Solar Citizens has welcomed the news that South Australia will become home to the world’s biggest battery, again. SIMEC ZEN Energy will build a battery even bigger than the Tesla battery in Port Augusta to support its investment in large-scale solar in Whyalla after receiving a loan from the South Australian Government.

“The world’s biggest battery 2.0 shows that South Australia is a world leader in renewable energy and storage. While Federal politicians handed lumps of coal around parliament, South Australia has been using its leadership role to support practical solutions that will make our electricity cleaner, cheaper and more reliable,” Dan Spencer South Australian Campaigner with Solar Citizens said.

“Just in the last year South Australia has attracted the country’s first battery manufacturer, broken world records for new large battery technology and secured the world’s largest solar thermal tower with storage to be built in Port Augusta. All of these projects mean new jobs for South Australia,” Mr Spencer said.

“South Australians are proud that we lead the way and no matter what the result on Saturday it’s clear that the Federal Government’s attempt to slam the brakes on clean energy in South Australia was doomed to fail. In the 21st century, if you back technology from the 1950s over smarter, cleaner 21st century technology you are bound to lose,” Mr Spencer said.

“With one day till polling day, only Steven Marshall opposes keeping a strong South Australian renewable energy target. Mr Marshall has 24 hours to turn his no into yes and back the South Australian community who know that renewables and storage is the surest way to reduce power prices and cut pollution,” Mr Spencer said.

For media inquiries: Dan Spencer 0423 865 632

Solar Citizens has welcomed Premier Jay Weatherill’s commitment to increasing South Australia’s renewable energy target to 75% by 2025 and implement Australia’s first renewable storage target if re-elected on March 17.

“Building more solar, wind and storage is the cleanest and lowest cost way to power South Australian homes and businesses. It’s fantastic that Premier Weatherill has committed to increasing South Australia’s renewable target and funding Australia’s first renewable storage target,” Dan Spencer South Australian campaigner with Solar Citizens said.

“Projects like Port Augusta’s solar thermal plant and the world’s biggest virtual power plant starting on housing trust homes put this target well within reach and importantly, it’s being backed up with targeted funding to achieve it,” Mr Spencer said.

Solar Citizens has been calling on all political parties to commit to increasing South Australia’s renewable target ahead of the South Australian election. So far, The Greens and Labor have committed to increasing the renewable target.

“Premier Weatherill’s commitment to increasing South Australia’s renewable energy target will be welcome news to the majority of South Australians who want to see the state’s abundant sun and wind harnessed with 21st century renewable technology,” Mr Spencer said.

“We’re urging Steven Marshall to drop the Liberal Party’s thoughtless plan to scrap South Australia’s renewable target,” Mr Spencer said.

For media inquiries: Dan Spencer 0423 865 632

A new solar milestone has been reached in Australia with 1.8 million households and businesses now generating their own clean power from rooftop solar says community group Solar Citizens.

"Rooftop solar is getting more and more popular across Australia with many people turning to solar to take back control of their spiralling power bills," says Shani Tager, Senior Campaigner at Solar Citizens.

Ian Fletcher is one Sydney local who depends on cost-cutting solar to beat the heat in summer.

“I decided to get solar after the cost of electricity went up 30 per cent,” says retired homeowner Ian Fletcher.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out that solar saves on power bills. My latest bill was $7.91.”

Ian credits the savings that he’s made with solar for being able to afford to run his air conditioning unit at night.

“I can sleep at night because my solar allows me to run the air conditioning unit in my bedroom. How else can you sleep in 30 degrees?”

Although, Ian concedes that he was lucky to be able to afford the upfront costs. “I think everyone would like to have solar, though how is a low-income person supposed to afford a solar system? What about elderly people? Some pensioners can’t afford it.”

Solar Citizens is calling on all Governments to do more to enable low-income households, apartment dwellers and renters to access the benefits of solar.

“There are simple steps Governments can take to boost access to solar, like no interest loans, incentives for landlords and rolling out solar panels on public housing stock,” said Ms Tager.

“Helping more households go solar won’t just benefit individual power bills – our Solar Savings report showed that rooftop solar benefits all energy consumers by reducing peak grid demand.”

“Our report found that without small-scale solar pumping out clean power, the wholesale price of power in NSW would have been 33-50% higher, which works out to a saving of between $2.2-3.3 billion in one year alone.”

“Government policies that help more households go solar bring power prices down for everyone.”

ENDS

Media contact: Stephanie Gray 0425543006

South Australia is well-placed to become Australia’s first renewable superpower by exporting clean energy to the rest of the nation and the world according to the new Solar Citizens report Repowering South Australia.

As other states move to catch up with South Australia’s renewable energy leadership, the report argues South Australia cannot afford to rest on its laurels and the next state government should set a 100% renewable energy target by 2025 and plan to export a further 50% of South Australia’s energy needs to the nation and the world through technologies like renewable hydrogen.

