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subprograms and aims to replace diesel fuel used in off-grid applications via grants
covering up to 50% of renewable energy component costs. Although not PV specific,
almost all of the smaller installations incorporate PV and over 2 MW p of PV had been
installed by 2003 (Watt, 2004).
A PV-specific program, the ‘PV Rooftop Program’, has operated since 2000 and is
available for both grid and off-grid rooftop systems. It aims to develop BIPV
technologies and installation techniques. Grants are available for residential systems
as well as for community buildings. More than 5000 systems using over 6 MW p of
PV were installed by 2004. This was the first support program for grid-connected PV.
Grants are also available via State Governments and electricity utilities for PV
installations on schools. Educational material is also supplied.
The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games aimed to be the ‘Green Games’, and support was
provided for sustainable technologies. Over 600 sustainable energy houses were built
near the Olympic Village. Some of these were initially used for the athletes and then
sold for private housing. Each home incorporated 1 kW p of PV. Several other PV
systems were installed in the Olympic complex, including a 70 kW p array on the
Superdome roof, several PV water pumping systems and a PV lighting system outside
the main stadium that, with its distinctive blue PV lighting towers, has become the
symbol of the games facilities. Many of these installations were built by electricity
retailers for their GreenPower customers (see below).
An Australia-wide Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) for grid electricity
supplies began in 2001. A total of 9500 GWh of renewable electricity, additional to
supplies previously available, mainly from large hydro schemes, must be supplied
each year by 2010. This level of renewable energy generation must then be
maintained to 2020. The scheme operates via the creation of one Renewable Energy
Certificate (REC) for each MWh of renewable electricity. RECs can be deemed for
small-scale applications, such as residential PV systems. To date, MRET has had
little impact on PV sales, since the deeming period was initially set at five years.
However, this is to be extended to 15 years, which may boost PV installations. For
details of MRET, the background legislation and operational aspects, see ORER
(2004).
Green pricing schemes were pioneered in 1997 in Australia by the New South Wales
Government Sustainable Energy Development Authority (which ceased in 2004) and
have since spread to other states (Greenpower, 2004). Electricity retailers offer
various schemes with, for example, mixes of PV and other renewable energy
generation guaranteed to be added to the ‘pool’ from which GreenPower customers
draw their electricity (Ibid.). Several large PV systems have been installed by utilities
to service their GreenPower customers, including the Olympic Park systems
discussed above. Other GreenPower installations include a 400 kW p PV system in
Singleton NSW by EnergyAustralia and two 50 kW p arrays at the Western Plains Zoo
in Dubbo and at Queanbeyan by Country Energy.
A new ‘Solar Cities’ scheme was announced in 2004, and is aimed at evaluating high
penetration rates of PV, solar water heaters and energy efficiency measures in
nominated areas, particularly those experiencing summer peak loads (Commonwealth
of Australia, 2004).
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