Renewable Energy News
Wholesale solar @ Aud $1.95 per watt
Solar panel wholesale price offered by Carbon Management Solutions via email 28/1/2011. Minimum order: 150 x 185 watt panels, otherwise $2.135 per watt or $395.00 each for Enertec 185 watt
Government's flood plan a renewable energy wash-out
It makes no sense to fund the clean-up of the worst floods in Australia’s history by cutting investment in climate change solutions, according to the Clean Energy Council, the peak industry body for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren said the Gillard Government was in danger of losing its way on delivering an effective climate change strategy for Australia by assuming a carbon price, currently under negotiation, will be the “silver bullet” to address the problem.
“The reality is that climatic events like the recent floods are likely to become more severe and frequent with the impacts of climate change,” Mr Warren said.
“Cutting funding for clean energy projects that will ultimately mitigate this impact is as bizarre as it is counterproductive.”
The cuts announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the National Press Club yesterday included reductions in funding to renewable energy initiatives such as the Solar Flagships Program, the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme which supports solar hot water systems, and the Solar Homes and Communities Plan.
“Solar hot water systems are among the most efficient and effective ways for Australian households to reduce their power bills. Rebuilding in flood affected areas is a perfect opportunity to use more clean energy like this to reduce greenhouse emissions.
“Australia has the potential to be a world leader in developing affordable large scale solar energy. We need more investment in its development, not less. Yet Labor's own Solar Flagships program to accelerate development of this technology has already been trimmed - twice - before the program has even started.”
Mr Warren said a comprehensive response to climate change requires a price on carbon, support for energy efficiency and investment into clean energy generation to deliver affordable clean energy at scale as quickly as possible.
“The Government has a choice – it can either build a cleaner economy, or it can continue to add carbon risk and investment uncertainty.”
Source: Clean Energy Council of Australia 28/1/2011
http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec/mediaevents/media-releases/January2011/Floodplan.html
Government to cut solar rebates to pay for floods
Half a Billion Dollars Cut from Solar Programs to Pay for Flood
The Prime Minister has just announced cuts totalling $495 million to offset flood reconstruction budget spending. Cuts are targeted at:
- Solar Flagships
- The Solar Hot Water Rebate
- The Solar Homes and Communities Program
Solar Flagships - $250M Cut
The Solar Flagships program forms part of the Clean Energy Initiative and provides grants to support the deployment of large scale solar energy generation projects in Australia. The Government will reduce its funding for the Solar Flagships program by a total of $250 million across the forward estimates period, with $190 million of this to be re-phased to beyond the forward estimates. Impact on underlying cash balance2010-11$m
Solar Hot Water Rebate - $160M Cut
The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme – Solar Hot Water Rebate provides a rebate of $1,000 for a solar hot water system or $600 for a heat pump hot water system and is available to help eligible home-owners, landlords or tenants to replace their electric storage hot water systems. The Government will cap funding from this program resulting in a saving of $160 million over two years.
SHCP - $85M Cut
The Solar Homes and Communities Plan (SHCP) provided rebates of up to $8,000 for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The program ended in June 2009 and residual rebates are still being processed. The Government will cap the amount remaining available for outstanding claims, allowing $85 million to be redirected to the flood recovery effort.
Source: John Grimes
Australian Solar Energy Society 27/1/2011
Wholesale solar panel prices fall to new low
Solar cell quotes over the spot market have dropped 0.83% from last week to an average of US$1.19 and as low as US$1.13/W for some transactions, according to the latest weekly solar pricing report from research firm EnergyTrend. Solar module spot prices slipped 0.94% the past week to US$1.589/W. Upstream polycrystalline silicon prices fell 0.63% over the same period to US$69.46/kg and multi-Si and mono-Si wafers (156mm x 156mm) retreated by 0.33% and 0.13%, respectively, to US$3.588 and US$3.734. Thin-film prices stayed put this week at US$1.395/W.
Source: Mercom solar report 24/1/2011
Editors note: Prices are in $US and ex China (where most of the worlds solar panels now originate. It remains to be seen how long this new low price will take to arrive (as lower prices) to consumers in Australia.
FAQ on Government Web site
This article from the Australian Government: Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator provides excellent information that de mystifies a lot of the solar jargon.
Click here for more info (opens a new window)
Floods and solar panels
Letter from CEC following Queensland Floods 12/1/2011
Dear installers
Solar power systems that become submerged as a result of the floods in Brisbane can pose a serious safety risk if people do not take appropriate care.
The Clean Energy Council is warning people not to attempt to operate a solar power system that has been affected by floods and recommends householders follow some simple steps to reduce the risk to themselves and their families.
The CEC has produced a basic safety bulletin that is designed to provide information to householders, which you can access here. The electricity utilities in Queensland are aware of the issue and will be working to get the word out to crisis teams and people who have solar power systems at their property.
Any assistance you can provide in getting the message out to your customers and others would also be appreciated.
Regards,
Clean Energy Council
Clean Energy Council calls for re inspection of all grid feed solar systems
The Clean Energy Council (CEC)is the body governing accredited solar installers. In a recent notice issued to the solar industry the CEC called for a re inspection of all installed grid feed solar systems due to fears of incorrectly wired DC circuit breakers.
In 2011 a formal written letter will be sent to all solar installers asking for a formal written letter and possibly a statuary declaration stating that all the grid feed solar systems they have ever installed have the DC circuit breaker correctly installed.
Source: CEC installers email
France Calls for Curbing Chinese Solar Panel Imports
France’s decision to suspend most solar-energy projects for three months was done partly to curb cheaper imports of Chinese solar panels, Environment
Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet said today on France Info radio. “90% of the solar panels installed in France come from China and our import criteria must
be strengthened,” Kosciusko-Morizet said. “We are not here to subsidize the Chinese economy but to create green jobs in France.”
European governments are revising solar policies after realizing their subsidies were too generous and that developers bought a majority of the panels from
Chinese suppliers including Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. rather than manufacturers such as Q-Cells SE of Germany or Spain’s Solaria Energia & Medio
Ambiente SA. France on Dec. 10 suspended projects for three months as it studies whether to limit construction and further cut subsidized rates paid to solarpower
producers.
The feed-in tariffs, among Europe’s highest, sparked a boom in project applications and France, following similar moves in Spain and Germany, is seeking to
limit the spiraling cost of clean energy for consumers. The French halt applies to projects with a capacity of more than 3 kilowatts. The rules will allow projects
that agreed on earning the subsidized rates more than nine months ago with Electricite de France SA to go ahead as long as generation is started within 18
months.
Source: Mercom Solar Report December 2010
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