The Australian Government’s solar PV rebate program

[joshcryer]

The residential component of the PVRP-SHCP performed modestly against the chosen measures. The program was a major driver of a more than six-fold increase in PV generation capacity and output in the 2000s. However, the increase was off a low base and PV’s share of the Australian electricity market in 2010 is still only around 0.1 per cent. The data suggest there were equity issues associated with the program, with 66 per cent of all successful applicants residing in medium-high and high SES-rated postal areas. The program was also environmentally ineffective and costly. It will reduce emissions by 0.09 MtCO2-e/yr over the life of the rebated PV systems (0.015 per cent of Australia’s 2008 emissions) at an average abatement cost of between $257/tCO2-e and $301/tCO2-e. Finally, the program appears to have had a relatively minor impact as an industry assistance measure, with much of the associated benefit flowing to foreign manufacturers and most of the domestic benefit focused outside of the high value-added manufacturing areas.

https://www.tai.org.au/file.php?file=/media_releases/PB%2021%20SHCP%20final.pdf