Solar is soaring ahead with reports into electricity companies pricing of solar households, Europe connecting its largest rooftop solar system and more big solar being installed in the ACT. The only downer of the week has been the announcement that Tasmania will have the feed-in tariff slashed as of the end of August.
Reports have conducted into the deals offered to solar powered homes. Electricity retailers treat solar homeowners differently to non-solar homeowners. The report looked into the availability of information on solar deals as well as the feed-in tariffs offered. Customers in some states may not be aware that in exchange for feed-in tariffs they may be losing their lower rates and discounts. The study concluded that solar owners need to be treated more fairly and information more readily available. Solar deals should be displayed and marketed in the same way that other deals and specials are. Click here to read the full article.
Europe’s largest rooftop solar system has been completed and connected to the grid. The 8.1MW solar system is, of-course, in Germany atop the Pfenning Logistics building. The two warehouses combined 11 hectares is covered with 33 000 solar panels facing east and west. It will have two peak periods of power generation – one in the mid-morning and one in the mid afternoon. It was designed this way as the system was installed for self-consumption. Click here to see the full article.
The ACT’s solar auction was won by a Chinese bid to install a 13MW solar farm at Mugga Lane as well as an Australian company looking to install a 7MW solar farm. This together with the previous auction 20MW Royalla Solar Farm will generate enough electricity to power 10 000 homes. The new utility-scale solar systems will cement the ACT as Australia’s solar capital. Click here to read the full article.
Tasmania is the next to join the ranks of governments that have slashed the feed-in tariff for new solar systems. Once again, potential customers have been given until the end of the month to submit a connection application to install solar power and still receive the higher 1:1 feed-in tariff currently offered. This feed-in tariff has also been guaranteed until the 1st January 2019 for those that currently have it or apply before the cut-off date. Any systems applied for after September 1st will only receive an 8c feed-in tariff. This is an interim tariff for systems applied for between September and December. What will happen thereafter is yet to be decided. Click here to read the full article.
Have a good weekend everyone!