- Farmers now able to access solar discounts for much bigger solar systems
- Federal Government discount will apply to solar systems of up to 1 megawatt, up from 100kw
- Farmers for Climate Action has been calling for discounts for clean energy systems for farmers
Farmers for Climate Action applauds the expanded Federal discount to solar energy systems, which will directly benefit farmers, businesses and sports and community organisations.
The Federal solar discount (SRES) previously applied to systems of up to 100 kilowatts, but will now apply to systems of up to ten times that size – 1 megawatt. This provides roughly a 20% discount on the installed cost of a solar system and should see industrial rooftops in the big cities, creating huge volumes of electricity where so much of it is used.
FCA farmer spokesperson and Harden sheep and cropping farmer Peter Holding said the discount gave farmers the chance to shield themselves against volatile global fuel markets.
"This discount will help farmers' shed roofs power a lot of farms," Mr Holding said.
"A good solar system helps shield the farm from those global energy markets we can't control. War in Ukraine and Iran can't send your power bill up so much if you're producing your own power from your own solar and storing it in your own battery. Farmers and industrial businesses have huge areas of roof space and Australia has more sun than any other country – let's use it."
Marree, SA, station owner Ellen Litchfield was rapt the discount will now apply to the size of solar system which is required to power a working farm.
"Personally, I'd love to see big-scale solar generation in industrial areas in the big cities, where so much electricity is used. This policy really encourages that," Ms Litchfield said.
"This discount helps give farmers back some control of our energy costs and drive those costs down."
FCA CEO Verity Morgan-Schmidt said the solar system discount would both help farmers and also put more downward pressure on energy prices.
"Australia's solar, batteries and hydroelectricity have already helped lower the price of electricity, with the Australian Energy Market Operator cutting the price that retailers are allowed to charge for electricity again this quarter," Ms Morgan-Schmidt said.
"This is a good move aimed at harnessing the sun so that power can be created where it's being used, whether that's in industrial estates in the city, or on our farms in the regions."
