South Australia to install solar panels in government buildings

Premier Mike Rann of South Australia announced on Tuesday that solar panels will be fixed in all government buildings starting July next year.

Speaking at the Copenhagen climate conference, the premier informed that the South Australian government had came up with a new 2020 energy target that will generate 33 per cent power from renewable sources. The revised target is far higher than Australia’s nationwide 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target (RET).

Under the new policy, state-owned residential buildings will have 1.5kW of solar panels fixed, while other government infrastructures will have a minimum of 5kW installed.

In the conference, Premier Rann had announced as well another initiative to encourage investments in the state’s solar sector. The new scheme will benefit energy investors from payroll tax refund of up to $1 million for wind farm projects and $5 million for big solar energy facilities. He informed that the program will start in July 2010.

While the state’s new initiatives are being welcomed by green supporters, it is still unknown when the South Australian government will switch its feed in tariff scheme from a net system to a gross model. Gross feed in tariffs, one of the best means to stimulate solar power uptake, formed the foundation of Germany in becoming a world leader in solar-based home electricity generation.

Presently, owners of home solar panels in South Australia get 44c for every kilowatt hour of surplus electricity delivered to the grid. Under a gross model, like in New South Wales, all power produced are eligible for the premium rate, making investing in South Australia’s home solar panels an attractive proposition.