me with the carpark and access area facing north/east, and the units facing south/west. It was pointed out to them by community groups, several times at the planning stage that this would make the units dark and cold. Made not a jot of difference.

I reckon that mandating north-facing blocks would save more energy at $0 cost to anyone.

The Frots9:27 am 01 Jun 11

Chop71 said :

Thank You Simon Corbell for closing this scheme. The rest of us now pay $14 a year to those who could afford solar. (as quoted by him on ABC tis morning). That’s another $14 I have been taxed, this and every year, thanks.

Yep! I heard him this morning – and yesterday when he was on the ABC he didn’t say a word about the scheme closing at midnight last night (despite him saying today that eh already knew and didn’t want a ‘panic’).

I agree with Gardening Girl and Breda though – there is more to this than meets the eye and I think we will hear much more about it in the very near future.

Jim Jones9:18 am 01 Jun 11

Chop71 said :

Thank You Simon Corbell for closing this scheme. The rest of us now pay $14 a year to those who could afford solar. (as quoted by him on ABC tis morning). That’s another $14 I have been taxed, this and every year, thanks.

$14 a year to contribute to the uptake of renewal energy hardly seems unreasonable.

Simon Corbell was clearly caught by surprise on this one and has dealt with it extremely badly.

Chop719:12 am 01 Jun 11

Thank You Simon Corbell for closing this scheme. The rest of us now pay $14 a year to those who could afford solar. (as quoted by him on ABC tis morning). That’s another $14 I have been taxed, this and every year, thanks.

cmacra288:43 am 01 Jun 11

AS soon as I started researching a Solar feed-in system for my home these articles started and today Simon Corbell has stopped the scheme from last night. I got a quote from ACTEW yesterday and had someone coming around to quote today. I’ve never done it before, but I will probably vote fro the Greens in the next ACT Election.

GardeningGirl1:03 am 31 May 11

breda said :

It is certainly true that cheap Chinese solar panels have significantly affected the economics of the solar power industry.

First, how come the ‘whole of life-cycle’ test doesn’t seem to apply here? Quite apart from the distance and resources required for them to be brought here, there are some very ugly stories coming out of the rare-earth extraction processes in China which underpin the industry. But, heck, as long as it means a panel gets installed on a roof in Canberra, it’s a plus for the environment, right? We start from zero there, right?

Just in passing, under the Federal Government’s recent public housing spendfest, they are currently building a block of 8 units near me with the carpark and access area facing north/east, and the units facing south/west. It was pointed out to them by community groups, several times at the planning stage that this would make the units dark and cold. Made not a jot of difference.

I guess that the ACT government’s commitment to things that actually work is less important than pandering to Green fantasies.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes Breda! I’m glad I’m not the only one who is becoming increasingly concerned about where this is heading. I was a huge fan of the idea of solar power long before it became fashionable. Unfortunately just as it started becoming feasible and accessible for us suburbanites with lots of green enthusiasm but limited handyman skills or funds, research started to reveal the downsides of the growing industry. I personally do happen to think that utilising the sun is part of the solution but I feel very wary now, and the recent news about poor or faulty installations has only increased my caution.

Oh my, there are new govie units we regularly pass which prompt the exclamation from me “don’t they know which way is north???” Again, I’m not alone!

breda10:32 pm 30 May 11

openyourmind said:

I agree that the scheme is/was overly generous, but part of the aim was to kickstart the industry. It’s done this in spades.

And, Breda, maybe you haven’t been keeping up with current events, but solar (like most electronic/electrical items) is radically dropping in price. Much of this fall is being shaped by Chinese production. In the space of two years, solar PV systems have more than halved in price. Have a look on eBay at systems (many albeit cheap Chinese junk) and you’ll see the market is being driven down.

Our house produces almost as much energy as it uses and we aren’t even particularly energy efficient…yet. Solar PV is not a pipe dream.

———————————————————————————————————-

It is certainly true that cheap Chinese solar panels have significantly affected the economics of the solar power industry.

First, how come the ‘whole of life-cycle’ test doesn’t seem to apply here? Quite apart from the distance and resources required for them to be brought here, there are some very ugly stories coming out of the rare-earth extraction processes in China which underpin the industry. But, heck, as long as it means a panel gets installed on a roof in Canberra, it’s a plus for the environment, right? We start from zero there, right?

Just in passing, under the Federal Government’s recent public housing spendfest, they are currently building a block of 8 units near me with the carpark and access area facing north/east, and the units facing south/west. It was pointed out to them by community groups, several times at the planning stage that this would make the units dark and cold. Made not a jot of difference.

I guess that the ACT government’s commitment to things that actually work is less important than pandering to Green fantasies.

zig10:26 pm 30 May 11

breda said :

What nonsense. Solar PV is still expensive, inefficient and propped up by other (poorer) users. I have been listening to proponents of solar power for decades now; we keep hearing that the breakthrough is “just around the corner”. It is not around the corner, because despite untold billions being thrown at it, over at least five decades, it is never going to provide the strong, continuous, reliable power we need at a competitive price.

Stupid schemes like the ACT one, where people are subsidised to put up panels, and then for the itty bits of power they produce, just place a burden on everyone else. Who do they think is paying for all these subsidies? The Green Fairies?

matt312219:48 pm 30 May 11

When I was an electrical apprentice, at TAFE they were trying to get everyone interested in solar technology. How did they do it? They showed us all a video of a hot babe showering – soaping her supple body with a naughty smile, with information spoken over the top. It was quite an effective technique. I now subconciously associate hot chicks with solar power!

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