Queensland Solar Bonus Scheme – Learning about the feed-in tariff

The Queensland Solar Bonus Scheme was introduced in July 2008 as a way to encourage energy efficiency, stimulate the solar industry and make solar more affordable for Queenslanders.

Essentially, the scheme rewards eligible households with a solar PV system who generate more electricity than they use. The feed-in tariff is the price, elected by your state government, which is paid to you for the surplus of electricity generated from your solar PV system and exported to the state electricity grid.

In Queensland, we have a NET feed-in tariff that pays almost double the retail price for the excess solar power you don’t use and export to the grid. The NET feed-in tariff measures and compares power usage and generation, and you are paid a premium feed-in tariff for any excess power generated but not used and a standard feed-in tariff on the amount that merely offsets your usage. NSW and ACT are the only states with gross feed-in tariffs.

Participants of the Queensland scheme are paid a minimum of $0.44 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for surplus electricity fed into the grid – almost double the current domestic use tariff of 22.76c/kWh (from 1 July 2011).

Each state government has its own minimum feed-in tariff, but some electricity retailers pay more. For example in Queensland the current feed-in tariff is $0.44 per kilowatt hour (kWh) but if your electricity supplier is AGL, you will receive $0.52 per kWh and Origin pays $0.50.

The amount of electricity fed to the grid depends on how much energy is being consumed while the solar panels are generating power, thus encouraging energy efficiency in the home. This could be achieved by reducing standby power consumption, switching to controlled load tariffs, minimizing the use of energy intensive appliances such as air conditioners or installing an AuziMax energy management system which will help you monitor energy within the home.

The Queensland Bonus Scheme is expected to continue until 1 July 2028. For more details or to find out if you are eligible, please visit www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/solar_bonus_scheme.cfm.