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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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