RAA establishes Solar Facts website to dispel renewable rumors
In a counter attack against the anti-renewable rhetoric that makes its way into the national conversation, the REC Agents Association (RAA) have launched an information portal in the hopes of dispelling renewable untruths.
Solar Facts offers easy-to-digest paragraphs the website sets the story straight regarding truths and falsehoods regarding renewable energies, with plenty of references to policies and reports for those interested in further investigation.
“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,” said Fiona O’Hehir, Vice-President of RAA.
“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.”
A few key points from the Solar Facts page are as follows:
- Solar PV contributes to peak energy demand. Without the contribution of solar panels during days of extreme electricity usage, both South Australia and Victoria would have broken their peak electricity demand from the traditional energy network.
- There is no cost to customers to cover the SRES. Benefits from subsidising small-scale rooftop solar projects as part of the renewable energy target result in lower wholesale price of electricity, providing a zero-sum cost benefit for all electricity consumers.
- Network costs are the primary contributing factor in rising electricity bills. with only 2.2% of electricity consumed coming from renewable sources, over-investment in the network has resulted in the costs associated being passed on to the consumers.
- Over 17,700 people are employed by the renewable energy sector. As much as the coal and gas industries will suggest they are a major contributor to the Australian workforce, and any policy changes that shrink their capabilities will hurt Australian workers – the figures suggest that the renewable sector employs more people than the oil, coal and gas industries combined.
