Australia: The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) strongly welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of a feed-in-tariff for large-scale solar power installations and the state’s new target of generating 5 per cent of its electricity from large solar by 2020. The Government’s announcement is likely to see the contribution of renewable energy in Victoria grow to 25% by 2020.
Ian Porter, the ATA’s chief executive, said: “With the national Renewable Energy Target (RET) now acting as bedrock for a renewable energy future, we are glad to see individual states beginning to identify their niches and looking for growth in specific renewable energy technologies.”
“The Victorian Government’s 2020 and interim 2014 solar targets, on top of the existing RET, should catalyse a strong investment in large-scale solar.This will complement investments in wind power already under way and start to give us a strong and diverse clean energy mix.” Mr Porter said.
“And the feed-in-tariff represents an excellent policy tool for supporting a specific technology like solar, as it also does for smaller-scale investments in rooftop photovoltaics.”
In congratulating the Victorian Government for this important step, the ATA noted that the challenge was now on for other states and territories to emulate Victoria’s approach. “For example, the South Australian Government has been looking at a new major wind power zone, and Queensland has launched its Renewable Energy Plan. These initiatives seek to leverage off the RET, but without the additional financial incentive offered by a large scale feed-in-tariff,” Mr Porter said.
“We need to move to a significant expansion of both large and small-scale renewable energy technologies as soon as we can, with the greatest possible diversity of sources and engagement of people and their communities. This will unlock our ingenuity and lower the cost of this vital transition.”
With this in mind, the ATA also strongly supported the Victorian Government’s announcement of a working group to develop further incentives for medium-scale renewable energy installations.
“We still have a gap in incentives for community-scale renewable energy such as Hepburn Wind’s 4MW community-owned wind farm in Victoria,” Mr Porter said.
“Community renewable energy projects are another great way of engaging communities in the climate challenge and will be a strong part of a diverse and resilient energy future.”
Source: http://www.ata.org.au/news/a-strong-step-towards-a-solar-future/
