Solar News
TUESDAY 11 MAY, 2010
Renewable Energy -
The 2010/2011 Federal Budget saw the Australian government committing a further $652.5
million over four years to establish a Renewable Energy Future Fund; to support small
and large scale clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives.
The Renewable Energy
Future Fund will form part of the Government’s expanded $5.1 billion Clean Energy
Initiative and complement the existing support provided through the Government’s
expanded Renewable Energy Target of 20 per cent by 2020. This additional funding
brings the Government’s total investments in renewable and clean energy and energy
efficiency to over $10 billion.
Details of the specific commitments under the Renewable
Energy Future Fund will be announced shortly.
The Government also announced a further
$110.5 million from existing renewable energy programs in the following projects:
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Also announced were eight projects that
have progressed to the second stage of assessment for Round One of the $1.5 billion
Solar Flagships Program. Each will share up to $15 million in feasibility funding
for the next stage. The projects are:
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The Government intends to announce the two final successful
applicants -
19th Feb 2010
Federal Government announces important changes to their Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme.
On 19 February 2010 the Government announced that a new household Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme will assist households to save money on power bills and reduce their carbon emission.
This new Scheme will replace the Home Insulation Program and the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program both of which are discontinued as of close of business today 19 February 2010.
From 20 February 2010, the rebate on solar hot water systems is reduced from $1,600 to $1,000 and the rebate on heat pump systems is reduced from $1,000 to $600.
Transitional Arrangements until 19 March 2010
Transitional arrangements have been put in place for people who paid for or ordered their hot water systems prior to 20 February 2010.
Eligible solar or heat pump hot water systems purchased or installed prior 20 February 2010 may be eligible for a $1,600 rebate for solar hot water or $1,000 for heat pumps, if proof of purchase or installation prior 20 February 2010 is included with the application.
Applicants who ordered or made partial payment for their solar or heat pump hot water systems but had not had their system installed prior to 20 February 2010, must include written evidence of their order with their rebate application. A receipt for a deposit or a copy of their supplier’s order form is required. A quote is not sufficient evidence of an order.
In all cases final decisions regarding rebate eligibility will be made by the Government.
Arrangements after 20 March 2010
IMPORTANT: All applications received from 20 March 2010 will be assessed for $1,000 for solar hot water and $600 for heat pump hot water systems, regardless of installation date.
Program guidelines for the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme will be available shortly.
Further information is available on phone 1800 808 571.
Electric Hot Water Heaters from 2010
(2009)
A standard residential electric hot water system produces around four tonnes of greenhouse gases each year. That’s 2.5 times more greenhouse gases than other more efficient technologies and the equivalent of running an average sized car for a year. To address this issue the Federal Government has announced that from 2010 it will make it mandatory to install.
To help the 50 per cent of existing Australian households that have an electric hot water system to reduce their electricity bills and Australia’s greenhouse emissions, the Australian Government has committed to:
Working with State and Territory Governments to phase-
Federal Budget includes $4.3 billion for improving the Energy Efficiency of Australian Homes
(12 May 2009)
More than three million Australian households are set to benefit from the largest energy efficiency rollout Australia has ever seen.
The $4.0 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package will install ceiling insulation in 2.9 million homes and help more than 300,000 additional households install a solar hot water system.