Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the government could “fine tune” the system that docks pensioner welfare payments if they sell solar power back into the grid.

Pensioners have this week complained that if they install solar panels and sell any excess power, Centrelink counts cash payments and power bill rebates as income.

Mr Rudd on Friday told the Seven Network he’d examine the issue.

“Let’s look and see if there’s any fine tuning possible here,” the prime minister said.

“(But) the pension system has been around for a long time and it counts all forms of income.”

Mr Rudd said pensioners could earn about $150 a fortnight without it affecting their pension. Couples could earn about $250.

“Most of those panels are designed so that you could perhaps feed back into the grid $50 or $60 a fortnight.

“(So) it should be therefore doable without really affecting people’s pension.”

Source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/rudd-to-examine-pensioners-payments-20100430-twz5.html

The company will provide solar panels for the new 4.7MW solar plant in Young’an, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, owned and operated by the Taiwan Power Company, and developed by Fortune Electric. The new plant will almost double the island’s current installed solar capacity of about 5MW, according to Suntech.

Liao Wen Sing, Vice President of Fortune Electric Co., Ltd. stated: “We chose Suntech modules for superior performance and reliability, as seen in utility-scale installations across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. We look forward to working with Suntech on this momentous project – hopefully the first of many large-scale solar plants in Taiwan.”

Suntech will begin delivering the 16,640 advanced polycrystalline modules, each with a peak power output of up to 280 watts, in June 2010. The solar plant is expected to begin production in early 2011. The project is a milestone in Taiwan’s efforts to raise renewable energy production capacity by more than 10GW in the next 20 years, diminish its reliance on imported fossil fuels, and to reduce carbon emissions to year-2000 levels by 2025. Due to the abundant sunlight in Taiwan, it is expected that soon, a great share of the island’s energy will be solar.

Roger Ye, Suntech’s President of Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) stated: “We have great expectations for the entire region. Asia and the Pacific already account for about one-third of the world’s total energy demand, although its per-capita consumption is far less than the world’s average. The region’s booming populations, strong economic growth engines, and abundant sunlight represent an exciting opportunity for solar and for Suntech.

The Asian Development Bank reported in November 2009 that energy demand in Asia and the Pacific will grow by an estimated 2.4 percent annually for the next twenty years, a cumulative 80% increase between 2005 and 2030.

Suntech already delivers its PV products all around the region, including in Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Korea, Thailand and mainland China, among others thousands of customers in more than 80 countries around the world. This global track record is a key differentiator for the brand in both established and emerging solar markets, according to Suntech executives.

Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Chairman and CEO of Suntech said: “The global nature of our operations and experience provides a unique competitive advantage as we grow in emerging Asian markets and around the world. We are working across borders and regions to power sustainable economic growth everywhere under the sun.”

Source: http://www.instalbiz.com/news/12-full-news-taiwan-chooses-suntech-to-power-its-largest-solar-power-plant_550.html

Dodgy home solar panel installations are putting lives at risk and Peter Garrett is solely responsible, if you believe the news reports doing the rounds today.

Except there is nothing out of the ordinary about the number of botched installations, not a single house has burnt down, and most of the solar panels were installed under the previous coalition government in a program launched by then-environment minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The ABC’s “investigation” into solar panel installations has fingered the embattled environment minister for putting about 2000 homes at risk of electrical fire by incorrectly installing the panels. Garrett’s fortunes — already under fire over deadly home fires sparked by roof insulation —  “appear to be going from bad to worse” the AM program declared this morning.

But the firm charged with auditing solar panel installation — and used as the key source in last night’s Lateline story — calls the concerns a “beat-up” and points out most were installed under the Howard Government.

A spokesperson for the Clean Energy Council (CEC) told Crikey “people are making it more political than what it is”. Of the thousands of solar panel installations sparked by the rebate scheme, none have caused a home fire.

