After the end of the successful small and medium scale solar schemes in ACT mid-2011, the only market which is ‘open’ in Canberra is the large scale scheme.
This will work as a reverse auction process, where bidders propose a tariff they’d accept. This part of the scheme allows for up to 210MW of capacity to be installed.
Here’s how the auction works.
A forerunner in this is the state’s own power supplier, ACTEWAGL proposing a system big enough to power 7000 homes.
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ACT mulls solar farms’ role in powering up to 7000 homes
BY NOEL TOWELL
17 Nov, 2011 12:01 AM
Canberra Times
Legislation that will enable vast solar farms to power thousands of Canberra homes will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly today.
The ACT Government will move to implement the last piece of its solar feed-in tariff jigsaw, designed to allow large-scale operators to build giant solar farms in the territory.
If passed, the Electricity Feed In (Large Scale Renewable Energy Generation) Bill 2011 would establish the framework for a feed-in tariff ‘‘reverse auction’’ for at least two, large-scale solar generation plants capable of powering 7000 Canberra homes.
The reverse auction process will require companies to make their pitch to the ACT Government about how they can provide the greatest amount of solar energy at the lowest cost.
The new legislation will outline a scheme to supply up to 210 megawatts in capacity, receiving support through a feed-in tariff and Environment Minister Simon Corbell said the first release would be 40 megawatts.
‘‘The first release under the scheme will deliver enough clean energy to power about 7000 ACT households and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 850,000 tonnes over the life of the project as well as provide about 14 per cent of the minimum electricity demand of the city,’’ Mr Corbell said.
‘‘The recent passage of the Commonwealth’s legislation establishing a long-term carbon price underlines the prudence of jurisdictions and communities in pursuing low carbon energy options,’’ he said.
The Government hopes its auction will attract large-scale solar power generators from around the country but ActewAGL said yesterday it believed it was the frontrunner to win the auction.
Company spokeswoman Dianne O’Hara told ABC Radio yesterday that ActewAGL had already selected a potential site at Williamsdale.
‘‘We’re confident,’’ Ms O’Hara said.
‘‘We’ve done a lot of work on this project over the last little while. We’ve identified some partners that we want to work with, we’ve identified a site, so we’re very determined to put in our best bid.’’
