The Nature Conservation Council of NSW welcomes State Government plans for a solar feed-in tariff and urges commitment to a ‘gross’ feed-in incentive for people who return electricity to the grid.
“Photovoltaic systems are a mature technology providing a relatively easy way for households to produce electricity that is ‘carbon free’. Rewarding households’ clean energy production with a solar feed-in tariff is a practical way for the state to diversify its power supplies and move towards a more sustainable energy future,” Cate Faehrmann, executive director of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said today.
“The Nature Conservation Council strongly advocates a ‘gross’ tariff system where households, businesses and community groups are paid for all the electricity they produce and return to the state electricity grid.
“A ‘gross’ approach provides a powerful incentive for solar panel installation as clean energy generators can plainly see the financial benefits returned to them every time they feed into the grid. Energy generated by solar reduces the demand on the network overall most often during peak periods thus extending the life of existing electricity assets.
“The Nature Conservation Council urges the NSW Government to go further than its solar feed-in proposal and explore opportunities for developing and promoting other renewable energies, such as wind, tidal and hydro. Sourcing 25 per cent of the state’s power from renewable energy alone would create $9 billion in new investment and reduce electricity sector emissions by 13 per cent.
“We would also like the Government to take a leadership role and help push for a national gross solar feed-in system allowing for nationwide greenhouse gas emission reductions and greater renewable energy industry development,” Ms Faehrmann said.
