❓ A parliamentary question regarding the WA government's decision to suspend the net feed-in tariff scheme, inquiring about the timing and reasons for the decision, as well as the capacity of renewable energy systems installed under the scheme.
AnsweredQoN 529Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NET FEED-IN TARIFF — SUSPENSION
I refer to the government’s decision to suspend its net feed-in tariff. (1) When did cabinet make this decision, and was it made as a result of the 150-megawatt cap being reached, or because of an article appearing on page 1 of The West Australian ? (2) What is the current total capacity of renewable energy systems installed under the feed-in tariff scheme, and how much of this capacity is estimated to be unused inverter capacity only? Hon PETER COLLIER
I refer to the government’s decision to suspend its net feed-in tariff. (1) When did cabinet make this decision, and was it made as a result of the 150-megawatt cap being reached, or because of an article appearing on page 1 of The West Australian ? (2) What is the current total capacity of renewable energy systems installed under the feed-in tariff scheme, and how much of this capacity is estimated to be unused inverter capacity only? Hon PETER COLLIER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
(1) When did cabinet make this decision, and was it made as a result of the 150-megawatt cap being reached, or because of an article appearing on page 1 of The West Australian ? (2) What is the current total capacity of renewable energy systems installed under the feed-in tariff scheme, and how much of this capacity is estimated to be unused inverter capacity only? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
(2) What is the current total capacity of renewable energy systems installed under the feed-in tariff scheme, and how much of this capacity is estimated to be unused inverter capacity only? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
(1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
(2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
(1) When did cabinet make this decision, and was it made as a result of the 150-megawatt cap being reached, or because of an article appearing on page 1 of The West Australian ? (2) What is the current total capacity of renewable energy systems installed under the feed-in tariff scheme, and how much of this capacity is estimated to be unused inverter capacity only? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
(2) What is the current total capacity of renewable energy systems installed under the feed-in tariff scheme, and how much of this capacity is estimated to be unused inverter capacity only? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
(1) The government made the decision to reduce the feed-in tariff rate and introduce a capacity cap of 150 megawatts as part of its 2011–12 budget. As the cap had been exceeded, the scheme was suspended on 1 August 2011. As the honourable member would be aware, cabinet deliberations are not discussed publicly. (2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
(2) As of 4 August 2001, there were about 170 megawatts of inverter capacity, and 143 megawatts of panel capacity installed under the scheme. These numbers are expected to increase slightly when those with prior contractual commitments are accepted onto the scheme. Scheme owners are able to increase their panel capacity, but not their inverter capacity, at any time and remain eligible for the feed-in tariff.
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