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 […]
Category: Solar Choice Company News
Important Australian solar PV industry updates and Solar Choice company news.
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Some of the information below may be out of date.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(Information in this article may be out of date.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 […]
Responses to NSW Solar Bonus Scheme Reduction
NSW and Australia’s solar power industry reacted with disappointment to Friday’s announcement from the NSW government that the previous NSW Solar Bonus Scheme60c/kWh Feed-in Tariff would be revoked and replaced […]
SOLAR SHOCK: Government announces retrospective NSW Solar Bonus Scheme Cuts
The NSW government has announced a drastic decision that, in addition to closing the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme feed-in tariff, would retrospectively reduce the NSW feed-in tariff for those already […]
Solar power in the federal budget: outcomes and changes
The budget for the Australian federal government for the next financial year was released this week. This article covers the changes to funding for solar power projects and policies across […]
Queensland solar power feed-in tariff: eligibility changes
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. […]
Leading Solar Power towns are found in regional Australia
As part of Clean Energy Week, the Clean Energy Council has issued a list of the top 20 postcodes for residential solar power in Australia. The ranking was compiled based […]
Update: Solar Credits Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Multiplier to fall to 3x from 5x
The Federal government has announced that the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Solar Credit multiplier for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is to be reduced from 5x to 3x on 1 July […]
Solar Power comes to a Broome resort: Bali Hai
Bali Hai is a luxury resort in Broome, WA for whom Solar Choice recently tendered an agreement for a 55kW solar photovoltaic array installation. […]
NSW Government suspends Solar Bonus (feed-in tariff) Scheme
Energy Minister Chris Hartcher announced this afternoon that the NSW government, facing a budget deficit, has put the Solar Bonus Scheme on ice as of midnight 28 April 2011 due to fears […]
West Australia’s first 100% renewable-powered mine: Wind and Solar
Lithium producer Galaxy Resources is planning to be operating West Australia’s first mine powered by 100% renewable energy within 3 years. The mine is already partially powered by solar panels […]
ACT Solar Feed-in Tariff to remain unchanged at $0.457/kWh
ACT residents who install solar power systems for the 2011-2012 financial year can expect the same generous feed-in tariff rate for systems classified as ‘small’ (read: residential) that was offered […]
Solar Credit (REC) Multiplier to reduce from 5x to 4x from 1 July 2011
(Update: The information in this article is now out of date: according to an announcement by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the REC multiplier is set to […]
Queensland floods and solar power arrays: safety and precautions
The cataclysmic flooding in Queensland has devastated individuals and communities, taking and ruining lives, and leaving large sections of cities and towns underwater. As the flood waters recede and people […]