The Coalition doubled the rebate on solar panels from $4000 to $8000 in the 2007 federal Budget, sparking a frenzied up-take that more than quadrupled the number of installers operating in Australia. The funding blow-out forced Labor to cut the rebate in half last year and apply a means-testing formula.

Geoff Stapleton conducted the latest audits as a sub-contractor for the CEC and wasn’t surprised by results showing about 3% of systems have been mis-installed. As more solar panels are fitted, more will inevitably be installed badly.

He told Crikey the number of installers has grown from 400 to 1700; about 6000 were installed in the first six years of the program, while the government reported 6000 inquiries in one week alone last year.

Stapleton doesn’t know who took the story to Lateline. And he rejects the program’s assertion that the CEC demanded the latest audits last year — these were requested by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, he said.

The problem systems are being installed on AC power rather than the industry-standard DC voltage. Every industry has its cowboys that will fail to meet installation instructions, Stapleton said. “We take these matters very seriously,” he said.

Australian standards are the toughest in the world and have been taken up globally as industry-standard. “We have standards in Australia that no other country even has,” Stapleton said.

Opposition environment spokesperson Greg Hunt has called for another auditor-general inquiry into solar panel installations (something Garrett says the government will consider). He told AM:

These three programs have all been riddled by mismanagement. Clearly the minister is not across them and there are home owners who that are at risk.

A spokesperson for Hunt is yet to respond to Crikey’s questions over the former government’s own role in the rapid roll-out of solar panel installations.

Source: http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/02/18/garrett-fingered-over-dodgy-solar-panels-but-story-a-beat-up/

Fort Pierce, Fla.-based manufacturer Sol on Tuesday said it shipped 15 of its solar streetlights to Haiti as part of an aid mission. With hospitals operating without power, the lighting can be used to extend the time that doctors can treat the wounded, company executives told WPTV.

Sol intends to donate another 100 of its streetlights, which have a small solar panel mounted above an LED lamp, but it has not yet connected with an organization with the space to carry the equipment.

Access to clean water is another high priority for relief workers in Haiti, which suffered a powerful aftershock on Wednesday. Panel manufacturer SolarWorld said that it is donating enough panels to power 10 water pumping stations operated by nonprofit Water Missions International.

The 10 water purification systems will provide clean water for as many as 175,000 people. “Fuel shortages in Haiti are causing major roadblocks in providing aid,” George Greene, vice president for international programs at Water Missions International, said in a statement.

The difficulty of getting power is a problem for cell phone communications, which have been working intermittently in Port-au-Prince. Dutch company Intivation earlier this week said that it is donating 1,000 solar-powered mobile phones meant for the Port-au-Prince area in Haiti. The phones, which have been offered by Caribbean carrier Digicel for over a year, have built-in solar panels for charging.

Meanwhile, Solar Ovens International is planning on shipping its solar ovens, insulated boxes with reflective aluminum panels that can be used instead of charcoal, President Paul Munsen tells MSNBC. The company, which is taking donations to purchase solar ovens for Haitians, said it is working with a relief organization to send 270,000 meals and solar ovens next week.

by Martin LaMonica
Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10438167-54.html (January 20, 2010 1:22 PM PST)

There have been allegations of widespread rorting of the scheme and claims that shoddy work practices have caused house fires.

The Federal Opposition says poor training has led to injuries and one death, and a Senate inquiry will examine the scheme’s operation.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett has confirmed the rebate will drop from $1,600 to $1,200 per home from midnight tonight.

He says the safety guidelines will include a ban on the use of metal fasteners on foil insulation, mandatory use of covers on downlights and an inspection program in Queensland where most of the problems have occurred.

As part of the changes to the scheme, Mr Garrett says the Government will publish a name and shame list for any “dodgy” businesses or those struck from the installer register.

“There’s no room in this program for businesses that aren’t willing to stand publicly by the quality of their work, so from December 1 all installers on our register must do just that,” he said.

He says the new safety measures follow meetings with representatives from the insulation and electrical trades sectors.

