Solar industry faces collapse

“The solar industry in NSW faces collapse unless the government brings in interim measures to cover eight months in limbo before an IPART report on a sustainable pricing is brought down.”
Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay made this statement in Parliament this week, adding 416 jobs had already been lost from only 91 businesses in the solar industry.
Across the industry in NSW it has been estimated there will be an 88 per cent decline in solar installations and an $800 million cut in retail sales with 3,700 jobs lost by the end of the year.
“The go/stop policies of successive NSW governments on solar energy not only stretch credulity, but are also out of step with the mindset of the people of this state,” Mr Torbay said.
“While there is almost universal agreement that the 60 cent feed in tariff scheme of the former government was over generous, there is growing dissatisfaction that the over reaction of the current government is steadily killing off an industry that should receive its support.
“The best option would be to introduce interim measures to pay households at market rates for the power they produce until the IPART review of subsidies is completed in April next year. That is what the industry is calling for and what would sustain it during this critical period”
The MP said that following the Solar Summit on July 1 this year the solar industry made submissions to the NSW government, outlining various approaches to achieving an immediate interim policy at low or zero cost to government.
“IPART has many issues to consider including valuing the capacity of the energy generated on people’s roofs and its contribution to the electricity grid at times of peak demand.,” he said. “The industry believes that a fair price for solar would ensure families and businesses who installed solar panels would receive the same amount for the clean energy they produce as they have to pay for electricity they import from coal-fired power stations.
“That seems a fair position and one which the industry believes would encourage a sustainable uptake of solar in the state and create a cost neutral feed in the tariff system.
“It is time to take the politics out of the solar issue and encourage and grow an industry that is delivering clean renewable energy for a state and a nation that is attempting to decarbonise.”