|
Information
updated July 2009
|
| Solar
Energy |
| The
national mandatory renewable energy target mandates that 20%
of the electricity supply comes from renewable sources by
2020 |
| The
Australian market had 16 MW of installations in 2007. It grew
to 28 MW in 2008. |
| The
Australian research focus has been on technology development
with projects at the University of New South Wales and Australia
National University. |
| Government
Support for Renewables |
| Australia
is moving towards a renewable incentive based primarily on
tradeable Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) |
| Under
the new Solar Credits scheme homeowners could receive up to
A$10,000 for a 1.5 kW system dependent on the price of RECs
|
| The
Australian Capital Territory currently has a feed-in-tariff
of 3.88 times the retail rate of electricity (approx. 59 c/kWh) |
|
Government
Structure
|
| The
Solar City program has A$94 million in government funding
dispersed to seven cities: Adelaide, Townsville, Blacktown,
Alice Springs, Central Victoria, Perth, and Coburg which focus
on renewable energy generation and efficiency |
| The
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts
runs many PV specific programs including: the Solar Homes
and Communities Program and the Solar Schools Program |
|
In 2008 New South Wales and South Australia accounted for
over 50% of installations under the Solar Homes and Communities
Program |
| Australian
Energy and Electricity Industry |
|
Six states, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales,
Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria, feed
into the National Electricity Market where generators and
retailers can buy and sell electricity |
| Coal
accounts for more than 2/3rds of Australia's energy generation
capacity |
|
Four states currently have feed-in-tariffs for renewable energy
greater than the retail rate of electricity |
