Page 308 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
the largest solar photovoltaic generation facility yet to be built here in Australia. And we have two other projects, at Uriarra and at Mugga Lane, going through the appropriate assessment processes to determine whether or not they procure their approvals to be able to proceed to construction.
Finally, today we have new legislation on the table to expand the renewable energy capacity available in the large-scale feed-in tariff scheme, to lift it to 550 megawatts, to support the deployment of a 90 per cent renewable energy target, a target that we know is both achievable and affordable for Canberra households. This level of renewable energy generation will drive significant investment in our city and our region. It will support the abatement we need to achieve to meet our 40 per cent target by the year 2020, and it can drive opportunities for local Canberra businesses who are engaged in photovoltaic research in our research institutions, in firms that do work around wind resource assessment, which are all local Canberra businesses and who welcome a policy setting from a government that is committed to and supportive of the uptake and adoption of renewable energy technologies.
So not only is it about achieving abatement; it is about supporting local businesses, supporting local contractors, supporting local intellectual property, supporting local investment, as much as it is about bringing the best from around the world to make a difference for our city and our community. The legislation before the Assembly today demonstrates the commitment this government has to implementing action plan 2 and getting on with the job of cutting our greenhouse gas emissions.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, could you please advise the Assembly whether the innovative solar auction the ACT government has adopted has proven to be a successful process for allocating solar energy capacity?
MR CORBELL: I thank Dr Bourke for his supplementary question. Yes, it is the case that the solar auction process has proven to be a successful exercise for achieving large scale renewables at a low cost to ACT electricity customers. The government commissioned Sinclair Knight Merz to undertake a review of the operation of the solar auction process. I have tabled their summary report here in the Assembly today. SKM, as they are known, are a national consulting firm with specific expertise in energy policy. We welcome their work on the solar auction process.
Their report has confirmed that the solar auction process delivered large scale renewables efficiently and effectively and achieved value for money outcomes. It concluded that it was effective in meeting the objectives of the act and that this was reflected in positive industry and stakeholder feedback.
It also concluded that the auction process was an effective mechanism to generate strong competition from competing renewable energy operators. To quote from the report:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video