Page 623 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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MR HARGREAVES: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Is the minister able to give an indication of the level of business interest in the auction?
MR CORBELL: Yes, we can. In fact, the large-scale solar tariff auction is attracting significant interest. An industry briefing was held on Friday, 10 February at the National Convention Centre. Approximately 150 industry representatives ranging from technical suppliers through to financiers attended. National and international companies attended, showing a high level of interest and a strong willingness to participate.
The need for a well designed feed-in tariff and a process to allow it was a consistent request from industry participants in the earlier expressions of interest process the government ran in 2009. But let me talk about what industry specialists are saying about the ACT’s large-scale solar feed-in tariff. A recent article said:
… the main game in the Australian solar industry has moved—from the corridors of power in the Federal Parliament to the more modest resources of the ACT Legislative Assembly.
That article went on to say:
The game-breaking potential of the ACT auction will be in the prices offered, with some suggesting that bids could come in the $120/MWh-$150/MWh range—the area where solar can compete with daytime wholesale energy costs without the need for subsidies—
We are getting strong endorsement from this program from industry commentators. Just the first 40 megawatt release, on top of our existing rooftop solar, will put the ACT in per capita terms on a par with Germany in terms of our solar energy use.
Is the ACT government implementing its commitments to make Canberra the solar capital of Australia? Yes, it is. Is it receiving strong support from the solar industry? Yes, it is, Mr Speaker.
MS PORTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, can you outline the benefits to the ACT community of deploying a large-scale solar renewable generation capacity?
MR CORBELL: The goal of our large-scale renewable energy legislation is of course to assist in the reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions and kick-start the city’s transition to a low carbon economy. Of course there are also pass-on benefits to the broader ACT economy. It has been estimated that the successful bidders will bring an estimated $360 million to $400 million worth of investment into the ACT to construct these facilities and they will provide a range of jobs common to large-scale construction projects such as concreters, metalworkers and fabricators, as well as electricians, engineers and a range of other trades and professions. These are important economic benefits, not just environmental benefits.
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