“The ban on metal staples and fasteners will immediately reduce the risk of electrocution for foil insulation installers, while making the application of covers over downlights mandatory goes further than the Australian Standards to further maximise safety,” he said.

He says 11,000 ceilings will be inspected by the end of the year.

The Government says cutting the rebate of its home insulation program will save $250 million.

The Opposition says the introduction of mandatory safety rules and a cut to the rebate for home insulation do not go far enough.

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says better training is needed for installers and wants the rebate reduced to $1,000.

“We know about the dangers, we know about the tragedies,” he said.

“We know this program has not been safe – better training standards are necessary.”

More than 500,000 homes have already had ceiling insulation installed.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/01/2729756.htm?section=australia

“The National Solar Schools Program has been suspended to any new claims in 2009-10. This suspension takes effect as of 3:00pm 15 October 2009,” the notice said.

A spokesman for Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who did not formally announce the program’s closure, said 1300 schools had been approved under the program last year and 500 had already been approved this financial year, with another 700 “still in the pipeline for assessment”.

Those 700 would be funded if eligible, and additional money made available if required.

But no more applications will now be considered until next financial year.

Announcing the program in July 2008, Mr Garrett said “the Rudd Labor government wants every Australian school — primary, secondary, public and private — to have the opportunity to become a ‘solar school’ and the commencement of this half-a-billion dollar program delivers on our election commitment.”

“… Industry too will benefit from the program from the $480 million federal funding injection, creating increased demand for large solar power systems for school roofs,” Mr Garrett said at the time.

The suspension is the latest in a series of changes and cuts to government solar programs, including the introduction of a means test on the household solar panel rebate and the ending of the remote solar program.

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said it was “amazing that this government can waste $16billion on unwanted school halls but suspend a key solar program that every school appears to want”.

The program has already hit implementation hurdles with NSW’s centralised tendering process meaning no school had installed panels more than a year after the program started, and many schools running into problems hooking their panels into the power grid.

Mr Garrett’s spokesman said the Department of the Environment would contact every school registered under the program as well as those with applications on hand to advise of the suspension until next year.

Under the program schools were eligible for up to $50,000 to install solar power systems, or energy efficiency spending on items such as lighting, fans or awnings. Rainwater tanks, small wind turbines, small hydro power generators and skylights were also eligible.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26216449-11949,00.html

About 64,000 applications for the $8000 rebate were in the pipeline when Environment Minister Peter Garrett terminated the scheme, which the government had agreed to honour.

Yesterday, Mr Garrett’s office revealed 55,000 of those applications had been approved, potentially at a total cost of $440m.

The figure is well in excess of the $271m set aside at the last budget to fund the scheme to June 30.

Mr Garrett said yesterday notifications to successful claimants would go out this week.

He defended the scheme, which he said was part of an “unprecedented” investment in solar energy by the government.

“Despite the claims and misinformation of the opposition spokesman, this government has funded over 11 times the number of systems funded in eight years of this program under the previous government,” he said.

“We expect that the availability of solar credits will continue to drive a sustainable solar industry into the future.”

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said the scheme had created a “boom-bust” mentality within the industry.

“It’s another example of the government, and Mr Garrett in particular, having no management control of their systems.”

He said: “They didn’t understand the program, they didn’t manage the program. They’ve cancelled it abruptly leaving everyone in confusion.”

The $8000 rebate was introduced by the Howard government. The Rudd government means-tested it after taking office in 2007.

Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said that in paying out the claims the government had honoured its election promise.

“It did have a transformational effect on solar, which is now much cheaper as a result of the scheme,” he said.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26180700-5013871,00.html

Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson has said the Federal Government will focus on the development of large scale solar power projects, but does not intend to support a national feed-in tariff system.

Opening the Clean Energy Council’s Solar Flagships Forum in Brisbane, Minister Ferguson addressed clean energy industry experts about the Federal Government’s $1.5 billion Solar Flagships program.

