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A new information portal has been launched by the REC Agents Association (RAA), highlighting key facts about solar. RAA is a national industry body for companies that create and trade in renewable energy certificates.

Solar Facts can be found at https://www.recagents.org.au/solar-facts/

“A number of spurious claims have been made about the solar industry, the Renewable Energy Target and the cost and contribution of solar, and it’s time to correct the record,” said Ric Brazzale, President of RAA.

“The Solar Facts information portal is a valuable source of information for policy makers, journalists, solar industry professionals and anyone passionate about solar wanting access to facts,” said Mr Brazzale. “RAA’s one-stop-shop for solar data will be regularly updated and expanded to bust solar myths and keep interested parties factually updated about solar in Australia.”

“Solar is an important part of mainstream Australian life,” said Fiona O’Hehir, Vice-President of RAA. “More than 2 million solar installations have been supported by the Renewable Energy Target. Almost 25 per cent of the

8.4 million occupied private dwellings in Australia have a solar system.”

Some Key Solar Facts

• Australians invested more than $1.7 billion in solar PV in 2013.
• Solar PV installed capacity amounts to nearly 6% of Australia’s generation and 2.2% of total electricity produced.
• Solar PV produces electricity when it is needed the most and has resulted in a material reduction in peak demand for electricity.
• More than 17,700 Australians were employed in the solar PV industry in 2013.
• There is no net cost to customers for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.
• The Renewable Energy Target provides downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices and, as a result, wholesale prices are considerably lower than would otherwise be the case.
• Network costs have driven higher power prices not the Renewable Energy Target.
• Outer metropolitan mortgage belt and regional areas are the largest adopters of solar.

For comment and more information, contact Ric Brazzale on 0419 522 659 and Fiona O’Hehir on 0409 176 167.