The Solar Credits scheme will remain at a multiplier of 2 for another 12 months before being phased out all together as of June 30 2013.

Review more solar credit information from the Clean Energy Regulator.

For all solar power systems due to be installed from 1st July 2012 the reduction in the REC/STC multiplier means you will pay significantly more for your system.

To be eligible for the higher (current) rate your system must be INSTALLED by June 30th 2012.

There is a lead time for site assessment, system design and installation so don’t leave it too late to take advantage of current opportunities. Talk to our solar team today. 

Based on the draft decision, average regulated retail electricity prices will increase by around 16% across NSW from 1 July 2012, or between 10.3% and 19.2% across different electricity supply areas.

These changes follow the past and current average increases of 10% and 17% across NSW in 2010/11 and 2011/12 respectively.

The average price increases will vary for customers of the three regulated electricity retailers as follows:

• 19.2% for Energy Australia customers
• 10.3% for Integral Energy customers
• 17.6% for Country Energy customers

Please see the full report or fact sheet for the weekly impact on residential and business billing.

What is driving these pricing increases?

This year, the increases proposed in our draft decision are primarily driven by:

1. the continuing rise in forecast network costs, which contributes to around half of the average 16% price increase, and
2. the introduction of the Federal Government’s carbon pricing mechanism, which contributes to the other half of the average price increase

Importantly green schemes such as support for solar power or solar hot water contribute 0% towards the price increase unlike what has been recently implied by politicians and the media alike.

 Drivers of increases in average regulated retail electricity prices on 1 July 2012, across NSW (including inflation, %)

Note: ‘Green Schemes’ include all of the Commonwealth and NSW Government schemes designed to reduce greenhouse emissions except for the Commonwealth Government’s carbon pricing mechanism.

More specific detail on the price drivers for the individual energy companies ( Energy Australia, Integral Energy and Country Energy) can be found in the full IPART fact sheet or report.

Recommendations to mitigate future electricity price increases.

In recent years, electricity retailers’ costs have increased significantly and are expected to continue to rise in coming years. These costs must be passed on to consumers in the form of increased electricity prices, if the retailers are to remain financially viable.

IPART recognises that the percentage rise in average electricity bills is likely to outstrip the percentage rise in average household income and therefore many households will spend an increasing proportion of their income on electricity bills, particularly those in low income, high consumption households.

Ultimately, our recommendations are designed to ensure that electricity prices increase by no more than necessary.

IPART strongly supports measures that will help to limit electricity prices increases while maintaining the viability of the electricity retail industry. In this light has made a number of recommendations to the NSW and Commonwealth governments regarding the ongoing management.

Consumer Fact Sheet – Changes in electricity prices from 1 July 2012 – April 2012

IPART Draft Report Electricty price Increases from July 2012

The church, like most organisations, experiences the majority of their power demand through the day when the solar system is in peak production making this an ideal combination for maximum financial return on investment.

The installed solar power system will save around 14 tonnes of carbon pollution each year and will be the equivalent to removing 3.65 cars off the road each year.

This solar installation adds to the existing environmental measures the church have already undertaken including solar powered ventilation, rain water harvesting and a bustling op shop. Visit their website for more information Holy Trinity Anglican Church Terrigal.

For full system specifications download the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Case Study

The government has claimed it was in response to budgetary demands but the opposition has questioned this claiming there is still a significant unused portion of allocated funds to the scheme.

This is another example of the stop-start policy making for the renewable energy industry and shows that the government is struggling to understand that as business and community we desire the need for predictability. These stop start changes are not beneficial in trying to build a clean green future for Australia or a sustainable high quality industry.

Solar Rebate is Scrapped – The Age

Government takes Heat .. Sydney Morning Herald

Subsidies under fire .. The Australian

Solar rebates run hot and cold .. The Age

And from the Fin Review “… it shows the government is struggling to understand the business community’s need for predictability.” which aptly sums up the industry’s perception of the current government.

The government however still remains committed to phasing out electric hot water systems and continued support  to install climate-friendly hot water systems through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (previously known as RECs).

Solar hot water still remains the most efficient and cost effective way to heat water in your household.

The Solar REC Multiplier is due to be reduced in June 2012.

The reduction in the REC multiplier will significantly add to the upfront cost of all solar power systems.

To take advantage of current opportunities talk to our solar team today.

