Social Access Solar Gardens for Australia

Rutovitz, J; McIntosh, L; Ison, N; Noble, E; Hicks, J; Mey, F

Social Access Solar Gardens for Australia

Rutovitz, J McIntosh, L Ison, N Noble, E Hicks, J Mey, F

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Publisher:: University of Technology Sydney
Publication Type:: Report
Citation:: 2018
Issue Date:: 2018-12-13

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Rutovitz, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	McIntosh, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ison, N	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Noble, E	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hicks, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mey, F	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-12-13	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	2018	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/129516
dc.format	web	en_US
dc.publisher	University of Technology Sydney	en_US
dc.title	Social Access Solar Gardens for Australia	en_US
dc.type	Report
utslib.location	Sydney	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.consider-herdc	true	en_US
pubs.confidential	false	en_US
pubs.place-of-publication	Sydney	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published online	en_US
pubs.rights-statement	Research Background: the research examined whether social access solar gardens are desirable, feasible, and viable as a means of providing ownership of renewable energy to consumers who are currently locked our. Approximately one third of Australian consumers cannot currently participate in renewable energy ownership, either because they rent their homes, they live in apartments or other unsuitable dwellings, or they cannot afford the upfront investment. Solar gardens are a model of renewable energy ownership where consumers purchase a share of a centralised renewable facility, with the electricity generation from their portion credited on their power bill. This model is common in the USA, but is so far not been established in Australia. Social Access Solar Gardens are established to ensure that all consumers can access the solar garden. Research Contribution: the research examined the legal feasibility of alternative legal and administrative structures, undertook market research with consumers, and examined the financial viability of solar gardens under current market settings. A web based financial tool was developed to allow project teams examining solar gardens to test scenarios for their projects. Research Significance: the research found that Social Access Solar Gardens could enable universal access to ownership of renewable energy. The model is legally and practically feasible, and desirable to consumers. The financial analysis found that they do not provide sufficient returns under current market settings, primarily because the network charges mean that the return on investment is too low compared to behind the meter versions. However, if consumers are given equivalent support to that given to householders installing rooftop solar on their own properties projects become financially viable.	en_US

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/129516