What the REC is this?
August 5, 2009
Don’t reck the REC
The government has proposed giving five times the normal number of renewable energy certificates (REC) to people installing solar panels on their roof until 2015. This means four out of the five certificates will represent energy that isn’t actually produced!
Extra certificates can act as a financial incentive to install solar panels because installers sell them on to retailers. Subsequently, on paper Australia will be achieving its annual targets for renewables, but in reality achieving much, much less.
Further to this, with so much of the annual targets in the first five years taken up by fake solar hot water RECs, there won’t be enough space within the targets to get large scale projects off the ground – including wind projects that are ready to go now.
This may delay large scale projects until 2015, meaning not just delayed renewables, but delayed investment in jobs too. If people thought that their investment in solar panels could reduce large scale investment in renewable energy, this may also be a significant disincentive to install solar panels.
The Renewables Energy Targets can be easily fixed.
The government could fix the RET by:
- Doubling the RET to at least 90,000GWh by 2020;
- Excluding solar hot water from the scheme and supporting it with other measures instead (solar hot water does not actually add to renewable electricity in the grid); and
- Ensuring that all renewable energy accounted for is actually delivered. They can do this by increasing the annual target for renewable energy in line with the amount of extra credits that are traded by owners of solar panels annually.
Climate Action Moreland is opposed to the government inflating Solar RECs and demand it amends this policy now. We call on all Morelanders to take action now.
You can do this by sending a letter or email to Moreland’s federal representative, Kelvin Thomson. To make it even easier just download the letter below and add your details or any extra comments.
Alternatively, save a stamp and some paper, just copy and paste the letter into an email and send it to Kelvin at Kelvin.Thomson.MP@aph.gov.au
> Download Dont Reck The REC letter here.
Entry Filed under: renewable energy. Tags: Fake Solar Credits, Kelvin Thomson, REC.
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