SA Election 2018: Solar industry welcomes Premier’s latest $100m plan but say it lacks detail

SOLAR industry experts have welcomed a State Government pledge to provide homeowners interest-free loans to install solar panels or home batteries but say the proposal lacks detail and should be extended to include businesses.

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SOLAR industry experts have welcomed a State Government pledge to provide homeowners with interest-free loans to install solar panels or home batteries but say the proposal lacks detail and should be extended to businesses too.

Premier Jay Weatherill’s plan, revealed in today’s Advertiser, would give 10,000 homeowners the chance to apply for loans up to $10,000, under a $100m scheme he says will provide bill relief and drive down power prices.

The head of Mawson Lakes-based Tindo Solar, the Southern Hemisphere’s only solar panel manufacturer, said the plan would create jobs.

But Opposition leader Steven Marshall said Labor’s plan “lacked evidence” it would bring energy prices down - unlike a plan unveiled by his party.

If elected, the Liberals say they will provide home battery grants for 40,000 households.

Suntrix managing director Jenny Paradiso, who heads the South Australian-based solar company, supported the plan but said the Premier should extend the proposal to businesses.

“Anything that promotes renewable energy in South Australia is a good thing (but) there’s not a lot of detail at the moment,” Ms Paradiso said.

“I’m curious to see what the loan conditions are like (and) whether we should be encouraging solar or whether we should be looking at (battery) storage.”

Suntrix managing director Jenny Paradiso. AAP/Roy Vandervegt.

Ms Paradiso said “well over 30 per cent of owner-occupied” homes had solar installed already so “businesses need a real focus now”.

“They’re struggling in regards to electricity bills ... I think businesses would benefit more than residential homes,” she said.

“(For businesses) a loan would be more beneficial to them (and) getting finance is something that holds a lot of them back.

“Once you’ve got solar, it’s amazing how much it does reduce your bill.”

Tindo Solar general manager Robert Sporne welcomed the announcement, particularly because it would support jobs.

“We’re definitely welcoming the opportunity to employ more people and grow our business,” he said.

“We’re already got a team here of 40 people and we would look to potentially employ another 20 more within the next 12-to-18 months.”

Opposition leader Steven Marshall said the Labor Party was just playing “catch-up” with the announcement.

SA Liberal leader Steven Marshall speaks at the CEDA economic forum debate at the InterContinental Hotel in February.. AAP Image/David Mariuz.

“In October we (the Liberal Party) released a comprehensive energy policy including a $100 million scheme that would provide home battery grants of about $2,500 per household across 40,000 dwellings,” he said.

“The reality is Labor’s policy is not going to shift the dial in South Australia in terms of prices, unlike the Liberal Party’s which will bring prices down.

“We’ve put our plan out for independent evaluation and we know that prices will come down under the Liberal Party’s energy policy.

“Labor still hasn’t provided any evidence this is going to bring down energy prices in South Australia for any more than the 10,000 individuals it’s talking about.”

Solar Citizens South Australian campaigner Dan Spencer said he believed Weatherill’s proposed plan would give low-and-middle income earners bill relief.

“Families, people on low to middle incomes will definitely be going for this,” he said.

“Power prices are going up and a lot of people (that) have access to the money are going solar so this will enable more people to do it,” he said.

Mr Spencer, who heads the independent community-based organisation that seeks to grow solar in Australia, said people should ensure solar or battery installers were an “accredited installer” to “ensure they are getting good quality product and service”.

“With any business, there are companies that don’t do the right thing (but) the vast majority are doing the right thing,” he said.

Mr Spencer said choosing to go solar was “good for everyone”.

“What solar and battery systems do (is) by still being connected to the grid, they actually support the grid more by reducing grid demand and reducing grid demand reduces wholesale power prices,” he said.