A number of changes to the Australian standard for solar photovoltaic (PV) installation standard AS/NZS 5033 came into effect from 16 July 2012, with a 3 month grace period for […]
Category: Solar Choice Company News
Important Australian solar PV industry updates and Solar Choice company news.
Solar Choice Solar System Price Index: August 2012
As of 1 August 2012, the average price per watt of an installed solar system prices sits at about $2.40/watt (after STC rebate) across Australia’s major capital cities (excluding Darwin […]
Clean Energy Week 2012 roundup
Clean Energy Week 2012 presented numerous opportunities for the Solar Choice team to make connections for our commercial solar power activities, meet new installers to potentially join our installer network, speak […]
Solar Choice Commercial facilitates McDonald’s Australia’s move to solar power
With the help of Solar Choice Commercial, the first McDonald’s restaurant in Australia has gone solar. Although the Kilsyth restaurant’s 12kW solar PV system is ground-breaking in this respect, […]
Solar Leasing/”Free Solar Panels”/Pay-as-you-go solar agreements now available in Australia
The so-called “free solar panels” (sometimes called “pay-as you-go solar” or “solar leasing”) business model that has already seen major success in the USA and the UK is now available […]
Dubbo, NSW the Solar PV System Capital of Australia
With over 28% of homes having installed solar PV systems, Dubbo NSW has emerged as Australia’s top solar postcode, according the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Solar Choice has played a major […]
Queensland Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff ‘safe’ after LNP wins election
Update 25 June 2012: The Queensland Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff scheme will be reduced from 44c/kWh to 8c/kWh. Applications to connect to the grid must be submitted by midnight 9 July […]
Australia to see 37% average rise in electricity prices by 2014
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has released a comprehensive review of the future of electricity prices across Australia. This report lends substance to speculation about the topic of energy […]
ACT Large-scale Feed-in Tariff details released
The Australian Capital Territory government released the detailes of its feed-in tariff (FiT) for large-scale and commercial solar power systems. Feed-in Tariff rates will be determined by an […]
30c/kWh Solar Feed-in Tariff through Solar Choice installer
A solar PV installer in the Solar Choice installer network is now offering a 30c/kWh net Solar Feed-in Tariff for New South Wales customers. The offer is applicable to systems […]
Solar Choice announces new Commercial Solar PV Finance Package
Solar Choice Commercial has announced an innovative and unique financing package for customers looking to develop large-scale commercial solar PV projects across Australia. The Commercial Solar Finance package will be a […]
The future of the Queensland Solar Feed-in Tariff
Update 25 June 2012: The Queensland Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff scheme will be reduced from 44c/kWh to 8c/kWh. Applications to connect to the grid must be submitted by midnight 9 July 2012. […]
SA and Victoria Solar Feed-in Tariff Schemes enter next phase
30 Sept 2011 was the last day for paperwork to be in for both the 44c/kWh South Australia solar feed-in tariff and the 60c/kWh Victoria Premium solar feed-in […]
Off-grid solar power system in Sydney’s Western Suburbs
Nev and Linda Sweeney have been living on their 500-square-meter suburban plot in Sydney’s St Clair Suburb since the early 1980s, and have been trying to live sustainably using the […]
Changes to South Australia Solar Power Feed-in Tariff Legislation
Some of the information below may be out of date. For the most up-to-date information on the state of South Australia Solar Feed-in Tariff incentives, see the South Australia Solar […]
Victoria 60c Premium Solar Feed-in Tariff closed. New transitional rate: 25c
The Victoria State government’s Premium Solar Feed-in Tariff (PFIT) program closed on 30 September 2011. A rate of 25c for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity is still available for those […]
Solar Choice at Sustainable House Day 2011
Sustainable House Day (SHD) has taken place every September since 2001. 2010 saw a record 272 homes open their doors to SHD volunteers and over 40,000 local community members with […]
Solar Choice Commercial Tenders Manager Iain McGregor Swims English Channel
Word has just come in that Commercial Solar Tenders Manager Iain McGregor successfully crossed the English Channel on 20 August 2011–propelled only by his own arms and legs. In the […]
Victoria Solar feed-in tariff cap limit approaching quickly
Update on Victoria Solar Feed-in Tariff, 1 September 2011: Deadline to have systems installed for the 60c/kWh rate is 30 September 2011. (Sign up for a free solar power quote comparison to […]
NSW Solar Update: IPART terms of reference released for next feed-in tariff
The NSW government bureaucratic machinery has been set into motion to determine what will be “a fair price for solar power”–‘fair’ depending of course on whose interests you happen to […]
WA Solar Feed in Tariff Closed: What’s next?
–Update 22 August 2011: WA’s solar feed-in tariff scheme is closed to new applicants as of 31 July 2011. Currently, residential Synergy customers are eligible for a 7c/kWh Solar Buyback scheme, […]
WA 44c/kWh Feed-in Tariff scheme application deadline closes
(Information in this article may be out of date. Please check our WA archive page, or our Solar Feed-in Tariff overview page for up-to-date information.) –Update 22 August 2011: the WA solar feed-in tariff […]
SA feed in tariff changes: Results from parliamentary debate
South Australia now offers a rate of 23c/kWh for solar energy exported to the grid. For the most up-to-date information on South Australia Solar Feed-in Tariff incentive rates, see the […]
SA Feed-in Tariff: Rumours about sudden changes
SA solar customers must have received approval to connect to the grid by 30 September in order to take advantage of South Australia’s 44c/kWh feed-in tariff. (Get a free solar quote comparison of the […]
Save Solar Power: National Industry Summit to be held in Sydney
The NSW solar power industry welcomed last week’s news that Premier Barry O’Farrell will not pursue legislation to retroactively cut the state’s 60c feed-in tariff under the now defunct NSW Solar […]
80kW commercial-scale solar roof in WA
A massive rooftop solar power project developed and managed by Solar Choice has recently been completed in Derby, Western Australia. The owner of the shed is a WA businessman who recognised […]
Some good news: Government drops retroactive solar NSW Solar Bonus Scheme reduction plans!
Unable to secure the votes required in the Upper House of Parliament, Premier Barry O’Farrell has abandoned plans to retroactively cut the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme 60c/kWh solar feed in […]
Marsden Gardens Retirement Village Solar Project
Marsden Gardens, a retirement village in Marsden, Queensland, has recently seen the completion of the installation of a large solar panel array, distributed across the roofs of the buildings within […]
ACT feed-in tariff hits 15MW cap, scheme closed
The ACT government has announced that the micro-generator ACT feed-in tariff (45.7c/kWh) scheme has reached or exceeded its 15MW cap and is closed to new applications as of midnight 31 May 2011. This […]
WA Feed-in Tariff Reduction: 30 June 2011 application deadline for 40c/kWh rate
Based on a review by the Office of Energy, the Western Australia government has decided to reduce the state’s solar feed-in tariff rate from 40c/kWh to 20c/kWh. The lower rate […]
Solar power and renewables vs coal: Government subsidisation
With the recent furore over the NSW government’s decision to retroactively reduce the 60c/kWh solar power feed-in tariff, the issue of government subsidisation of energy resources has been brought to […]
