Solar Bondi

Two solar photovoltaic (PV) systems were installed at Bondi Beach in January 2010. The Bondi Surf Pavilion and Bondi Surf Bather’s Life Saving Club received the solar power systems as part of Council’s ‘Go Solar’ project in partnership with Green Solar Group.

A 2kW system was put on each of the iconic, heritage listed buildings. Over their 25 year lifetime, the two systems in combination will:

  • Generate over 160,000 kWh of electrcity free from the sun
  • Save close to $25,000 on energy bills
  • Help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Waverley LGA by 160 tonnes of harmful CO2.
  • Encourage the public community about the benefits of renewable energy and solar power technology.

Now is the time to take advantage of the various incentives programs on offer from both Federal and State levels of government. These help to provide financial support to residents and businesses wanting to do their bit in reducing their carbon footprint. Along with these incentives, Council are also making the process easier for you by waiving all fees associated with the installation of a solar pv or solar hot water systems under the ‘Go Solar’ program. This includes all fees for complying development, development application and construction certificates.

Looking to install a solar PV or solar hot water system?

For more information visitwww.reduceyourfootprint.com.au

Small Scale Renewable Energy Schemes (SRES)

There are various energy savings schemes and incentives available for those installing renewable energy technologies such as solar pv or solar hot water systems.

Purchasers of solar pv or solar hot water systems may be eligible to gain renewable energy certificates when purchasing and installing renewable energy technologies. Owners of the system can receive a discount off their system in exchange for the certificates. The number of certificates received will depend on the size of the system to be installed. Your renewable energy installer will be able to provide you with more information specifically for your installation.

For more information on rebates and what you may be eligible for, please visit http://www.energymatters.com.au

NSW Solar Bonus Scheme

The Solar Bonus Scheme is the NSW Government's gross feed-in tariff scheme. With this, energy retailers were required to pay owners (for systems connected before 27 October, 2010) a premium of 60c/kWh for ALL the electricity that their system generated until December 31, 2016. Following changes to the scheme in late 2010, the gross feed-in tariff has now been reduced to 20c/kWh until December 31, 2016 for all systems connected after 27 October 2010. The NSW Government originally set a cap of 300 MW connected capacity before closing the scheme. Due to the popular uptake of solar technologies, the Solar Bonus Scheme was reviewed as it was rapidly approaching the 300 MW capacity cap.

Current status of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme

The NSW Government recently announced that from midnight, April 28 2011, the solar bonus scheme  would be closed to new applicants. In addition, the 300MW capacity cap will be abolished and once all applications received before April 28 are processed, the resulting eligible applications connected to the system will provide a total of about 365 MW to the electricity grid sourced from the renewable technology of solar.

Changes to the gross feed-in tariff rate will also be implemented pending legislation to support these changes.

As of July 1 2011, all systems connected before 27 October 2010 and currently receiving the 60c/kWh tariff rate will receive a rate of 40c/kWh until December 31 2016. For systems already connected and receiving the 20c/kWh rate or for those who applied to the scheme before April 28 2011 will still receive the 20c/kWh (if eligible)  until the scheme ends in 2016.

NSW Solar Bonus Scheme factsheet

For more information on the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme please visit:

NSW Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure & services  website.

GreenPower

Is your home or business unsuitable for a solar pv system or solar hot water? Don’t worry; there are other options available to you so you can still contribute to reducing your environmental impact simply and easily.

GreenPower is a government accredited program which provides electricity that is sourced from renewable technologies  This means that the electricity provided to power residents homes or businesses premises is being sourced from renewable technologies such as solar, wind, water or waste, which have no resulting greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing Greenpower, you’re helping to invest in a more sustainable future with a cleaner environment instead of continuing to rely on electricity being sourced from the burning of finite fossil fuels such as coal.

For more information on Greenpower visit www.greenpower.gov.au