Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 1
Sub-outcome: 	Australians working together to meet the challenge of climate change
Output:	To pursue an effective global response to climate change
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office
Topic: 	UN Convention on Climate Change
Hansard Page ECITA:	146

Senator Wong asked:
The UN Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change in Buenos Aires in December 2004 and the UK government conference in Exeter in early February 2005: did any DEH officials attend and what was the total cost of their attendance? What was Australia’s status at the conference? Did the department, the minister or any other Australian agency host any functions at the conference and, if so, what was the funding, its purpose and its cost?

Answer/s:
Yes. Eight Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) staff attended the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the DEH Secretary who was part of the Ministerial party. Two DEH staff attended the UK government climate change science conference in Exeter. The Department’s costs for COP 10 are still being finalised but are expected to be around $136 000 for COP 10, including airfares, accommodation and officer expenses. Costs for the Exeter meeting total $18 649.23.

Australia is a full party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Exeter conference involved experts. Australia was an active and constructive participant in both meetings.

Yes. The following functions were hosted by the Minister and Australian officials at the Conference of the Parties to enhance dialogue on climate change issues through Australia’s leadership of the Umbrella Group of countries and as a leading member of the Pacific Island Forum:
•	Dinner for Heads of Delegation from the Umbrella Group - $542.95
•	Dinner for Umbrella Group Ministers - $1 593.27
•	Lunch for Ministers and Heads of Delegation of Pacific Island Forum Countries (co-hosted with New Zealand) $357.99

No functions were hosted by Australia at the Exeter conference.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 7
Sub-outcome:	1.2  Emissions Management
Output:	Climate Change
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
How much has been spent on the PVRP over the past 5 years?

Answer/s:
To the end of January 2005 total expenditure under the PVRP was $37.321 million.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 8
Sub-outcome:	1.2 Emissions Management
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
How many PV systems have been installed?

Answer/s:
5,765 systems have been installed under the PVRP as at the end of January 2005. An additional 1,539 systems have been approved for installation.

Outcome: 	1. Environment		Question No: 9
Sub-outcome:	Emissions Management
Output: 	Climate Change
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
Has there been any analysis of the contribution that this programme has made to the growth of the PV industry in Australia over this period?

Answer:
The PVRP was subject to an internal evaluation in October 2004. 

The Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy produced a report in July 2004, The Australian Photovoltaic Industry Roadmap, which analysed the contribution of the PVRP to overall installed capacity of PV in Australia.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 10
Sub-outcome:	Australians working together to meet the challenge of climate change
Output:	1.2  Emissions Management
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA: 	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
Has any analysis been undertaken which shows the peak electricity load reduction impact of PVRP funded grid-connected solar systems?

Answer/s:
Although the Department of the Environment and Heritage has not undertaken such an analysis, there are a number of industry and academic studies on this subject. A recent paper titled “The Value of PV in Summer Peaks” presented by the Centre for PV Engineering, UNSW to the June 2004 European PV Solar Energy Conference in Paris provides a useful analysis.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 11
Sub-outcome:	1.2  Emissions Management
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA: 	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
How much power is produced from PV installations funded under this programme? What % of total installed PV capacity in Australia is this?

Answer:
As at January 2005, the installed capacity of PVRP systems was 6.7 megawatts (MW) comprising 3.15MW on-grid and 3.55MW off-grid. 

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy indicates that up to the end of 2003, the total installed capacity of PV systems in Australia was 46MW. In the same period the total installed capacity of PVRP systems was 5.5MW, or 12 per cent of installed capacity. 

The amount of power from PV installations is not reported by householders.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 12
Sub-outcome:	Australians working together to meet the challenge of climate change
Output:	1.2  Emissions Management
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA: 	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
What is the breakdown of funded projects for each state and territory?

Answer:
As at the end of January 2005, the value of funded projects and the number of systems approved for installation is as follows:

State	Amount of funding received	Number of systems 	
NSW	$9,572,095	2,296	
VIC	$7,906,269	1,914	
QLD	$6,336,927	1,306	
SA	$7,121,598	1,319	
WA	$1,017,153	172	
TAS	$963,560	258	
NT	$56,700	14	
ACT	$167,290	25	
TOTAL	$33,141,592	7304	

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 13
Sub-outcome:	1.2  Emissions Management
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA: 	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
Are the South Australian projects assisting with peak energy demand?

Answer/s:
Yes. To the end of January 2005, PVRP projects in South Australia had contributed 1.5 megawatts in installed capacity. However, there is no empirical data or analysis to quantify the contribution to peak energy demand. One of the objectives of the Solar Cities programme is to gather this data through a number of measurable trials.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 14
Sub-outcome:	1.2  Emissions Management
Output:	Climate Change
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA: 	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
How has the PVRP increased Australia's solar installed capacity relative to other countries over the past years?

Answer/s:
PVRP has focussed on application of PV to residential and community buildings, where it has underpinned a growth in domestic manufacturing and installation capacity. There is no reliable comparative data available on this sector in other countries. The International Energy Agency publishes total installed PV capacity in member countries, but this includes large-scale PV installations as well as residential.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 15
Sub-outcome:	Australians working together to meet the challenge of climate change
Output:	1.2  Emissions Management
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office	
Topic:	Photovoltaic Rebate Programme and Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA: 	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
How long will the PVRP programme continue?

Answers:
Appropriation for PVRP is scheduled to cease at the end of the 2004-05 financial year.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 16
Sub-outcome:	Australians working together to meet the challenge of climate change
Output:  	Emissions Management
Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office
Topic: 	Greenhouse Emissions Target
Hansard Page ECITA:	143

Senator Webber asked: 
How are we going with respect to our Kyoto greenhouse emission target of 108 per cent by 2008 to 2012?  Do we expect to meet the target?

Answer/s:
In 2002 – the most recent year for which all required data are currently available – Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions were 1.3 per cent above 1990 levels. This is 6.7 per cent below our Kyoto target.

Yes. Australia is firmly on track to meet its Kyoto target. The most recent projections released in December 2004 show that Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions for the period 2008 to 2012 are expected to be 108 per cent of 1990 levels – which is right on the mark. Current measures are expected to reduce greenhouse emissions by 94 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by that time, more than the equivalent of eliminating all emissions from the transport sector. In the absence of these measures, it is estimated that emissions would have reached 125 per cent of 1990 levels by 2008-2012.