Rebates power solar uptake

The Land
Thursday 24/4/2008 Page: 32

WITH an abundance of sunshine and plenty of infrastructure to host solar panels, NSW primary producers have at their fingertips the perfect opportunity to set themselves up for cheaper power bills, a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas and even a long-term secondary income. However, solar energy equipment suppliers say the fast-growing take-up of green energy has so far been more widespread among environmentally-conscious urban dwellers than the agricultural sector.

Since the Federal Government last July brought in a range of rebates to increase the amount of electricity produced by renewable energy sources, solar equipment suppliers say business has boomed - but 95 per cent of it has come from householders looking to power hot water systems and other domestic appliances. The rebates include covering 50pc of the cost of renewable energy equipment and a $1000 offering for replacing electric water heaters with solar for household incomes under $100,000 per annum.

The sun's energy is Australia's largest potential power source and offers two types of energy - heat and light. Thermal collectors collect heat while photovoltaic (PV) cells collect light and convert it to electricity. Panels of PV cells are becoming more common across urban roofs, thanks largely to widespread attention to climate change, and households can now set up systems whereby solar electricity is stored in the mainstream grid until needed, giving people the security of the grid. A 1.5kW solar power system has an area of about 11 square metres and generates around 1800 kilowatt hours of electricity. It would typically cost about $20,000.

According to the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, more than 2000 homes in NSW now use solar power and are therefore preventing the emission of nearly 2500 tonnes of greenhouse gas every year. That number is growing fast. NSW regional power authority Country Energy says since July, the number of systems it has brought online where power garnered from solar panels is fed back to the grid has more than doubled.

The company's environmental portfolio manager Catherine Gordon Bathurst, said interest from farmers was based on reducing input costs and protecting the environment. The potential for generating a secondary line of income was there, however it generally took many years for that to eventuate, she said. Country Energy has in fact set up its own solar farm in Queanbeyan, where 720 panels each have a 77 watt capacity with a total system capacity of 50 kilowatts. Electricity is fed directly into the Country Energy grid and each year the farm produces 60,000kW of electricity - enough to supply about eight to ten homes, Ms Gordon said.

"It produces no greenhouse gases and saves about 60t of greenhouse gas emissions, that would otherwise have been created by coal-fired power stations, annually," she said. Since July, more and more farmers looking to replace diesel pumps were also turning to green energy, according to one of Australia and New Zealand's larger suppliers of renewable energy products, Energy Matters. Company spokesman, Max Sylvester, Melbourne, said solar pumps capable of processing 100,000 litres of water a day were now being supplied to an average of two farmers a week. Most were going to beef producers in NSW and Victoria, he said.