THE introduction of a residential net feed-in tariff to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable energy is expected to spark a rush on roof-mounted solar panels once the scheme takes effect in August.
THE introduction of a residential net feed-in tariff to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable energy is expected to spark a rush on roof-mounted solar panels once the scheme takes effect in August.
But some renewable energy suppliers believe the scheme, although a good start, does not go far enough to encourage greater focus on energy efficiency and sustainability.
The state government has committed $23 million to fund the scheme, which will enable metropolitan residents to sell surplus energy into the state grid.
The scheme will be limited to systems of up to 5 kilowatts for Synergy customers, and up to 10kW per phase for rural customers of Horizon Power.
Participants will receive 40 cents per kilowatt hour for net supplies sold into the grid, ensuring a minimum payback of 47 cents including rebates owing under the existing renewable energy buyback scheme.
“This provides a genuine incentive for home owners to install renewable energy systems, which not only has a positive impact on the environment but it will also help householders manage their electricity bills,” state energy minister Peter Collier said.
Solar panel supplier UNLTD Solar managing director Kieron D’Arcy said he expected the scheme to boost solar panel purchases by up to 50 per cent.
While the scheme was a “good first step”, he said it could have gone further.
“It is just a first step – 47 cents and a 5kW maximum is not an aggressive move by government, it is a very conservative first step,” he said.
When it was first flagged last year, a gross feed-in tariff was mooted that would pay homeowners for all energy produced by their systems.
Mr D’Arcy said a gross feed-in tariff would make the cost, which can top $5,000 for a 1.5kW system, more appealing to the average householder. He also supported extending the scheme to include commercial users with systems up to 30kW.
But any extension of the scheme must take into account the potential interference to the grid caused by a flood of solar power at the same time during the non-peak demand period each day.
Fitting 500,000 homes with a 1.5kW system would be akin to bringing on a 750 megawatt power station in the non-peak period of the day.
At an energy forum last month, Western Power general manager of systems management Ken Brown warned that if every Perth home was fitted with such a system, “the entire Perth grid would collapse”.
There are currently approximately 15,000 such systems in Perth, with an estimated 1,000 being installed monthly.