“South Australia is leading Australia in wind and solar uptake and is now embracing new storage technologies. South Australia now has a huge opportunity to capitalise on a new investment wave in renewable and storage technologies which mean cheaper prices, more jobs and clean power” report author and Founding Director of the Community Power Agency, Nicky Ison said.

As well as raising South Australia’s renewable energy target, the report highlights opportunities to ensure the benefits of investing in renewable energy is shared across the community, including:

• Establishing renewable energy industry precincts to co-locate energy intensive industry with renewable energy hotspots to provide cheap energy and sources of renewable heat;

• Establishing regional community energy hubs to increase community benefit from and access to of renewable projects;

• Collaboratively designing a well funded Indigenous Communities Clean Power Program; and

• Establishing a publicly owned non-profit retailer to secure cheaper clean power for South Australians on low-incomes.

“Renewable energy has the potential to dramatically reduce costs for industry, put energy back into the hands of the community through community ownership and help South Australians who struggle to pay their power bills”.

“Examples like Sundrop Farms in Port Augusta which uses solar thermal for desalination as well as electricity demonstrate that renewable energy doesn’t just provide cheap power. Co-locating industry with renewable energy precincts could reduce industry’s reliance on expensive gas for heat at the same time as providing cheap sources of power,” Ison said.

Solar Citizens wants to see the report’s recommendations adopted by politicians of all sides ahead of the March state election.

“Everyone knows energy is going to be a top issue this election. What we don’t know is whether our state leaders are going to commit to backing strong investment in renewables to create cheaper power for South Australians,” Dan Spencer campaigner with Solar Citizens said.

“We’re urging all politicians to commit to powering South Australia with 100% renewable energy by 2025 and backing policies that will see everyone share in the benefits of cheaper renewable power. These policies are long overdue for South Australians who have been ripped off by big power companies for too long,” Mr Spencer said.

--ENDS--

The full Repowering South Australia can be accessed here.

For media inquiries:
Dan Spencer 0423 865 632
Nicky Ison 0402 034 580

Cost-cutting rooftop solar helps households beat the summer heat with affordable electricity, but more needs to be done to help low-income households access the clean technology says community group Solar Citizens.

“In the scorching heat, having access to rooftop solar can be the difference between some households being able to afford to run their air conditioning while others are forced to go without,” says Maria Cirillo, Solar Citizens’ Acting National Director.

Peter and Karen Murphy are Blaxland East locals and they say that their solar makes a big difference when it comes to keeping cool.

“With solar power we're almost covering our entire bill. The last one was $14,” Peter Murphy said.

“We've had ducted air conditioning in our house since 1995 and when we got solar panels we really noticed the difference in our power bills.”

“We know a few people that want solar but the initial outlay is difficult when you've got a mortgage and kids, some people are on a tight financial budget,” Karen Murphy said.

“It's just not accessible for so many people.”

But it doesn’t have to be that way according to Ms Cirillo.

“Solar could and should be accessible to everyone, whoever they are, wherever they live, any barriers, including cost barriers, can be removed with sensible government initiatives”.  

While there are barriers for low-income households, renters and apartment dwellers to adopt solar, incentives like the ACT Government’s Solar for Low Income Households program and battery rebate scheme will help more people access the cost-cutting benefits of rooftop solar.

Other approaches include legislating that solar owners receive a fair price for the clean power they feed into the grid, so that the households that invest in rooftop solar are able to recoup the initial outlay they made when purchasing the panels.

“And it's not just the individual household who benefits by going solar, the Solar Savings report commissioned by Solar Citizens showed that in just one year solar helped all NSW energy consumers by reducing the wholesale cost of electricity by $2.2-3.3 billion,” says Maria Cirillo.

“Without all those solar owners pumping out their rooftop power, the wholesale price of electricity would have been 33-50% higher.”

“Government policies that help more households go solar bring power prices down for everyone.”

--ENDS--

Over Thursday and Friday as South Australia sweltered, local solar owners shined reducing peak grid demand across both days. On Thursday, solar owners produced more power than the capacity of the now-closed Northern coal-fired power station in Port Augusta when grid demand would have peaked just after 3pm on Thursday without the state’s solar.

“Without solar, demand on the grid would have peaked just after 3pm on Thursday. Instead, rooftop solar provided more power than the now-closed Northern power station in Port Augusta, keeping the lights on with clean energy. On Friday, solar reduced the peak by 358.6MW far exceeding the capacity of the government’s new backup generators” Dan Spencer, South Australian Campaigner for Solar Citizens said.

“Everyday people generating their own clean power meant that peak demand was pushed back by more than 4 hours until after 7pm on Thursday and by nearly 3 hours on Friday.

Solar Citizens say the failure of Victorian coal plant Loy Yang B during the heatwave on Thursday highlights the need for South Australia to continue investing in renewable energy with storage.

“The failure of Victorian coal during the heatwave meant prices went up for South Australians. With a state election just around the corner we’re calling on all parties to increase South Australia’s renewable target to bring more local renewables with storage to SA,” Mr Spencer said.

