It's been a long journey and taken several years but on the 16th of May the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) legislation passed Federal Parliament. This legislation will bring more affordable electric vehicles, and more efficient fuel vehicles, into the Australian market from January 1st 2025!

What follows below is a timeline of the journey we've been on to achieve this monumental result. A big thank you to all the staff and solar citizens like you who have contributed along the way.

Solar Citizens has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s proposed modelling for a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that delivers cost-of-living and health benefits.

The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) requires vehicle manufacturers to meet pollution emissions targets each year. Most countries worldwide already have a standard in place, making Australia a dumping ground for less efficient vehicles that are more expensive to run.

Government analysis found a strong NVES can save:

• About $1000 per vehicle per year or $17,000 over the average life of the vehicle;

• Australian motorists about $100 billion in fuel costs to 2050; 

• About $5 billion in reduced health costs given the reduction in air pollution.

Solar Citizens has today welcomed the announcement of a Federal committee ‘Inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles’ as an opportunity to fast-track the rollout of electric vehicles and make them more affordable for all Australians.

The committee will also explore “opportunities such as fuel savings and affordability for residents in outer regions to make this shift beneficial for everyone”.

New figures released today by the Clean Energy Regulator reveal Australians support solar in unprecedented numbers with a record 813MW of rooftop solar PV installed in the third quarter of 2023 and the average system size also growing.

The new data shows Australian households are investing in rooftop solar and electrification for effective energy bill relief during the ongoing cost of living crisis, according to Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas.

“Australians love solar and they’re embracing rooftop solar in record numbers,” she said.

“Harnessing the cheap, clean power available from installing solar panels on your rooftop is an effective way of bringing down the cost of living, especially as we head into the warmer Summer months.

Solar Citizens supports a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament Referendum.

Rooftop solar is the cheapest source of electricity available, but for many households, including those that rent and live in social housing, there are barriers to accessing this bill-slashing technology.

Townsville is perfectly placed to become a low-emissions economic powerhouse and produce energy, minerals and materials to power the world’s transition to a cleaner future. 

First published in The New Daily, 12 August 2022.

Australian motorists can access incredible savings by switching to electric vehicles, but there’s still some huge hurdles standing between households and lower fuel bills, new research finds.

Electricity price hikes and the threat of blackouts have been consistently making media headlines – but understandably many consumers have no idea what’s gone wrong. There’s a lot to unpack about what’s happening in our electricity system and what governments can do about it.

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) yesterday talked up new consumer protections in their final determination allowing rooftop solar owners to be charged for exporting. But what do these consumer protections really amount to?