The Great Solar PV Swindle

Solar Bonus or Solar Bogus?

Queensland ’s recently announced Solar Bonus Scheme was hailed by environmentalists, consumer advocates and energy companies as a major incentive for Queenslanders to produce non-polluting solar energy at home. But is it the great step in the direction of a clean energy future that it seemed to be or has everyone fallen victim to government greenwash?

On 11th March Premier Anna Bligh and Minister of Mines and Energy, Geoff Wilson, announced a 44 cent feed-in tariff for Queenslanders with grid-connected solar photovoltaic (pv) systems.

"At the moment virtually all suburban grid-connected solar pv systems in Queensland feed all the electricity that they produce directly into the grid.” explained Toby Hutcheon, Executive Director of Queensland Conservation. “Any power used by the household is drawn from the grid. Two meters monitor the power used and the power produced and the householder pays for any excess used."

It was assumed that this arrangement would continue, giving householders a bonus for producing clean energy during the daytime high demand period. Electricity retailers usually pay much more than they charge customers for the electricity sourced during periods of high demand but pay far less at other times.

The Department of Mines and Energy has now backtracked, announcing that customers will only receive the new 44 cent feed-in payment for any surplus power they generate.

“This about-face by the government completely undermines the intent of a feed-in tariff” said Hutcheon.

“Very few - if any - of the 5000 people who have registered to buy a 1kW solar PV system through the State Government’s bulk buying strategy will ever get any of the tariff” he continued.

“We urge Minister Wilson and Premier Bligh to commit to clean, green electricity - pay the 44 cent tariff and retain the current metering arrangements.” concluded Hutcheon.

Graph acknowledgements: Trevor Berrill, Sustainable Energy Systems Consultant; and Wendy Miller, Senior Research Fellow - Sustainable Energy, QUT

What this graph means
The household consumption data is from Energex measurements of a significant number of households (over 400 households houses and units) in Brisbane.  The graph shows the average hourly demand of an all electric home (excluding off-peak electric hot water) in the Brisbane area with a daily consumption of 21kWh /day.   Note that this electricity consumption is 30% less than the current SEQ household use (about 32kWh / day). Therefore the consumption graph is showing an optimistic load profile of a QLD household.

The blue line is the PV system output averaged over 1 hour, and averaged over a year (i.e. not representing a bright sunny day nor a cloudy day).  The graph is based on measured data of real, installed and operating PV systems in the Brisbane area.

The x axis is showing hours of the day; the y axis the average hourly consumption and generation in kilowatts.

The graph below shows the same household but with off-peak electric hot water.

Take Action! 

Queensland's MP's will be debating the so-called "Clean Energy Bill" soon. There's still time to make a difference!

Use this list of State MP's email addresses. Queensland Parliament MP list

Let them know how much you value a clean energy future for Queensland. Tell them how disapppointed you are that the government is playing these petty games with our future and that you oppose the "Clean Energy Bill" as it currently stands.

Then email a link to this page to every Queenslander in your addressbook and ask them to do the same. It's easy, just use the 'Tell a Friend' box on the left of this page.