Consultation begins on Stage 2 options for ACT feed-in tariff scheme

Following the deployment of the ACT’s Government’s gross feed-in tariff scheme for solar energy, the solar and electrical industries, as well as the broader community, are encouraged to comment on the impact of the first stage, with a view to extending the program to Stage 2.

Commenting on the program, the Minister for Energy, Simon Corbell, said: “Stage 1 of the feed-in tariff has been an overwhelming success, with a 116% increase in the number of solar PV installations since the scheme was launched in March. The government projected 90% growth within the first 12 months and community participation has been significantly higher.

“It is now time to look at options to possibly expand the scheme to include larger-scale generators, in order to further encourage the deployment of clean-energy generation.

“The ACT scheme is the only Australian gross feed-in tariff which pays consumers a premium rate to feed back all of their solar-generated electricity into the grid. The scheme is currently limited to installations of 30 kW capacity, about 180 standard PV panels.”

“This discussion paper is the trigger point for that consultation. It outlines the environmental and economic outcomes of possibly extending the tariff.

“The economic impact of broadening the feed-in tariff scheme is explored in detail in this consultation paper. The economic modelling finds significant jobs growth, in the short to medium term, as a result of the expansion of the feed-in tariff. Further analysis indicates that, in the long term, measures to lock in this jobs growth, as a part of a clean economy strategy, will be needed.

“The government is also continuing to investigate the option of legislating to place a mandate on energy companies to provide a suite of energy-efficiency programs that would not only reverse greenhouse gas emissions, but also reduce household electricity bills.”

The review of the scheme is being conducted by an inter-agency committee, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW), which administers the existing feed-in tariff.

The discussion paper can be downloaded from www.environment.act.gov.au. Community consultation sessions are scheduled for February 2010. Formal submissions on the paper close 28 February 2010.