“Along with raising South Australia’s renewables target, we’re calling on all South Australian politicians to do more to make cost-cutting rooftop solar accessible to all South Australians,” Mr Spencer said.

“More accessible solar means that more people will be able to take back control of their electricity bills while helping to safeguard the grid.”

Media contact: Dan Spencer 0423 865 632

Source: Dylan McConnell, Researcher at the University of Melbourne’s Climate and Energy College

20 December 2017: Solar Citizens calls on the NSW Government to implement the Chief Scientist’s recommendation to unlock solar and storage for everyone.

The NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer released the final report from the Energy Security Taskforce including the recommendation that the Government establish a work program focused on addressing the barriers to the uptake of solar.

“Rooftop solar is the only guaranteed way to take back control of your power bills and ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society are able to access the benefits of clean energy is crucial,” said Shani Tager, Senior Campaigner at Solar Citizens.

“NSW can do so much more when it comes to rooftop solar and unlocking access for renters and apartment dwellers, as well as those who cannot afford the upfront costs is simply crucial for powering our state into the future.

“Rooftop solar is good for everyone – it generates clean energy, lowers household bills and in February it helped keep the lights on.

“A detailed analysis of the impact rooftop solar has on power prices revealed that in just one year NSW rooftop solar slashed at least $2.2 billion from the wholesale price of power, so the best thing any government can do for power prices is to make it more accessible and affordable.   

“It’s time for the Berejiklian Government to get serious about enabling everyone to have solar and ensure they’re paid a fair price for their clean power when it’s fed back into the grid.

“The Victorian Government has a mandated fair price for solar with a new peak feed-in tariff, the ACT Government has just announced a program to support low-income households to go solar –  NSW households are getting left behind and this report from the Chief Scientist should be a wake up call,” said Ms Tager.

ENDS

Contact: Shani Tager, 0432 050 809

Chief Scientist Report is available here.

Impact of rooftop solar on the wholesale electricity price is here.

Solar Citizens has expressed disappointment that the Turnbull Government’s anti-renewable National Energy Guarantee was not stopped by the Council of Australian Governments today.

“Australians will not support the Turnbull Government’s energy plan that has been shown to slam the door on renewable energy in Australia,” Shani Tager, Senior Campaigner with Solar Citizens said.

“It is deeply disappointing that this anti-renewable plan has been given more oxygen at COAG today, they’re simply kicking the can down the road at a time when Australia needs a clear, sensible plan for renewable energy.

“It’s been clear from the start that the National Energy Guarantee is only a guarantee for big power companies and polluting coal stations and will lock Australian households out of the benefits of clean energy,” Tager said.

Solar Citizens has welcomed South Australia and the ACT’s attempt to stop the anti-renewable National Energy Guarantee in its path.

“South Australia and the ACT listened to the community and stood strong against this anti-renewable plan from the Turnbull Government today. It is disappointing more states did not step up to stop this anti-renewable plan in its tracks,” Dan Spencer, South Australian Campaigner with Solar Citizens said.

“The so called National Energy Guarantee would put more power into the hands of the gentailer oligopoly operating in South Australia that is keeping power bills high. The solution is new renewables with storage, like the solar thermal plant being delivered by Premier Weatherill, not propping up eastern state coal generators,” Mr Spencer said.

“Until the Federal Government gets serious about powering Australia with our abundant wind and sun, the community will continue to oppose its anti-renewable plans,” Mr Spencer said.

For media inquiries:

Shani Tager 0432 050 809

Dan Spencer 0423 865 632

Community group Solar Citizens today released a Solar Scorecard for the Queensland Election, showing the widening gulf between the major parties when it comes to renewable energy.

“Labor’s announcement yesterday of support for 1000 MW of new renewable energy in Queensland, and a publicly owned Clean Co generator puts them streets ahead of the LNP which is committed to building a new coal fired power station” said Solar Citizens Queensland campaigner Louise Matthiesson.

This election, Solar Citizens is calling on all political parties to move towards 100% clean energy by committing to three key policies:

“To give voters the facts, we’ve assessed the party’s policies in detail, and it’s clear that this election Queenslanders have a very important choice to make about our energy future.

“One party will take concrete steps toward a target of at least 50% renewable energy by 2030, while the other will scrap the target altogether.”

“Labor’s promises to make it easier for low income households, schools and remote communities to go solar have also not been matched by the Qld LNP.

“Over 450,000 Queensland households have put solar on their roof to generate clean power and take back control of their bills. Now it’s time for political leaders of all stripes to follow their lead.”

“The Queensland Greens policies provide the most comprehensive commitments to a renewable energy future for Queensland, while other minor parties One Nation and Katter’s Australia Party lag well behind.”

“The Greens are the only party promising to legislate an ambitious renewable energy target, support community energy projects and provide a truly fair feed-in-tariff for solar households” she concluded.

For comment contact:
Louise Matthiesson, Queensland Campaigner    ph. 0406 041 428

Background
Further details on our election policy priorities, and how the parties scored can be downloaded from our website. The scores will be updated if further policies are announced.