Queensland Solar Increases 84% Since 2010

Energy and Water Minister Stephen Robertson told Parliament that the state is entering a huge milestone in its attempt to double the use of solar power in Queensland . Currently the state has increased more than 80% in just a span of 1 year.

The state’s additional solar bonuses and schemes were implemented last July 2010 to aid households who want to make the switch to solar power. The bonuses and schemes have been a huge success; the 84% increase means an extra 227,000 households with solar hot water systems, and about 125,000new solar panel installations. The tremendous growth in figures continues to rise daily as more Queenslanders take advantage of the bonuses and solar benefits.

A big incentive of the extra subsidy was directed towards retired and pensioned residents, who have received a $1000 rebate (for the upfront payment alone) and the rest receives $600. This is on top of the existing federal government rebates. In general a solar hot water system in the state will only cost $2000-$3000 after subsidies, depending on the size and the brand of the system.

Minister Robinson said that hot water accounts for about 30% of the total electricity bill of a typical in Queensland and that soalr hot water can slash that figure down to 5%. With only a small outlay which is affordable for many households it’s not surprising how many have taken up the offer; as of this month more than $12 million was spent by the government to subsidise solar hot water alone.

Another big reason why solar hot water has been such a big success in the state in the last 12 months was timing; as natural disaster hit many areas over summer a lot of water heating systems were damaged. Instead of replacing them with expensive auxiliary powered systems many people turned to solar as a much better alternative.

"This is practical help to assist the many families throughout Queensland who lost everything during the devastating floods and Cyclone Yasi," he said.

The minister also said that he is very happy that Queenslanders are embracing solar as a better way to heat water and produce electricity. He added that the state will see more system installation in the coming months as another $32.9 million solar package was recently tabled.



In a further exciting development for renewable energy projects in Queensland, it has been announced that $1.2 billion investment into solar energy and other renewable energy sources will take place in the outback by the year 2013. The "Solar Dawn" project will utilise Australian technology to further transform Chinchilla and other remote parts of Queensland into the Australian capital of renewable energy.

The proposed project is part of the Australian Government’s Solar Flagships Program, which aims to provide the foundation for large-scale, grid-connected solar power. The aim is to accelerate the commercialisation of solar power in Australia and encourage the major investments and job opportunities this will create. It is part of the Australian Government’s $5 billion Clean Energy budget.

Construction will take place just 300 Km west of Brisbane and the project will commence at the beginning of 2013, just a year after the carbon tax is implemented. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that Queensland’s extremely favourable solar radiation profile will help power the state profitably and reduce its high carbon emissions at the same time. She added that the project is a proof that the carbon tax will make it possible to propel the economy while at the same time keeping the environment protected.

The project is expected to open doors to about 300 jobs directly and another 1000 jobs indirectly. The 250 megawatt solar thermal gas hybrid project is expected to power nearly 70,000 homes and reduce about 500,000 tons of carbon every year.

PM Gillard said that projects like this will make solar power in Brisbane , in Chinchilla and in all of Queensland cheaper and more viable and soon enough throughout the nation.

The Solar Dawn project is also expected to boost more solar power and renewable energy investment throughout the region and will serve as proof that the carbon tax will help industrial scale investments become more feasible and appealing to major investors both from Australia and overseas.