Solar hot water in Australia
Encyclopedia
Solar hot water is heated using natural energy
from the sun. Solar energy heats up large panels called thermal collectors. The energy is transferred through a fluid (often water) to a reservoir tank for storage and subsequent use. It is then used to heat water for commercial or domestic use and also as an energy input for heating and cooling devices and for industrial 'process heat' applications.
Solar hot water systems are motivated by the desire to reduce energy
consumption more specifically, to reduce a significant source of greenhouse gas
emissions. In the case of Victoria, for example, converting from electric to solar hot water could save 20% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite an excellent solar resource, the penetration of solar water heaters in the Australian domestic market is only about 4% or 5%, with new dwellings accounting for most sales.
During the 1950s, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO) carried out world leading research into flat plate solar water heaters. A solar water heater manufacturing industry was subsequently established in Australia and a large proportion of the manufactured product was exported. Four of the original companies are still in business and the manufacturing base has now expanded to 24 companies.
Water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home, accounting for around 28 per cent of home energy use (excluding the family car). The Australian government estimates that installing a climate friendly hot water system can save a family $300 to $700 off electricity bills each year.
The rebate can be collected once the installation has been finished, if the household meets the necessary requirements stated below.
Once the system is installed, the applicant has up to six months to submit the application form with the purchase receipt attached to it.
The Mandatory renewable energy target
scheme was created by the Australian Government to mandate energy retailers to the usage of renewables. Each solar heating system is accredited a certain number of RECs depending on how effective it is and in which of the four climate zones you reside in. Each zone is associated with a number of post codes ranging across the whole continent.
When the system is in use, you will receive your REC's that you are then able to sell to energy retailers. The market value of RECs is subject to variation . Depending on the current market conditions and the performance of the unit installed, this often amounts to $1000 or more.
It is important that you determine how many RECs the solar water heater is entitled to before installing, so that you know you are actually eligible of the rebate
Only the first $1000 of the cost of the installation of the water heating system (which replaces the existing electric heating system) can be used to calculate the $2000 to be used on improvements. This means that to receive the rebate, the householder needs to spend another $1000 on additional energy savings.
Read the terms and conditions very carefully, making sure that the system you are installing is eligible for the rebate. Please see Home Energy Audit Terms and Conditions.
In addition, to be eligible the rebate of $500 the householder/tenant must:
The more efficient the system is (emitting less Greenhouse gas), the more RECs is the system eligible, which generates a bigger rebate.
, the principal water and electricity supplier in the Northern Territory
, offers an REC buyback scheme on installations of solar water heaters.. The buyback must be applied for and assigned less than one year after the installation .
No state rebates are offered at the present, however the Queensland government in 2007 announced the phasing-out of electric hot water systems commencing in 2010. From 2010, Queenslanders who need to replace their household hot water system due to breakdown will no longer be able to install electric systems, and will instead have to choose from gas, solar or heat pump options. Prior to this, the Queensland government had already banned the installation of electric hot water systems in newly constructed houses; a law which came into effect on 1 March 2006.
The Brisbane City Council offered a rebate of $400 from 30 August 2008 to 1 June 2009. This program is now over.
To be eligible for the $500 rebate, the householder has to hold at least one of the following concession cards:
Following to the installation, the householder has up to three months to send in the application to receive the rebate if the below criteria is met.
The water heating system does not replace existing one:
The water heating system does replace existing one:
New houses and buildings can get a rebate by selling the RECs their system is eligible. The Commonwealth government is also offering a $1000 rebate to the replacement of electric water heating.
Residential and community buildings:
Commercial buildings:
.
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
from the sun. Solar energy heats up large panels called thermal collectors. The energy is transferred through a fluid (often water) to a reservoir tank for storage and subsequent use. It is then used to heat water for commercial or domestic use and also as an energy input for heating and cooling devices and for industrial 'process heat' applications.
Solar hot water systems are motivated by the desire to reduce energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
consumption more specifically, to reduce a significant source of greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emissions. In the case of Victoria, for example, converting from electric to solar hot water could save 20% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite an excellent solar resource, the penetration of solar water heaters in the Australian domestic market is only about 4% or 5%, with new dwellings accounting for most sales.
During the 1950s, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
(CSIRO) carried out world leading research into flat plate solar water heaters. A solar water heater manufacturing industry was subsequently established in Australia and a large proportion of the manufactured product was exported. Four of the original companies are still in business and the manufacturing base has now expanded to 24 companies.
