Solar at "socket parity" in most parts of Australia

[kristopher]

18GW of solar by 2022? That depends on who’s connected

By Giles Parkinson on 31 May 2012

It seems that the greatest barrier to the rapid deployment of solar in Australia will not be about cost or a lack of demand – it will be the ability to get connected.

That has been the common theme from a range of reports from different sources in recent weeks – from the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission’s inquiry into feed-in tariff’s in Victoria, the Australian Energy Market Operator’s landmark report on solar this week, the accompanying analysis from Sunwiz and Solar Business Services, and the Australian PV Association’s annual report for 2012, which will be released later today.

The APVA report says most parts of Australia have reached grid parity, which might better be described as “socket parity,” meaning that solar panels now offer a cheaper alternative than power from the grid – a reality that will become increasingly obvious to the public as more solar leasing products and programs are rolled out to consumers.

The APVA notes that in 2011, a total of 837 MW of solar PV was installed in Australia, more than twice the capacity of 2010, taking the total installed capacity in Australia to 1.4 GW. The report noted that 36 per cent of the new electricity capacity installed in Australia in 2011 was rooftop PV – even if it still only accounted for 3 per cent of total electricity capacity and 1 per cent of actual generation.

This is set to grow dramatically in coming years, because...

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/18gw-of-solar-by-2022-that-depends-on-whos-connected-45308

[longship]

1. "Socket Parity" -- nice terminology!

Simple, easy to understand.

Kudos to Oz!

[Kolesar]

3. Socket to me!

Baby

[kristopher]

4. (Even though you're showing your age...)

Well done!

[Kolesar]

5. "Respect" is still in the rotation here

Long live the "Queen of Soul"

[msongs]

2. coprorate energy providers want to strangle rooftop solar competition nt

[Starboard Tack]

6. Good stuff. Should be happening everywhere.

As noted in the piece, those in fringe or outlying areas always have the off-grid option, which I use. Only drawback is storage, but battery technology is going to make some serious advances in the near future.

[kristopher]

8. The broader implications to the grid...

The biggest issue, it says, is on long-term regulation, particularly the “right to connect,” and on appropriate tariffs being fed back to the grid. It wants restrictions to be placed on anti-competitive actions of electricity retailers and gentailers and more emphasis and support for energy storage to enable higher PV penetrations, as well as encouragement for customers on the on fringe of grids (who faced costly network upgrades) to convert to off-grid systems. (One interesting statistic was the increase in domestic off-grid installations, which more than doubled to 101MW in 2011).

[diane in sf]

7. Thanks for another good thread!

[kristopher]

9. You're welcome. More on the topic here-

Rooftop solar PV to be energy game-changer in Australia

By Giles Parkinson on 29 May 2012

The Australian Energy Market Operator has produced a landmark report that, for the first time, recognises rooftop solar PV as a significant source of energy in the National Electricity Market, and includes forecasts that could have a profound impact on the way electricity is consumed and produced – and talked about – in this country.

In a report entitled Rooftop PV Information Paper, AEMO says that up to 18,000MW of solar PV could be installed on Australian rooftops by 2031 – under its high growth scenario – when it could potentially account for around 10 per cent of the electricity produced in the country. Even its medium scenario predicts 12,000MW of rooftop PV.

The forecast by AEMO is the first formal recognition by an Australian energy authority of the potential of rooftop solar in Australia – something that had remained the province of the solar industry itself, as well as a handful of consultants, the Greens, advocacy groups, and web sites such as this.

The report is in marked contrast to the Draft Energy White Paper produced for, and released by, federal energy minister Martin Ferguson last December, which predicted that solar – in all forms, including utility-scale solar PV and solar thermal – would account for less than 3 per cent of Australia’s electricity capacity by 2030, or 2,000MW in all forms.

AEMO has not produced...

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/rooftop-solar-pv-to-be-energy-game-changer-in-australia-91821