There’s an issue for solar power about to hit: Standards NZ’s new proposed standard requires the use of a particular, untested, inverter which is not expected to even exist until July 2014. The current 2005 standard on solar power production allows electricity lines companies to enforce their own set of standards onto independent solar power installers.
Solar power is currently producing 0.1% of NZ’s power, which seems crazy given the amount of sun we see. There are a lot more solar panels in gloomy parts of the UK than you see here. For the benefits of a distributed grid and improving our renewable energy supply it seems sensible to be encouraging everyone to install a solar panel or 2 on their houses.
So there’s an avaaz petition against the latest craziness, and they’re also proposing some other sensible political action:
–introduce a clear, safe, nationwide standard for the installation of solar power systems that is specific to New Zealand and doesn’t let power distributors make up the rules as they go along;
—eliminate application fees for solar installations and reduce soft costs as much as possible ;
–introduce a national financing strategy for enabling private citizens and businesses to install solar power, and fair pricing and billing for solar power generators to encourage people to install solar panels and earn money on excess power they produce (a net-metering law).
Solar is subsidised in many countries, but this isn’t even asking for that, just a level playing field.
Seems like a sensible policy for any political party…
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