GOVERNMENT PHOTOVOLTAIC REBATES AND INCENTIVES

The Australian Government is encouraging the investment  in Photovoltaic Power Systems with various rebate and incentive programs;

•  THE NATIONAL SOLAR SCHOOLS PROGRAM (FROM JULY 2008)

•  SOLAR CREDITS SCHEME (REPLACES THE SOLAR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES PLAN)

•  MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET (MRET)

•  SOLAR CITIES

•  STATE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

THE NATIONAL SOLAR SCHOOLS PROGRAM (FROM JULY 2008)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - NATIONAL SOLAR SCHOOLS IS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED TO NEW CLAIMS UNTIL 2010

This suspension takes effect as of 3:00pm AESDST 15 October 2009.

The Government's vision is for solar panels to be on the rooftop of every school in Australia. National Solar Schools aims to make every Australian primary and secondary school a solar school by 2015. National Solar Schools will offer grants of up to $50 000 (GST exclusive) to install solar power systems, rainwater tanks and a range of energy efficiency measures. To qualify for the full $50,000 (GST exclusive), schools must install at least a 2 kilowatt solar power system.

 For a detailed description of the program as well as terms and conditions, visit the Australian Government, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website.

The National Solar Schools Program has proven very popular with schools across the country. More than half of Australian schools have now registered to participate, and more than 1,800 schools have been approved for funding to install a wide range of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.

The demand for funding from the program has been very high, and the Department has now received enough claims to meet the program's full budget allocation in 2009-10.

As a result, the program is now being temporarily suspended to new claims until next year. The program's next tranche of funding will be available in July 2010. However, we will open the program to new claims in May 2010 so schools can get a headstart on preparing their claims for funding for that year. We will announce more information on the re-opening on this website in the coming months.

All claims submitted to the program before 3:00pm AESDST Thursday 15 October 2009 will still be processed this financial year. This means that more than 700 additional schools should receive funding in 2009-10.

For any more information, schools or installers can contact the program by:

Emailing: nationalsolarschools@environment.gov.au

Calling the National Solar Schools Hotline on 1800 703 831

SOLAR CREDITS SCHEME (REPLACES THE SOLAR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES PLAN)

The Solar Homes and Communities Plan provided cash rebates for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems on homes and community use buildings. This program was discontinued on the 9th June 2009, making way for the new Solar Credits Scheme. At this time, the details of the new scheme are still to be finalised. For current information on this scheme, see the Department of Climate Change website.

MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET (MRET)

To help ensure the Government achieves its goal of a 20 percent share for renewable energy in Australia's electricity supply by 2020,  the Government committed to increasing the MRET from 9,500 gigawatt-hours to 45,000 gigawatt-hours in 2020.

The aim of the renewable energy target is to increase the production  of renewable energy. Under the target, all electricity retailers and wholesale buyers have a legal liability to contribute towards the generation of additional renewable energy. They are called 'liable parties', and must meet their legal obligation by acquiring Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) can be understood as an electronic form of currency initiated by the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. RECs are created by registered persons, validated by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator, traded between registered persons, and eventually surrendered to demonstrate liability compliance against the requirements of the Australian Government's mandatory renewable energy target.  1 REC = 1MWh of eligible renewable electricity.

For small solar generators the RECs are commonly calculated over a fixed time period and the installer may offer to buy the RECs for a nominal price from the system owner which results in a reduction of the initial system price.

For a detailed description of the MRET program please visit the Australian Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator website.

SOLAR CITIES

Solar Cities is a $75.3 million initiative announced by the Prime Minister in the Energy White Paper, Securing Australia's Energy Future, in June 2004. It will be implemented by the Department of the Environment and Water Resources through trials in five separate electricity grid-connected urban areas around Australia. Solar Cities is an innovative programme which is designed to demonstrate how solar power, smart metres, energy efficiency and new approaches to electricity pricing can combine to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia. It is a partnership approach that involves all levels of Government, the private sector and the local community.

Adelaide, Townsville, Blacktown, Alice Springs and Central Victoria are the five solar cities selected in Australia. Under the Australian Government's $75 million Solar Cities initiative, the Adelaide, Townsville, Blacktown, Alice Springs and Central Victoria Solar City consortia are working with industry, businesses and their local communities to rethink the way they produce and use energy. For a detailed description of the Solar Cities Program please visit their website.

STATE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

In addition to the programmes offered by the Federal Government there is a variety of State Government programmes available. The Australian Government, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website offers direct links to the relevant State Government website.