Gross Metering Needed?

Michelle Drummond, a member of this group, has joined Phoenix Solar as sales manager and has contributed the following article which argues the need for gross metering if solar is to progress in Australia. Currently our churches are finding the solar option a little too hard, but the opportunity to share in a solar farm concept is gaining some interest. Over to Michelle................

A world in which renewable energies help to secure a higher standard and quality of living is our world

Solar power has established itself internationally as a safe and sustainable source which will meet our future electricity needs. There will be no toxic legacy for future generations as an operating solar power system produces zero waste. Even the payback period on the energy used to produce individual modules has been set at a moderate 5 years, with many companies now incorporating end-of-life recycling to further reduce energy and resource use.

Good environmental sense aside, considerable debate continues about the ability of solar power to meet the increasing power demands of Australians.

German-based Phoenix Solar, a leading European Solar company which plans, builds and operates large photovoltaic plants and is a specialist wholesaler for complete power plants, solar modules and accessories, has no such doubts about the future of the Australian Industry, having recently established its Adelaide-based subsidiary, Phoenix Solar Pty Ltd.

Managing Director Christian Bindel cites Germany’s commitment to its solar industry as a stunning example of what we can achieve in Australia. According to the Germany Ministry for the Environment, solar power produced 4000 GWh (4000 million kWh) of electricity in 2008, allowing over 1 million German households to use an average of 9.87 units/kWh per day each (this correlates to a bill of approximately $180 AUD per quarter) and reducing carbon production by 4 million tons. And all this from a country with shorter summers and snow which covers the panels in winter. The average output from a German solar system is less than two thirds of the Australian average!

However, the German success story is directly related to good Government policy. Crucially, the implementation of a generous Gross Feed-in-Tariff enabled the steady and sustainable development of the industry independent of government support, resulting in substantial investment from business, industry, and the residential market.

In Australia only the ACT has instituted a Gross Feed-in-Tariff, and while many other States offer a reasonable buy back of excess power generated there is still no real incentive for larger investment.
Australia needs to adopt a Gross Feed in Tariff and institute legislation that requires renewable energy to form an integral part of any building process.

• Gross metering will allow commercial investors to create secure investment strategies, thereby encouraging private investment in large scale projects. Independent of government cash rebates and other funding programs, a budget-neutral industry will open up and stand on its own merits.

• Planning certainty for industry participants will enable a strong and sustainable Australian market to be created. Currently, single project opportunities appear, companies with the capability move in, do the work, and then withdraw from the Australian market taking skills and knowledge with them.

Michelle Drummond, Sales Manager for Phoenix Solar Pty Ltd, states ‘The solutions we institute today need to create a safe and sustainable future. Inappropriate solutions will leave a long lasting and toxic legacy for our future generations’.