Water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home, accounting for around 28 per cent of home energy use (excluding the family car). The Australian government estimates that installing a climate friendly hot water system can save a family $300 to $700 off electricity bills each year.
The Australian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate Program
The current Solar hot water rebate program for financial year 2009 offers a $1600 rebate for the installation of solar hot water systems.The rebate can be collected once the installation has been finished, if the household meets the necessary requirements stated below.
- The Solar hot water system is a substitute for a previous electric heatingElectric heatingElectric heating is any process in which electrical energy is converted to heat. Common applications include space heating, cooking, water heating and industrial processes. An electric heater is an electrical appliance that converts electrical energy into heat...
system - The application and the installation process has taken place within the dates the rebate is offered
- The household is a principle place of residence
- The Solar or heat pump hot water system is be eligible for minimum 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
- A licensed plumber/electrician is consulted for the installation
Once the system is installed, the applicant has up to six months to submit the application form with the purchase receipt attached to it.
The Mandatory renewable energy target
Mandatory renewable energy targets
A mandatory renewable energy target is a government legislated requirement on electricity retailers to source specific proportions of total electricity sales from renewable energy sources according to a fixed timeframe. The additional cost is distributed across most customers by increases in other...
scheme was created by the Australian Government to mandate energy retailers to the usage of renewables. Each solar heating system is accredited a certain number of RECs depending on how effective it is and in which of the four climate zones you reside in. Each zone is associated with a number of post codes ranging across the whole continent.
When the system is in use, you will receive your REC's that you are then able to sell to energy retailers. The market value of RECs is subject to variation . Depending on the current market conditions and the performance of the unit installed, this often amounts to $1000 or more.
It is important that you determine how many RECs the solar water heater is entitled to before installing, so that you know you are actually eligible of the rebate
ACT
The ACT Energy Wise program, run by the ACT Government, offers rebates to houseowners or tenants that do energy saving improvements for at least $2000 to their residence. This includes everything from insulation, inserting double glazed windows to the installation of solar, gas or electric heat pump water heating systems.Only the first $1000 of the cost of the installation of the water heating system (which replaces the existing electric heating system) can be used to calculate the $2000 to be used on improvements. This means that to receive the rebate, the householder needs to spend another $1000 on additional energy savings.
Read the terms and conditions very carefully, making sure that the system you are installing is eligible for the rebate. Please see Home Energy Audit Terms and Conditions.
In addition, to be eligible the rebate of $500 the householder/tenant must:
- Have an energy audit by HEAT ($30) (Ph 02 6260 6165 or email: info@heat.net.au).
- Be able to give detailed information about the residence's energy usage during the past year.
- Be able to show receipts from the renovations and improvements made.
- Lodge the application with attached receipts within six months after the energy audit.
- Not have received any other rebate under another program.
New South Wales
The NSW Residential rebate program , running from 01/10 2007 to 30/06 2009, offers all house owners in NSW a rebate on systems that are replacing existing electric hot water system.The more efficient the system is (emitting less Greenhouse gas), the more RECs is the system eligible, which generates a bigger rebate.
| Solar or heat pump hot water system, eligible for: | Rebate in $ | |
|---|---|---|
| 20-27 RECs | 600 | |
| 28-35 RECs | 800 | |
| 36-43 RECs | 1000 | |
| 44< RECs | 1200 | |
| 5-star< gas hot water system | 300 |
Northern Territory
Power and Water CorporationPower and Water Corporation
Power and Water Corporation is a Northern Territory Government owned corporation in the Northern Territory. Power and Water is the Northern Territory's premier provider of electricity, water and sewerage services. The Power and Water Corporation was formed on 1 July 2002, taking over from the...
, the principal water and electricity supplier in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, offers an REC buyback scheme on installations of solar water heaters.. The buyback must be applied for and assigned less than one year after the installation .
Queensland
The Queensland Government's Solar hot water rebate scheme finished on 30 June 2005.No state rebates are offered at the present, however the Queensland government in 2007 announced the phasing-out of electric hot water systems commencing in 2010. From 2010, Queenslanders who need to replace their household hot water system due to breakdown will no longer be able to install electric systems, and will instead have to choose from gas, solar or heat pump options. Prior to this, the Queensland government had already banned the installation of electric hot water systems in newly constructed houses; a law which came into effect on 1 March 2006.