• Australian manufacture by Australian owned company since 1987
• 250 or 315L Stainless steel tank
• Mid height element for high solar efficiency
• No corrosion system – No anode required
• Frost tested to minus 20C
• High performance full copper collectors
• Marine grade aluminum collector casing
• Intelligent controller & pump
• Electric or gas boost options
• 10 yr warranty on tank & collectors
• Thermotec Solar Hot Water Split System

Superior Solar is proud to offer another choice in solar hot water.

2012 has seen another year of significant numbers solar power and solar hot water installations with many taking advantage of current rebates and incentives. The integration of solar products into households has been very positive with reports of reliability, savings on energy bills and a feeling of contribution to the environment rating the highest amongst customer feedback.

According to the CEC 2011 report

• Solar power now accounts for 2.3% of total clean energy generation and Australians from all walks of life are embracing solar PV, including those from so called mortgage belt and retirement suburbs across the country.

• The energy saved from solar water heating is equivalent to 7.2% of the clean energy generated in Australia.

Please review our summary of the Clean Energy Council’s 2011 report for an up to date synopsis on renewable energy in Australia as of the end of August 2011.

Our office will be closed over the Christmas period from Thursday 22nd December and will reopen on Monday 9th January 2012.

For any hot water emergencies in this period please call  0433 777 980

Renewable Energy Year in Review. A summary from the Clean Energy Council (CEC) 2011 Report

In the year to October 2011, just under 10 per cent of Australia’s electricity came from renewable energy.

Australia’s national Renewable Energy Target will deliver 20% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

The industry is expecting that the Federal Government’s carbon price package will signal the beginning of a new era of policy stability that will secure commitment to major clean energy projects.

Investment in clean energy has eclipsed that of traditional energy over the last three years and this shows no signs of slowing down. Investors have started to see clean energy as a safe and lucrative sector to invest their capital.

Australia’s electricity generators produced over 300 terawatt-hours of electricity in the last year to the end of September 2011. The contribution of renewable energy rose to 9.6 per cent of the total electricity produced during this period, up from 8.7 per cent the year before.

Household clean energy technologies

The growth of solar power was one of the stories of 2011 following a record year in 2010, when 380 MW of solar power was installed. As at the end of August 2011, 1031 MW of solar power was installed across the country, representing more than half a million household systems. This is more than nine times the amount of solar power installed as at the end of 2009 and more than 35 times the total installed just three years ago in 2008.

More than 230,000 of these systems were installed in the eight months from January to August 2011.

Large-scale renewable energy projects

There were modest gains for industrial-scale renewable energy over the last year, repeating the pattern from the year before. A dozen large-scale renewable energy power plants have become operational since October 2010, though most of the 400 MW in new generating capacity came from three wind farms and a hydro upgrade. Although this figure is higher than in 2010, it is still well down on the 993 MW of power that came online in 2009.

Electricity prices in Australia have risen about 30 per cent over the last four years.

 There are several factors behind the recent price rises. By far the largest is the need to replace and upgrade the ageing poles and wires of the national electricity grid, some of which have been in service for more than 40 years. Recent estimates suggest that more than $130 billion will be necessary to upgrade the network over the next decade, growing to $220 billion over 20 years. Research indicates that these network costs will cause price rises of up to 66 per cent in NSW and Queensland by 2015. Similar increases are likely in other states and territories.

Other reasons for power price rises include the increasing cost to generate electricity with both coal and gas along with the increased use of energy-intensive appliances such as air-conditioners and flat-screen televisions, which increase peak demand for electricity and overall costs.

Australian Renewable Energy Snapshot

 The renewable energy generated during the 12 months to the end of September 2011 produced enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 4 million average Australian households.

A summary of Australia’s nine major clean energy technologies

• Bioenergy

8.5% of total clean energy generation

• Geothermal

0.002% of total clean energy generation
One geothermal plant is currently operating and another three projects are under development in Australia.

• Hydroelectricity

67% of total clean energy generation
Hydropower produces enough electricity for 2.8 million average Australian homes.

• Solar PV

2.3% of total clean energy generation
Australians from all walks of life are embracing solar PV, including those from so called mortgage belt and retirement suburbs across the country.

• Large scale solar

The nation’s largest solar photovoltaic plant is a 1.2 MW facility at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.

• Solar hot water

The energy saved from solar water heating is equivalent to 7.2% of the clean energy generated in Australia.

