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The Australian Federal Government has initiated a new feed-in tariff in the ACT (Australian Capital Territories) that will ensure homeowners in the region will receive a premium of 3.88 times the current market rate for their solar-generated electricity for 20 years. The new ACT scheme will pay between 50.05c/kWh for electricity produced by grid connected solar systems up to 10kW and 40.04c/kWh for systems up to 30kW capacity.
This news is a major boon for the ACT region, as compared to other regions where there is a significantly lower rebate, or none at all.
Australia’s Energy Matters site points out that there is a major difference between ACT’s program and others. This particular feed-in tariff program is based on a gross model, under the terms of which all electricity generated benefits from the premium rate. In other states, the net model applies, whereby only electricity generated surplus to the consumption of the particular building being supplied is eligible for the rebate.
Systems over 30kW capacity will have to wait for the government to decide on a tariff system. The Energy Matters report explains that even though the Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) met to discuss the matter of establishing a nationwide feed-in tariff program only a few months ago, it seems there has been little development of the issue since the meeting.
Political group the ACT Greens have stated their intention to lobby on the part of legislation and benefits to encourage medium- and large-scale solar power plant development in the region.
