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The Australian government has announced plans to establish a AUD$10 billion clean energy agency that will be responsible for providing financing for renewable energy, low-emissions and energy efficiency projects. The commercially oriented Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) will focus on supporting large-scale projects with the intention of making a positive return on its investments. Projects that receive CEFC financing will be required to also obtain financing from the private sector.
New South Wales
From June 14, 2011 the Solar Bonus Scheme was closed to new applications. The NSW government says net metering will be available and recommends consumers research energy retailers offering separate financial incentives for customers with solar power systems.
2011
Customers eligible for the €0.45/kWh tariff will see their tariff rate reduced to €0.30/kWh from July 1, 2011 for the remainder of the scheme. Those on the €0.15/kWh tariff will see no change.
November 9, 2010, the Government made a decision to switch from a net scheme to the gross model where 60c/KWh = €0.43.
Queensland
Newly elected Queensland state premier Campbell Newman is rapidly moving ahead with his decision to abolish eight of Labor’s environment funds worth AUD$350 million. In addition to Labor’s environment funds, other programs on the hit list to lose its funding include Queensland Smart Energy Savings Fun, The Queensland Future Growth Fund, The Solar Initiatives Package, The Waste Avoidance and Resource Efficiency Fund and Local Government Sustainable Future Fund. There are also concerns that the AUD$75 million funding put towards Solar Dawn may also be withdrawn.
The Queensland Government Solar Bonus Scheme commenced on 1 July 2008. Grid connect solar owners participating in the scheme were eligible to be paid $0.44/kWh (€0.317976) for surplus electricity fed into the grid.
Southern Territory
On June 23, 2011 changes were made to the program where new connections made under the scheme would receive €0.12/kWh from October 2011, plus an electricity retailer contribution of €0.45/kWh.
2011
Under "The Electricity FiT Scheme-Solar Systems Amendment Act 2008" southern Australia will receive a guaranteed tariff rate of €0.25/kWh for households and small businesses.
From July 1 2008, qualifying South Australian residents began receiving €0.32/kWh. On August 31 2010, Premier Mike Rann announced amendments to the scheme to increase the rate paid to €0.39/kWh minimum.
Victoria
On September 1 2011, the Victorian Government announced the Premium FiT would be closed to new applications from the end of September 2011. The Government is establishing a new transitional scheme that pays 25c/kWh for surplus electricity. The new program will commence January 1, 2012 and will be available for 5 years.
2011
Households in the state of Victoria with solar power systems have been paid a FiT from November 2009. Legislation for the Victorian FiT was introduced on March 10, 2009, then revised and passed on June 25, 2009.
Under the program, Victorian households, community organizations and small businesses who consume less than 100MWh of electricity a year will be credited a minimum 60c (€0.434123) for every unused kWh of power fed back into the state electricity grid.
On July 21, the Victorian Government also announced new initiatives for medium and large-scale solar power installations.
Capital Territory
In June 1, 2011, the Micro Generator category was closed as the installation capacity had been reached, however those who had entered into a contract to purchase a system or paid a deposit prior to this date were still be eligible for the program.
A Medium Generator category for medium scale solar installations greater than 30kW and up to 200kW is still active and like the Micro category has an allocated cap of 15MW. The Medium Generator category pays a rate of €0.26/kWh for electricity generated by a solar array.
The government is planning to introduce a large-scale generation feed-in tariff, with 40MW to be allocated to solar farm-scale projects by a reverse auction process in the next 12 months.
2011
In July 2008, legislation was passed in the ACT's Legislative Assembly for a gross FiT to be implemented and originally paid 50.05c/kWh (€0.0.36) for systems up to 10kW capacity and 40.04c/kWh (€0.29) for up to 30kW capacity. The program was revised in April 2010; from 50.05c/kW to 45.7c/kWh (€0.32) for all systems up to 30kW capacity installed from July 1 and that price will remain in place for two years. All contracts are valid for 20 years from the date of contract.
In September 2010, the ACT government released details of a proposed expansion of its FiT scheme that may incorporate medium and large-scale generators, up to 200kW capacity and beyond.
In April 2011, the ACT Government announced the new medium-scale solar power payment percentage would remain set at 75% of the micro-generator category rate, a price of 34.27 c per kilowatt hour.
Western
Western Australia's feed in tariff installation quota has been reached and the program suspended for new connections. However, Synergy and Horizon Power will continue buying excess electricity fed into the grid from all residential solar power systems systems under the State Government’s Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme.
2011
On May 27, 2010, the Government revealed that the Residential Net FiT Scheme would take effect as of August 1, 2010 and pay a rate of 40c/kWh (€0.289257) for net electricity exported to the grid; in addition to any schemes offered by electricity retailers.
Residential Net FiT Scheme participants will receive the premium rate for 10 years. Solar power systems will be limited in size to 5kW for Synergy customers and 10kW per phase (30kW in total) for Horizon Power customers.
Northern Territory
Customers under the Alice Springs Solar City initiative receive €0.39/kWh, still capped at €3.78/day, but that rate is only for existing customers under the initiative. The funding has been fully allocated now, so no new customers can receive this rate.
For new connections, residential customers wiil receive €0.14/kWh, commercial installations, €0.17/kWh and commercial time-of-use customers will receive €0.22/kWh peak and off-peak €0.12/kWh.
2011
Alice Springs residents can receive a net FiT rate of €0.33/kWh produced. In other areas of the Northern Territory, the rate is €0.10c. Residents are able to sell all the solar electricity they generate back to Power and Water Corporation at €0.33/kWh, which is more than double the cost of purchasing electricity from the grid.
Tasmania
The current FiT rate for Tasmania solar power production is 20c/kWh (€0.144712), but there have been moves to introduce a gross FiT in the state soon.