• Marine energy

0.003% of total clean energy generation

• Wind energy

22% of total clean energy generation

• Energy efficiency

Water heating is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from Australian homes, with heating and cooling together representing the greatest proportion of household energy use.
Whitegoods such as refrigerators and freezers are major contributors to household energy use, consuming 34 per cent of all energy used by household appliances.
73% of people wanted more information on how to save energy in their households.

Download the full Clean Energy Australia Report 2011 (This a zipped file due to the file size. Download then right click and select extract all)

The demand for managing energy consumption is being driven mostly by the escalating electricity costs and the a sense of doing the right thing for the planet. This new home in Springfield is not quite  completely off the grid but certainly comes close. This home owners goal was for minimal emissions and as energy efficient a home as possible.

Some of the  unique energy savings features are as follows:

• 3+kw solar system installation using Q Cells CIGs thin film solar panels
• Solar hot water system with gas booster
• Ducted fireplace for internal heating
• Reverse brick veneer (cladding on the outside and brick inside)

For the first time homes in more dappled light environments can enjoy the high efficiencies from their solar panels previously only afforded to those in full sun positions.

The Q- Cell CIGs Thin Film panel comfortably works in dappled light as the partly shaded panel keeps working rather than shutting down.

• Q Cells offer the world’s best efficiencies for thin film modules of up to 13.4% (compared to 6% for other thin film products)
• Sleek black aesthetic design
• Good low light performance
• Reliable made in Germany quality
• 10 year product and 25 year output warranty

Learn more about the Q Cells CIG thin film solar panels

The benefits from a solar power system can be substantial if your electricity use is highest as the power is being generated through the day.

Solar power is generated when the sun is shining through the day. For the majority of commercial premises this is exactly when the demand for electricity is highest.

For business this can be a significant step to future proof your electricity expenditure and a positive commitment towards a clean energy future.

Avoca Valley B & B wanted a system to match their electricity needs whilst demonstrating a return on investment over a reasonable period of time.

By calculating their energy usage in peak, shoulder and off peak periods at current electricity rates we were able to design a system that matched their energy demand, saving them approximately $1200 per year with a complete return on investment in under 10 years.

As the cost of electricity increases the ROI is attained in a shorter period of time.

The solar installation was completed in a single day by a team of accredited solar designers and electricians enabling them to maximise their savings immediately.

To discuss a solar solution for your business please talk to our team today.

Avoca Valley B & B

Avoca Valley Bed and Breakfast is situated in the Avoca Beach hinterland on the Central Coast of NSW.   This romantic coastal accommodation has been purpose built as a bed and breakfast and designed to capture the natural light, views and beauty of the central coast environment. Centrally located just 4kms to Avoca Beach, a short drive to the bustling cafes and restaurants at Terrigal Beach, and just 10 minutes from Copacabana, MacMasters Beach and Pretty Beach, Avoca Valley Bed and Breakfast is the perfect spot to base yourselves for your Central Coast getaway.

For more information please review Avoca Valley Boutique B & B

Q Cells Solar Park Ammerland

Q‐Cells delivers 200,000 CIGS thin‐film Q.SMART modules for Solarpark Ammerland

With a capacity of 20.8 MWp, Ammerland is the world’s largest solar power plant using CIGS thin‐film technology and was constructed in the record time of just eight‐and‐a‐half weeks.

The plant was installed on an area of 57ha in Wiefelstede, in the Ammerland district, and has a total capacity of over 20.8 MWp. Solarpark Ammerland will cover the electricity needs of more than 6000 households and save about 11,800 tons of CO2 emissions annually by producing climate‐friendly solar energy.

Review the full press release Q Cells Solar Park Ammerland

Q-Cells Builds Superlative Photovoltaic Power Plant

Brandenburg-Briest solar park is Europe’s largest photovoltaic generating plant at 91 megawatts (MW)
Completion planned in record time of eight weeks by 2011 year end

Q-Cells SE, one of the leading photovoltaic companies in the world, is building Europe’s largest solar park and continuing its 2011 success story in the large-scale
photovoltaic applications business. The solar park being built in Brandenburg-Briest will have a capacity of 91 MW. A total of around 22,500 households will be supplied with renewable energy from the solar park, avoiding CO2 emissions of approximately 50,000 tons per year. 

Review the full press release Q Cells Solar Power Plant

“As Europe’s largest solar park, this project is a clear proof of Q-Cells’ performance ability”, said Nedim Cen, CEO of Q-Cells SE.

Read more about Q Cells CIGS Thin Film solar panels