The Brisbane City Council offered a rebate of $400 from 30 August 2008 to 1 June 2009. This program is now over.
South Australia
In accordance with the South Australian Government rebate scheme , starting 2008-07-01, anyone who is installing or replacing a water heater must install a low-greenhouse one. The rebate scheme is aiming towards giving less fortunate people a financial incentive to the use of gas, heat pump or solar energy to heat water.To be eligible for the $500 rebate, the householder has to hold at least one of the following concession cards:
- Centrelink Health Care Card
- Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
- DVA Gold Card – Totally and Permanently Incapacitated
- DVA Gold Card - War Widow
- DVA - Extreme Disablement Adjustment
Following to the installation, the householder has up to three months to send in the application to receive the rebate if the below criteria is met.
The water heating system does not replace existing one:
| New system | No natural or LPG gas access | Gas access (natural or LPG) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas solar | Yes | Yes | |
| Electric solar or heat pump | Yes | No | |
| Electric or gas storage/instantaneous | No | No |
The water heating system does replace existing one:
| New system | Gas | Solar gas | Electric element/solar, heat pump | Other types (oil, combustion…) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas solar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Electric solar or heat pump | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Electric or gas storage/instantaneous | No | No | No | No |
Tasmania
No Rebates other than the Federal Government's are offered by the Tasmanian Government at the moment.Victoria
Sustainability Victoria’s solar hot water program, sponsored by the Victorian government, offers rebates to householders who have installed a system abides that the following criteria:- Acts as a replacement of a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar-system
- Is a solar driven pre-heater, which is additional to an existing natural gas of LPG water heating system
- Is a retrofit kit, which is additional to an existing electric water heater
New houses and buildings can get a rebate by selling the RECs their system is eligible. The Commonwealth government is also offering a $1000 rebate to the replacement of electric water heating.
Residential and community buildings:
| Installation situation | VIC gov rebate $480–1500 | Commonwealth Gov rebate $1000 | RECs eligible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replacing natural gas or LPG WH w/ gas-boosted solar system | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Installing SWH as preheater to an existing natural gas or LPG WH | Yes | No | No | |
| Adding solar panels to an existing off-peak electric WH either with a pump or by thermosiphon as a retrofit kit | Yes | No | No | |
| Replacing a wood or briquette WH w/ gas-boosted or electric solar system | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Replacing an electric WH w/ gas-boosted or electric solar system | No | Yes | Yes | |
| New homes and buildings installing a gas-boosted or electric solar system | No | No | Yes | |
| Existing buildings requiring a custom designed system for a large hot water load | Yes | No | No |
Commercial buildings:
| Installation situation | VIC gov rebate $480–1500 | Commonwealth Gov rebate $1000 | RECs eligible |
|---|---|---|---|
| New or existing building installing SHW | No | No | Yes |
Western Australia
By installing an environmentally friendly, gas-boosted solar water heater that replaces a previous water electric heating system, you are eligible of the Government of Western Australia’s rebate.
| System | Rebate in $ | |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas-boosted solar water heaters | 500 | |
| Bottled LP gas-boosted solar water heaters used in areas without reticulated gas | 700 |
See also
- PhotovoltaicsPhotovoltaicsPhotovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material...
- Photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering in Australia
- Renewable energy commercialisation in Australia
- Solar powerSolar powerSolar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
- Solar power station in VictoriaSolar power station in VictoriaThe Mildura Solar Concentrator Power Station is a proposed photovoltaic heliostat solar concentrator power station is to be built at Carwarp, near Mildura, Victoria, Australia.The provisional timeline for the project is:...
- Wind power in AustraliaWind power in AustraliaWind power in Australia is a proven and reliable technology that can be and is readily deployed. As of October 2010, there were 52 wind farms in Australia, most of which had turbines of from 1.5 to 3 megawatts...
- Solar power plants in Central Australia
- Solar Cities in AustraliaSolar Cities in AustraliaSolar Cities is an innovative demonstration programme designed to promote solar power, smart meters, energy conservation and new approaches to electricity pricing to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia...
- Mitigation of global warming in AustraliaMitigation of global warming in AustraliaMitigation of global warming involves taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to enhance sinks aimed at reducing the extent of global warming. This is in distinction to adaptation to global warming, which involves taking action to minimise the effects of global warming...