Solar Citizens Spruiks Queensland “Solar For All” Plan

Solar Citizens is calling for bipartisan commitment to a plan the community-based organisation says focuses on providing access to rooftop PV and batteries for the many Queensland households currently locked out of direct solar savings.

Uptake of rooftop solar power in Queensland is continuing at a rapid clip, with more than 1 million small-scale installations to date. According to the Australian Photovoltaic Institute (APVI), the estimated proportion of semi-detached and stand-alone houses with solar panels installed has reached around 51.3% – leading the states and territories in terms of saturation.

“… but many Queenslanders are still locked out because of where they live,” said Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas. “Queenslanders living in rentals, strata and social housing have a right to cheap clean energy too.”

The state election is just two months away, and cost-of-living issues – including energy – are weighing heavily on Queenslanders.

Solar Citizens’ 9-Point Plan

The group wants all candidates to back its “Solar For All” plan for Queensland. A brief summary of the 9 points:

1. Queensland’s own household energy systems strategy

This would include a thorough review of existing energy rules and regulations, and targets for the further rapid uptake of rooftop solar and home batteries.

2. Solar for rentals

Make disclosure of energy performance at point-of-sale for all housing stock and when advertising rentals mandatory; plus minimum energy performance standards for rental properties under the Minimum Housing Standards framework.

The plan also calls for a target of at least 10,000 more private rental properties with rooftop solar by 2026, and 100,000 by 2030; supported by unspecified programs. The group notes – citing ABS Census 2021 – there are more than 618,000 rental properties in Queensland, representing one third of all the state’s housing stock.

3. Rooftop solar and sustainability infrastructure in strata titled properties

Amend the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 to lower the vote threshold for sustainability projects to make getting them across the line easier, and programs helping body corporates through the process of energy efficiency upgrades. Solar Citizens says Queensland has more than 500,000 units among 48,000+ strata-titled properties, and the changes could result in 60,000 solar system installations.

4. EV charging ready apartment buildings

Calls for the QLD Government to commit to a $20 million fund over four years to support installation of EV charging infrastructure in apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings.

5. Solar and virtual power plants for social housing

Installing rooftop solar panels on 30% of social housing properties in the state (around 20,000) over the next four years and battery installations at 10,000 of these homes initially. Plus, creation of a state-owned and operated social housing Virtual Power Plant. The VPP would provide essential grid services and, the group says, reduce the cost of electricity for all.

6. Energy upgrades for social housing

Participation in the national $300 million Household Energy Upgrades Fund for social housing, which requires a QLD Government co-contribution. Solar Citizens says around $123 million – including the state’s co-contribution – in social housing energy upgrades are going by the wayside currently.

7. Energy efficiency assessments for low-income households

Provide funding to roll out free or subsidised energy assessments to all lower-income households living in older, less energy efficient homes.

8. Urban industrial renewable energy zones (UIREZs)

Policies for the development of zones within urban areas that would support high levels of small-scale and medium-scale renewable energy and storage; which could provide cheaper electricity for local manufacturing and logistics businesses.

9. Ongoing support for home batteries

An ongoing subsidy to pick up where QLD’s Battery Booster program left off, encouraging further household battery installations. Judging by how fast the Battery Booster scheme rebates were snapped up and the growing number of QLD solar households interested in batteries, this would likely be very popular.

“The upcoming Queensland election is time for the policy commitments to empower all Queenslander[s] with cheaper energy bills from homegrown clean energy,” said Ms. Douglas.

Through the implementation of the points above, the group claims it will deliver an additional 500,000 rooftop solar installations and 200,000 home batteries by 2030. However, it’s not clear how those totals were determined based on figures provided in the plan, and overall cost of implementation wasn’t estimated that I could see.

The full Solar Citizens Queensland “Solar For All” document, which describes each point in more detail, can be viewed here.