“It is the Government’s view that we must move beyond the debate about photovolataic on individual household roofs and look at solar being deployed, at a large scale, and integrated into the electricity grid.”

Mr Ferguson said that the Solar Flagships program would fund a number of large-scale solar power stations. He added that the provision of dependable power to the grid would be important for the delivery of these projects, because intermittent supplies could not guarantee energy security.

He also said that the Government had decided to use the expanded Renewable Energy Target (RET) as the key policy for encouraging new investment in renewable energy generation, rather than a national feed-in tariff.

“I know there are some who talk about feed-in tariffs as providing the solution to ensure greater deployment of solar. Feed-in tariffs are not the solution some make them out to be. In contrast to a technologically-prescriptive and ideologically-based feed-in tariff, the RET is a market based mechanism that does not favour specific technologies.”

Mr Ferguson said that while the Government wants solar energy to succeed, it would not solely back solar at the expense of other renewable technologies.

Boston Consulting Group has been engaged by the Government to undertake a market study and develop a business model. Guidelines for program applicants are expected to be issued by the end of 2009.

The Government intends to work with the Australian Solar Institute, which was established in early 2009 through the allocation of $100 million from the Federal Government’s Energy Innovation Fund.

Mr Ferguson also mentioned the changes announced in May to the Federal Government’s Renewable Energy Demonstration Program, which resulted in solar applicants no longer being eligible for the program. He said that solar applicants can instead participate in the Solar Flagships program or apply for funding from the newly established the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy.

Source: http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/federal_government_targets_large_scale_solar/008111/

The rebate can be worth up to $7,750 but it will vary over time and depending on location.

The federal government axed a previous, more generous solar rebate in June, and set up the new rebate as part of the Renewable Energy Target scheme, which passed parliament last month.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong announced on Thursday that the rebate was up and running and would be backdated to June 9.

Unlike previous rebates, this one is available to businesses and community groups as well as homes.

It also covers small-scale wind and micro-hydro systems.

Source: http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/new-solar-rebate-takes-effect-20090910-fiup.html

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s Senate passed legislation Thursday to require that 20 percent of the country’s electricity come from renewable sources such as the sun and wind by 2020, matching European standards and up from about 8 percent now.

The bill is certain to be endorsed by the government-dominated House of Representatives later Thursday and become law.

The law would quadruple the renewable energy target set by the previous government in 2001 and provide enough clean electricity to power the households of all 21 million Australians.

The target matches one set in 2007 by the European Union, which leads the world in green power technology.

But some officials warn that more aggressive cuts in carbon gas emissions are needed as well.

The bill was passed after the government reached a deal with the main opposition party to increase government assistance to industries that are heavy users of electricity and create safeguards for existing investment in the coal mining industry.

Sen. Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens minor opposition party, said the target should be 30 percent and that big polluters were offered too much government assistance.

Sen. Bob Fielding, an independent, said the bill will make power too expensive.

“It’s mums and dads that will be subsidizing wind-powered electricity, solar — these are very expensive,” he said.

Currently, 8 percent of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable sources, including hydroelectric generators built late last century, according to the private Clean Energy Council.

Critics argue the target will make electricity more expensive in coal-rich Australia without curbing the amount of climate-warming carbon gases that the nation emits, as overall electricity consumption rises.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong told the Senate on Wednesday that even with one-fifth of Australia’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020, the nation’s carbon gas emissions are projected to be 20 percent higher than 2000 levels.

“The only way we’re going to be able to turn around the growth in our carbon pollution … is to put a firm legislated limit on the amount of carbon that we produce and make those who create the pollution pay for it,” Wong said.

Last week the Senate rejected a government-proposed bill that would have taxed industries’ carbon emissions starting in 2011 and slashed the country’s emissions by up to 25 percent below 2000 levels by 2020.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJ0rDI2fay9CB4ngpuR84UrEmyfwD9A6C5U00