Wow - great find - that's a promising development. I will have to talk to my retailer about it. The import/export metering they are suggesting sounds great. Hopefully customers with solar systems won't have to pay for the new metering installations which could be costly.
You know it's funny, I actually wrote to the Queensland Government about 1 year ago when they were formulating their greenhouse policy about this very issue. Looks like they have taken this suggestion and probably other similar ones and run with them.. great news for the future of solar!
21 June 2007
I am have been a queensland resident most of my life and enjoy the sunny weather we have here. I have decided to do my bit for our future by installing a solar electric grid-connect system on my home.
I read your 'Queensland Greenhouse Strategy' document and was interested in the directions you are taking. I think however that there is an uptapped market in putting power generation into the hands of the individual instead of relying solely on industrial scale power generation.
I was interested to read of the direction Germany has taken on this. They purchase power from people who install solar systems at a rate that is indexed above what they charge for fossil fuel driven retail electricity. This way, individuals are empowered to feed the grid with more than they need, supplying their neighbours clean and green power and getting money back for doing so.
Just today I found some articles stating that the South Australian Government has taken steps in the same direction with their "Feed-in" rebate scheme. Their scheme allows for power customers who create green power to sell it back to the grid at up to double the the standard retail electricity price.
This is a proven scheme that provides real incentives for individuals to make a difference to the environment by outlaying from their own hip pockets for systems that can regaining some of the costs through power sold. This power could then be sold as green energy to other energy customers who are willing to pay a premium. The uptake of solar power installs in Queensland residences would be pushed ahead much faster and help us to meet our renewable energy targets. Please see the attached documents regarding the South Australian case.
I think this scheme should be adopted by Queensland as another leaf in the 'Queensland Greeenhouse Strategy' so that we do not get left behind in solar uptake. I mean - we are 'The Sunshine State' and 'The Smart State' - this is a logical convergence of the two!
I hope this email and the attachments are at least read and possibly passed on to relevant people for consideration and that you have time to let me know that Government's position on such a scenario.
Reply...
Many thanks for your email which has been forwarded to climatechange@premiers.qld.gov.au in relation to the Queensland Government's climate change strategy ClimateSmart 2050. Your submission will be considered with other submissions received during the public comment period on this strategy which ends on 4 July 2007.
Don't wait for the governments - make your own future sustainable.