Australian Capital Territory is launching a new incentive scheme to promote large-scale solar in the state. It is Australia’s first scheme targeting larger systems and aims to help install projects totalling up to 210MW.
The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has proposed the new feed-in tariff (FiT) rates for PV projects commissioned from January 29, 2012 until March 31, 2015. These new rates range from INR10.27 (US$0.21) to INR13.14 per kWh (US$0.268) and are applicable for ground-mounted, rooftop and concentrating solar power (CSP) systems.
The Bundesnetzagentur, Germany's Federal Network Agency, will cut the country's solar feed-in tariff (FiT) by 15% in 2012. The subsidy reduction is more severe than the 12% forecasted by many industry insiders and was triggered by the 5.2GW of new capacity installed between October 2010 and September 2011.
Germany’s solar industry has endured a difficult year and the Federal Network Agency and transmission system operators (TSO) have responded accordingly by leaving the Renewable Energy Law (EEG) levy virtually unchanged at €0.3592 per kWh.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has dealt a blow to Germany’s flagging downstream sector by questioning its credibility as a commercially viable energy source and calling for a further cut to its feed-in tariff.
Emmvee, DelSolar and Jurawatt are the latest companies to announce their solar modules will be stamped “Made in Europe” and eligible for a 10% premium over normal Italian feed-in tariff rates.
The German government could impose harsher-than-expected cuts to solar energy subsidies next year due to a rise in solar panel installations, according to a Reuters report. In June and July, around 1.25GW of PV capacity was installed in Germany, a figure higher than the figure achieved in the preceding five months of the year combined, and while Germany's network regulator declined to comment on these reported figures, government sources have indicated this will prompt a 15% cut to incentives in January.
The lower house of Japan's parliament has passed a new green bill aimed at promoting investment in solar and other renewable energy sources and weaning the country off nuclear power. The bill requires utilities to buy any electricity from solar and other renewable sources for up to 20 years and should it be approved by the upper house it will come into force next July.
The Indian state of Karnataka has published its updated solar policy, which includes a target for 350MW of solar projects by 2016. The Government will allocate 40MW worth of projects for direct sale to the different distribution companies in the state, commonly known as ESCOMS, up to the amount of 200MW. A total of 50MW of bundled solar thermal power will be allotted to state-owned utilities for development. The split between photovoltaic and concentrated solar power (CSP) has not yet been defined.
The final adaptation of Italy's deficit-reduction plan has imposed further reductions on renewable energy incentives. If confirmed, the new legislation could see incentives to renewable energy companies paid for by consumers on their electricity bills slashed by as much as 30%.
