Feed In Tariffs
- Home
- » Solar power
- » General Info
- » Pricing & Incentives
- » Feed In Tariff
- » Pricing & Incentives
- » General Info
- » Solar power
The Feed In Tariff Explained
A Feed in Tariff is an ongoing incentive which pays a premium price for power exported to the grid from renewable energy sources eg grid connected solar & wind power.
Feed in tariffs are State based legislation; for more detailed specific state specific information, click on the state names below:
| Policy start date | Premium Rate per kWh | Bonus Payed for | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Solar Bonus Scheme, to commence 1 Jan 2010 | 60 cents up to 10kW | Gross | Announced. Premium will be offered until 2016. Review scheduled for 2012 |
| QLD | Solar Scheme Bonus, commenced 1 July 08 | 44 cents up to 10kW or 30kW for three phase | Net | Legislated. For current participants the premium rate will be paid until 2028. While there is no current cap, a review will occur once 8MW is reached |
| ACT | Feed in tariff commenced 1 March 09 | 3.88 x retail 50.05 cents for less than 10kW 40 cents for 10-30kW | Gross | Legislated. Annual review to reset premium each financial year the price is set from the date that the system is connected and continues for 20years |
| SA | Solar Feed In scheme commenced 1 July 2008 | 44 cents up to 10kW or 30kW for three phase | Net | Legislated. 10MW was reached in May 09 and review process underway. Bonus scheme will run until June 2028 |
| VIC | Feed In Tariff commenced 1 Nov 09 | 50 cents up to 5kW | Net | Legislated. Scheme will run for 15 years at a set price and will be closed for entry once 100MW is reached |
Net Feed in Tariff vs Gross Feed in Tariff
NET
In a 'Net' feed in scheme you will directly use the power you generate from your "small generation unit". In a net scheme customers will only be able to sell the 'excess' power generated as part of the Feed in Tariff or Solar Bonus Scheme. The excess power is the power being generated by your system that are you are not using to run your appliances.
A Net power generation system can be wired to any sub board in a household or small business. The extra power generated above what you use will naturally flow out to your 'import export' meter.
GROSS
Gross schemes sell 100% of their generated power directly to the power distribution grid. In a Gross scheme customers must wire the output from their system inverter all the way to the the electricity 'import-export' meter. In a Gross scheme the return or bonus you receive is separate from your normal bill. In many regional situations this may prove prohibitive for roof mounted generation systems. Most commonly regional locations are choosing to 'ground mount' their systems next to the meter boxes on poles to meet the Gross feed in requirement.
For estimates on larger systems in your location please contact us for more information solar@ausenergy.com.au
Energy Metering
The key to maximising Your Feed In Tariff
The power bills are in. Real life proven data = guaranteed returns
The reliability and performance of solar panels is now well proven. An energy meter will predict how much power you will feed into the grid.
Comparing energy use with a particular panel's performance specifications, allows ongoing returns and
savings to be accurately predicted and guaranteed.
The Solar New England Region Project has shown that on average, even small 1kW systems feed 50% of their power into the grid during the day
Predict Your Solar Power Returns Before You Invest
Not all solar panels perform the same
When considering the up front cost of a system the long-term performance of the panels must be considered.
Independent testing in Alice Springs at the Desert Knowledge centre provides accurate comparisons of technology performance, from a harsh Australian environment.
www.dkasolarcentre.com.au (offsite link)
