The Victoria state government has announced big discounts – up to $34,300 – on the cost of rooftop solar systems for commercial and industrial businesses, as well as community organsations.
The discounts were flagged at a webinar organised by the Smart Energy Council this week and formally announced on Friday morning.
The discounts – made available through the state’s Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) scheme, will wipe up to $25,000 off the upfront cost of installing a 100 kilowatt system, and up to $34,300 off a 200 kilowatt solar system.
The discounts will begin for systems sized at 30 kW, and businesses that are also eligible for Commonwealth Government rebates can slash up to $50,000 – or one third of the cost – from a 200 kW installation.
The move by the Victoria Labor government comes amid strong success for the federal government’s battery rebate program, and underlines the serious push into exploiting consumer energy resources, and ensuring more households and businesses can afford to install the technology.
It also recognises that doing large scale wind and solar is hard. “With more solar power, we rely less on the grid, which means fewer costly upgrades to the electricity network and lower bills across for all Victorians,” the government says.
“We’re making it easier for Victorian businesses to get solar, because when they save on energy, they can invest more into their communities, growing their business and creating more jobs,” state energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio added.
“More solar helps to drive down costs for every Victorian by easing pressure on the grid.”
The move was welcomed by clean energy groups. The SEC said it would be a shot in the arm for the commercial solar sector and urged other states to follow.
“Australian businesses are the future power stations of Australia,” SEC chief strategy officer Nigel Morris said in a statement.
“Businesses face escalating energy costs across the board, particularly from gas. Solar and storage are not just nice to have, they’re a must-have.”
The Clean Energy Council said large rooftops – like those on warehouses and supermarkets – are perfect real estate for solar.
“These incentives unlock untapped potential for renewable energy generation and reduce the payback period for businesses investing in rooftop solar,” said CEC’s head of distributed energy Con Hristodoulis.
“Not only does this make good business sense, but driving down commercial energy bills helps to ease cost of living pressures for consumers.”
The discounts will also be available for hospitals, local government buildings, aquatic centres, aged care facilities and factories.
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of One Step Off The Grid, and also edits and founded Renew Economy and The Driven. He has been a journalist for 35 years and is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review.
