Scoring parties and candidates
The Solar Scorecard scores 2016 election candidates' support of solar based on the official response of their party to our election policy asks.
Solar Citizens wrote to all major parties and a selection of independent candidates requesting a response to the following:
Will you commit to a goal of 100% renewable power (electricity only) by 2030?
Will you commit to holding regular national clean energy reverse auctions from 2017?
Will you commit to establishing and coordinating a national feed-in tariff recognising the contribution solar households make to the grid?
Will you commit to establishing a federally funded Community Powerhouses program in the next term of government?
Will you commit to protecting and expanding the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)?
Liberal/National Coalition Government
The Coalition has its existing commitment to the Renewable Energy Target which will achieve 23.5% by 2020, a cut from 41,000 gigawatt hours to 33,000 GWh.
In response to Solar Citizens, Minister Greg Hunt said the following:
- In regard to reverse auctions: “Any change to the [RET] would undermine market confidence and thereby reduce investment in renewable energy.”
- In response to a national fair price for solar: “Feed-in tariffs are a matter for State Governments.”
- There is no commitment to Community Powerhouses, saying there is already the capacity for “innovative debt and equity funds” available for Community Energy projects through the new Clean Energy Innovation Fund.
The correspondence included no policy position on renewable energy beyond 2020, despite asserting that “The Turnbull Coalition Government supports a measured and sensible transition for renewable energy that does not impose unnecessary costs on Australian families, pensioners and small businesses, and in a way that looks after affected communities.”
Note: Solar Citizens made inquiries with the office of the leader of the National Party, Barnaby Joyce, and we were advised that the response from Minister Hunt was the response of the government.
Australian Labor Party
The ALP has a position in its National Platform of a goal of at least 50% renewable energy by 2030. In its response to Solar Citizens, the ALP said it would:
- Ensure that 50% of the nation’s electricity is sourced from renewable energy by 2030. Regarding reverse auctions, the party notes success of such systems in the ACT and it will announce proposed design details by 1 October 2017.
- Conduct an Electricity Modernisation Review that would consult with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council, National Electricity Market (NEM) agencies, industry, unions and energy users and would consider the role of feed-in tariffs among other measures.
- Provide greater certainty and flexibility for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, continuing the new Clean Energy Innovation Fund announced by the Coalition Government.
- Sit down with the ARENA board and work through exactly what funding is required to achieve its targets.
- Provide $98.7 million to establish a Community Power Network and Regional Hubs, funded through ARENA.
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens has a policy of 90% renewable energy by 2030. In its response to Solar Citizens, party leader Richard Di Natale pledged to:
- Establish a new national authority RenewAustralia that will plan staged closure of coal-fired generation and attract investment in large-scale renewables projects and will encourage investment using contracts (reverse auctions);
- Ensure solar owners receive a fair price “so that electricity companies don’t profit from solar homes and businesses feeding into the grid”;
- Establish a $103 million Solar Communities Fund;
- And, continue support of the CEFC and ARENA bodies and their original investment schedules out to 2022 and reinstating the $1 billion in cuts to ARENA.
Click here to download the Australian Greens' full response to Solar Citizens' election policy asks.
Nick Xenophon Team
The Nick Xenophon Team has no stated renewable electricity target. In response to Solar Citizens' correspondence, the Nick Xenophon team pledged to:
- Support the solar-thermal plant at Port Augusta;
- Investigate the feasibility of 100% renewable power by 2030, particularly with emerging battery storage technologies;
- Investigate the feasibility of reverse auctions;
- Establish or coordinate a national feed-in tariff recognising the contribution solar households make to the grid;
- Establish a federally funded Community Powerhouses program in the next term of government;
- And, protect and expand the CEFC and ARENA.
Tony Windsor, independent candidate for New England
Tony Windsor supports all of Solar Citizens’ election policy asks.
Click here to download Tony Windsor's full response to Solar Citizens' election policy asks.
Cathy McGowan MP, independent Member for Indi
Cathy McGowan did not respond directly to Solar Citizens' election policy asks, but replied with an overview of her track record on renewables.
Click here to download Cathy McGowan's full response to Solar Citizens' election policy asks.
Glenn Lazarus Team
The Glenn Lazarus team supports all of Solar Citizens' election policy asks.
Renewable Energy Party
The Renewable Energy Party supports all of Solar Citizens' election policy asks.
Scoring solar by electorate
Electorate rankings
Rankings are based on the number of rooftop solar installations by electorate. Analysis was undertaken using Clean Energy Regulator published postcode data on small scale installations (accessed February 2016) and AEC spatial data of 2016 Electoral Boundaries as published by the AEC (accessed February 2016). Overlapping postcodes were weighted to respective electorates to avoid duplication. Voters per household is based on average adults over 18 years living in an average household as per ABS statistics 2011 Census.
Number of Solar Voters per Electorate
Analysis was undertaken using Clean Energy Regulator published postcode data on small scale installations (accessed February 2016) and AEC spatial data of 2016 Electoral Boundaries as published by the AEC (accessed February 2016). Overlapping postcodes were weighted to respective electorates to avoid duplication. Voters per household is based on average adults over 18 years living in an average household as per ABS statistics 2011 Census.
Bill Savings
Analysis for bill savings is derived on a State/territory and year-by-year basis accounting for various State and Territory feed-in policies. The various feed-in-tariffs in state jurisdictions have been assessed and year-by-year calculations undertaken on the composition of solar owners and their feed in tariffs. Information on the history of feed-in tariffs is derived from numerous sources including Solar Choice and data supplied by Roof Juice. Attrition rates for bonus schemes (eg. NSW) have also been factored in on the basis that Australians move house every 7 years. Credits for solar bonus customers are added as bill "savings". State, year-by-year average retail prices have been assembled from AEMO published data Electricity Price Trends Final Report March 2013.
KW installed capacity per Electorate
Analysis was undertaken using Clean Energy Regulator published postcode data on small scale installations (accessed February 2016) and AEC spatial data of 2016 Electoral Boundaries as published by the AEC (accessed February 2016). Overlapping postcodes were weighted to respective electorates to avoid duplication.
CO2 averted
Figures for averted carbon dioxide equivalent pollution is based on first calculating the total electricity generated on a State/Territory basis and comparing annual output to average State/Territory emissions. Total kWhr is calculated using APVI installation figures multiplied by irradiation levels in capital cities, provided by Solar Choice. State and Territory electricity generation emissions are derived from the Australian National Greenhouse Gas Accounts published by the Department of Environment.
Investment in Rooftop Solar
Analysis was undertaken using figures supplied and updated by Roof Juice and based upon a report commissioned by the Rec Agents Association of Australia in August 2014, Industry Report: Solar Businesses in Australia. $/Watt installation rates were adjusted to ensure figures are “out-of-pocket” so State and Govt rebates are removed (GST included).
Authorised by C O'Rourke, Solar Citizens, 338 Pitt Street Sydney, NSW 2000.
