Solar homes and communities plan
*The Solar Homes and Communities Plan is a Federal Government initiative which started out as the Photovoltaic Rebate Program in 2000. The program offered $4,000 rebates to households to install solar panels, and ran until November 2007. In that time the program helped to install 10,000 solar systems and was receiving an average of 153 applications per week. Solar panels use light energy or photons from the sun to generate electricity.
The Photovoltaic Rebate Program was changed in November 2007 to the Solar Homes and Communities Plan, as part of the Rudd government’s election commitments. The program was allocated $150 million to provide increased rebates of up to $8,000 to 15,000 homes over five years.
In May 2008 a means test was placed on the solar panel rebate. Nationally, the number of applications for the rebate grew from 420 per week in May 2008 to approximately 6,043 in May 2009*.
*Summary of Rebates and Grants
| Australian Government Support | Eligibility |
|
Residential rebates |
Household taxable family income of less than $100,000 |
|
New systems – 450 watts |
Installation at a principal place of residence and no previous rebate from the Australian Government |
|
Extensions to old systems – 450 watts |
Support for system extensions to one kilowatt whether the systems have received a rebate or not |
|
Community use buildings (competitive grants) – 450 watts |
Grants for systems with significant educational value |
| Source: | Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website, www.environment.gov.au/sustainability/renewable/pv/history.html |
Since inception of the program until June 2010 there have been 2,011 solar systems installed in the City of Onkaparinga. The 5159 postcode that includes Aberfoyle Park, Chandlers Hill, Flagstaff Hill and Happy Valley has had the highest number of installations, at 298 or 14.8% of the total. The 5162 postcode of Morphett Vale and Woodcroft has experienced a surge of installations in the last financial year, equating to 14.1% of the total. The 5173 postcode of Aldinga, Aldinga Beach and Port Willunga was also well represented at 220 (or 10.9%) installations.
| Source: | Solar Homes and Communities Plan, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts |
In 2009 there were 840 solar panel installations in the City of Onkaparinga. This is an increase of 156.1% when compared to 328 installations in 2008.
Transition from Solar Homes and Communities Plan to Solar Credits
On 9 June 2009 the federal government replaced the Solar Homes and Communities Plan with the Solar Credits program. Households and businesses that install eligible small scale solar photovoltaic, wind and hydro electricity systems may be able to receive extra renewable energy certificates. These will assist with the upfront costs of installing the systems and is not subject to means testing.
