Government Schemes

National Solar Schools Program

The National Solar Schools program offers grants of up to $ 50,000 (GST exclusive) to install solar and other renewable power systems, solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks, and a range of energy efficiency measures. Please see the National Solar Schools Program Guidelines for the full list of eligible items. Schools can apply for grants under the National Solar Schools Program from July 2008 to June 2015.

Federal Government Renewable Energy Target and the Solar Multiplier

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is the centrepiece of the Federal Government's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CRPR has two distinct elements - the cap on carbon pollution and the ability to trade. The cap achieves the environmental outcome of reducing carbon pollution. The ability to trade ensures carbon pollution is reduced at the lowest possible cost. See http://www.climatechange.gov.au/emissionstrading/index.html for more information.

The Federal Government is on the record as saying that they are prepared to reduce Australia's emissions by up to 25% of 2000 levels by 2020, around 45% below business as usual. However, the actual target to be set will depend on the negations in Copenhagen at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2009, and the targets set by other industrialised countries and newly industrialising countries such as China and India. The timetable is for fixed-price period commencing on 1 July 2011, and fully flexible price trading is scheduled to commence a year later.

On 10th August 2009 the Tracking to Kyoto and 2020 report was released. This is an interim update of the previous Tracking to the Kyoto Target projections released in 2008. A full update of the projections will be released in late 2009. To download a copy of the report, visit www.climatechange.gov.au .

The government aims that the CPRS will be complemented by the new expanded national Renewable Energy Target (RET). The national RET Legislation was passed by both Houses of Parliament during early August 2009.

The new national RET (which replaces the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target - MRET - and incorporates all State RETs) expands the target to 20%, or 45,000 gigawatt-hours, of Australia's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020, up from 9,000 GWh under MRET. This will drive investment in a range of renewable energy technologies including solar, wind and geothermal. Please refer to the Department for Climate Change website, and specifically to the following link for the scheme design: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/renewabletarget/publications/pubs/ret_schemedesign.pdf

The RET Legislation includes a 5 times multiplier for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), for solar photovoltaic installations up to 1.5 kW in size. Called the Solar Credit scheme, it is for installations which have not received any rebate under other Australian government programs.

It is also applicable at present for caravans, houseboats, cathodic protection, off-grid home systems and water pumping - provided that there is a mail address, and that there has not been a prior rebate for that address.

To be eligible for the Solar Multiplier, all these systems have to be designed and installed by a CEC-Accredited installer (not all of the above applications require this at present).

If PV systems are not installed by an Accredited installer (regardless of application), then they are only allowed 5 years deemed RECs and no Solar Multiplier.

However, the Solar Credit Regulations are not yet completed. At a very minimum it will be 2 weeks, but more likely longer, before the Regulations are available. That makes it at least September 2009 before the Solar Credit RECs can be traded.

Solar Credits are to be back-dated to 6 June, as promised by Minister Wong when the SHCP was closed). It is proposed that there will be a way for those eligible for the Solar Credits - but who only received 1:1 RECs from 6 June 09 until the Regulations are in - to be reimbursed for the other Solar credits . This form will be on ORER website once Regulations are out.

Many aspects of the Solar Credit Regulations are still unknown:

• Will the same equipment be eligible as under the SCHP and RRPGP schemes?
• How is ORER to deal with avoiding 'double dipping' between schemes (SHCP, RRPGP, NSSP)?
• Will systems still have to be designed and installed by Accredited installer to be eligible for RECs?
• Will an upgrade of a system be eligible for the Solar Credits for the additional panels?

RECs will still have the 12 month creation rule (from installation of system). Please see DCC Fact sheet on Solar Credits.

For a national list of Accredited installers please see the Locations section of our website. For more information please visit http://www.climatechange.gov.au/renewabletarget/index.html or read the attached Australian Government fact sheet.

Australia Government Fact Sheet
Solar Credit - Frequently Asked Questions

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