Solar Citizens welcomes the NSW Government's new Consumer Energy Strategy which will deliver $290 million over the next two years to help homes and businesses access the benefits of cleaner, cheaper renewable energy.

The new strategy outlines ambitious targets for consumer energy resources, specifically one million households and small businesses having access to both a rooftop solar and battery system connected to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) by 2035.

Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said “It is exciting to see that the NSW Government recognises the potential of behind-the-meter batteries to not only provide energy bill relief to the individuals and households who need it most, but also their ability to soak up the surplus of solar generated during the day and help keep the lights on after dark.

Solar Citizens has today joined more than 50 civil society groups, unions, doctors, parents and fellow environment and climate groups in asking the Federal Government for an Energy Bills Savings Plan to power more Australian homes by rooftop solar and access batteries. 

The Energy Bills Saving Plan includes:

• Investment of an additional $5 billion in funding to reduce or eliminate the upfront cost of installing rooftop solar and home batteries for millions of Australians who could benefit the most from the cost-saving benefits of solar;

• A ten-year investment plan to repower Australian homes and communities with rooftop solar, home batteries and more efficient electric appliances to help cut energy bills and reduce carbon pollution; and 

• Targeted investment in solar for all, with support for households currently locked out of the benefits of solar, including renters, people who live in apartments or social housing and people with low-incomes or savings.

Solar Citizens has today released a new report outlining a national game plan for enabling vehicle-to-grid technology, known as ‘batteries on wheels’, saving households with electric vehicles up to $1000 a year and helping stabilise the energy grid.

V2G technology allows electric vehicle (EV) batteries to be used as mobile energy storage units, storing energy generated from rooftop solar when it is plentiful during the day, and discharging energy back to the grid or back to the home at night or during peak demand periods.

Consumers can be paid by Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) for providing energy back to the energy grid at nominated times, which could generate billions of dollars for people with rooftop solar, electric vehicles and appropriate energy plans [1].

We need a race-to-the-top on solar and renewables in State election

Solar Citizens has launched a 9-point solar plan to save half a million Queensland households about $1,700 per year on their energy bills. 

The plan to deliver an additional 500,000 rooftop solar installations and 200,000 household batteries focuses on the two-thirds of Queensland households that are currently locked out of the rooftop solar revolution.

Solar Citizens is calling for bipartisan commitment for the following clean energy policies:

1. Solar for Rentals

2. Ongoing support for household batteries 

3. Rooftop solar and sustainability infrastructure in strata-titled properties 

4. Electric vehicle charging-ready apartment buildings

5. Solar and virtual power plants for social housing 

6. Energy upgrades for social housing  

7. Energy Efficiency Assessments for low-Income households 

8. Urban Industrial Renewable Energy Zones (SREZ)

9. Queensland’s own Household Energy Systems Strategy

The push from the Federal Opposition and Shadow Minister for Climate Change Ted O’Brien to introduce risky nuclear power in Australia is out of touch with community ambition for solar and renewables

A recent report by the Queensland Conservation Council revealed just one nuclear power plant would push out the equivalent of 45,000 rooftop solar systems out of the system every day.

To make nuclear power plants economically viable, nuclear must run at full capacity. That means a direct clash with rooftop solar whenever the sun is up and to enable nuclear power production during the day they’ll have to stop rooftop solar panels from exporting to the grid. The simple truth is adding nuclear power to the Australian energy mix will undermine the interest of rooftop solar owners. 

Renewable energy accounted for about 40% of Australia’s energy generation last year.

Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast has been chosen as the site of Australia’s first Local Renewable Energy Zone (LREZ). The Caloundra LREZ pilot will provide people living in rentals, units, and people living on lower income to access solar access to cleaner, cheaper renewable energy.

The Sunshine Coast community is invited to discuss how the renewable energy transition can benefit the community, the threat of nuclear power and how they can be a local voice for solar and renewables at a sold-out local energy champions training event on Sunday 25 August.

Energy retailers have started charging households for sunlight with a tariff for feeding their clean, cheap rooftop solar energy into the grid during peak hours during the day. 

Ausgrid and several other energy companies introduced the two-way tariff for residential solar customers in NSW from July this year. The two-way tariff will be rolled out in Queensland in 2025. 

Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said, “In a cost of living crisis, with so many people struggling with electricity prices, it is not a bright idea to penalise people for taking control of their power bills with cheaper, cleaner solar.

“People in NSW were absolutely furious, and Queenslanders will be livid when they find out more about the big tariff rip-off planned for households with solar panels.

A new report released by the Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) has revealed building a 1,000 MW nuclear power station in Queensland in 2040 would knock out 3,700 GWh of cheap renewable energy from the grid.

It is the equivalent of shutting an average of 45,000 Queensland household solar systems every day, according to the new QCC analysis.

Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said, “The new Delayed Reaction report has reinforced what other experts are saying - that rooftop solar and nuclear cannot co-exist - and revealed just how detrimental any proposal for nuclear would be for Queensland solar homeowners’ hip pockets.

Solar Citizens has welcomed the first National Consumer Energy Resources (CER) Roadmap endorsed by Australia’s state and territory energy ministers on Friday as a significant step forward and is calling for urgent implementation.

The new roadmap outlines a national plan for giving households more control over their energy needs, including rooftop solar, household batteries, electric vehicles, and electric vehicle charging. 

Priorities for the new CER Roadmap include:

• the goal of allowing consumers to export and import more power to and from the grid;

• more equitable access to the benefits of CER; 

• nationally consistent standards including for vehicle-to-grid; and

• new consumer protections.

A committed group of community members from Townsville and surrounds will gather tomorrow to discuss how the renewable energy transition can benefit communities in North Queensland, and how they can be a local voice for solar and renewables.

This workshop will be held on July 13 at James Cook University Bebegu Yumba campus and is hosted by North Queensland Conservation Council, Solar Citizens, Friends of the Earth Melbourne, and The Climate Reality Project Australia and Pacific.

Big decisions are being made about the future of renewables and energy in Townsville and Queensland, making now a critical time for political leaders to hear and act on the views of people and communities.

Solar Citizens is calling on the NSW Government to commit at least $10 million per year over the next three years towards electric vehicle charging for apartment buildings across the state.

While year-on-year electric vehicle (EV) purchases have grown, people living in apartments need access to the convenience and lower cost of electric vehicle charging in their buildings.

A former $10 million program from the NSW Government towards the assessment and installation of EV infrastructure upgrades for apartment buildings received a positive community reception and applications closed in less than five months of the program going live.