Solar hot water in Australia

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 [http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1376-solar-hot-water-rebate.asp dateaccessed=4 Aug 2008 ] .

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.Lovegrove, Keith and Dennis, Mike. [http://engnet.anu.edu.au/DEresearch/solarthermal/pages/pubs/IJES06.pdf Solar thermal energy systems in Australia] "International Journal of Environmental Studies", Vol. 63, No. 6, December 2006, p. 793.] [ [http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/energyefficiency/buildings/publications/energyuse.html Energy use in the Australian residential sector 1986-2020] , Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008]

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.

The Australian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate Program

The Howard Government ran a Solar hot water rebate program [http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/solarhotwater/ Solar hot water rebate program] where a $1000 discount is offered on 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 heating system
* The application and the installation process has taken place within the dates the rebate is offered
* The household is a 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 summit the application form with the purchase receipt attached to it.

The Mandatory renewable energy target [ [http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/solarhotwater/#recs 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 [http://www.hillssolar.com/arbitrage/pages/88 Hills solar] 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, but is usually around $40 [http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=100954&catId=100519&tid=100008 Choice] . Potentially, if you system is entitled to 30 RECs, selling them will generate a discount of the total cost of installation with $1200.

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 [http://www.orer.gov.au/publications/swh.html The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator]

olar hot water in the Australian states

ACT

The ACT Energy Wise program [http://www.heat.net.au/pdf/ACT_Energy_Wise_terms&conditions.pdf 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 [http://www.heat.net.au/pdf/ACT_Energy_Wise_terms&conditions.pdf The Act energy wise program] .

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: [e-mail]).
* 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 [http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/rebates/ccfhws.htm 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.

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 [http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/070801_SV_Solar_Hot_Water_Guidelines_Metro_RS_v51.pdf Sustainability Victoria] , 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:

See also

* Photovoltaics
* Photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering in Australia
* Renewable energy commercialisation in Australia
* Solar power
* Solar power station in Victoria
* Wind power in Australia
* Solar power plants in Central Australia
* Solar Cities in Australia
* Mitigation of global warming in Australia

References