Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 29
Sub Outcome:	1.1 Response to Climate Change
Division/Agency:	Industry, Communities and Energy Division / Australian Greenhouse Office
Topic:	MRET Targets
Hansard Page ECITA:	92

Senator Carr asked:
So since the white paper has been produced, can you give me on notice the number of representations that you have received requesting an increase in the MRET targets. 
Mr Sterland, in that question you took before, can you indicate to me the number of departmental representations and the number of representations to the Minister.

Answer/s:
A search of Departmental records indicates that the Minister has received 77 written representations requesting an increase in the MRET targets following the release of the Energy White Paper.

A search of Departmental records indicates that the Department has received no written representations specifically requesting an increase in the MRET targets following the release of the Energy White Paper.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 30
Sub Outcome:	1.1 Response to Climate Change
Division/Agency:	Industry, Communities and Energy Division / Australian Greenhouse Office
Topic:	MRET Targets
Hansard Page ECITA:	92-93

Senator Milne asked:
The target set in 1997 was two per cent of consumption. What is the 9,500 now as a percentage of current electricity consumption?  I am asking now, actually, what it would be. What would it be in relation to current consumption? What is it likely to be in a 2010 projection?

Answer/s:
The Mandatory Renewable Energy Target was set as 9,500 gigawatt hours of additional renewable energy generation per year by 2010. The target equated to a two per cent increase in the share of renewables-based electricity against projected electricity use in 2010. It is not a target against total consumption.

In 1997, renewable electricity generation was 16,000 gigawatt hours, which represented 10.5 per cent of total electricity consumption. Projections at the time indicated that to achieve a two per cent increase in renewables share to 12.5 per cent of total consumption in 2010, an additional 9,500 gigawatt hours would be required. The legislated target was set in gigawatt hours to provide certainty for the market.

More recent projections indicate that Australia’s electricity demand is growing more rapidly than originally projected. Based on projections produced by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE), and released in October 2005 in its publication ‘Australian Energy: national and state projections to 2029-30,’ achieving the 9,500 gigawatt hours target would bring the renewable share of electricity consumption in 2010 to 11.1 per cent.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 31
Sub Outcome:	1.1 Response to Climate Change
Division/Agency:	Industry, Communities and Energy Division / Australian Greenhouse Office
Topic:	Solar Cities Programme
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Carr asked:
1. What is the status of the solar cities program?  How many expressions of interest received for solar cities program?  
2. How many consortia will be short-listed to become solar cities projects?  What is the criteria being used to short-list and then select?  Please provide details.
3. How much funding is each successful “solar cities” bid likely to receive?
4. Given the tremendous response to calls for projects is increasing funding for the solar cities project being considered by the Government?

Answer/s:
1.	The Solar Cities programme is in the Expression of Interest phase with a total of 23 Expressions of Interest received from across Australia. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage and the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources will determine which consortia will proceed to the next phase and be invited to prepare a detailed business case. 
2.	The eligibility and selection criteria for Solar Cities are set out on pages 6 and 7 in the published Programme Guidelines (see Attachment). Ministers will decide on which consortia are offered Solar Cities grants and the size and the terms and conditions of those grants.
3.	No minimum or maximum funding limit has been set for successful Solar City proposals. The level of Australian Government funding awarded to successful proponents will be determined on a case by case basis and will depend on the number, scale and quality of proposals. 
4.	It is envisaged that the objectives of the Solar Cities programme can be achieved within the $75 million funding allocated.

Attachment to Question on Notice 31

Selected Sections from the Solar Cities Programme Guidelines

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Solar Cities is a competitive merit-based programme. Proposals will be assessed against the eligibility criteria and, if eligible, will then be considered and assessed against the core and desirable selection criteria. Funds are limited and only the best EOI proposals will be short-listed and invited to develop detailed business cases at the tender phase. Upon submission of detailed business cases, a second assessment process will take place, culminating in the offer of funds to successful Solar City consortia. More information on the assessment process can be found in Section 10 of these Guidelines.
 
The following eligibility and selection criteria apply to both the EOI phase and the subsequent tender phase. Proposals must satisfy each eligibility criterion and should address each of the selection criteria.

Eligibility Criteria 

To be eligible for consideration against the selection criteria referred to below, all of the following eligibility criteria must be met:
a)	The organisation that will lead and manage the implementation of the Solar City project must be: 
•	an incorporated body that is located in Australia, including Government Business Enterprises; 
•	a local government body; or 
•	a statutory authority.
b)	The proposal is technically feasible.
c)	An integrated proposal that includes each of the following technologies and measures: 
•	photovoltaic technologies; 
•	smart metering technologies; 
•	energy efficiency measures; 
•	load management measures, including cost reflective pricing.
d)	The proposal is focused on existing buildings and may include a component of urban renewal or greenfield sites.
e)	Consortium proponents are financially viable. 

Selection Criteria 

Where proposals meet the eligibility criteria, they will be assessed against the following core and desirable selection criteria. Each of the core criteria is of equivalent weighting. The core criteria are of greater significance than the desirable criteria. Each of the desirable criteria is of equivalent weighting.

Core criteria
The extent to which the proposal demonstrates:
a)	uptake of photovoltaic technologies.
b)	potential to impact future electricity supply and demand profiles in the Solar City over the period of the project, in particular for peak loads.
c)	potential to defer future investment in electricity infrastructure arising from the implementation of the Solar City project.
d)	the use of a business model that addresses the key elements of the Solar Cities programme set out in eligibility criterion (c) and provides information to enable widespread commercial application. 
e)	pricing arrangements that optimise the benefits of photovoltaic and smart meter technologies and energy efficiency and load management measures and better reflect the real costs of electricity supply to consumers at the time of use.
f)	community support.
g)	arrangements for, and access to, real-time measurement and monitoring of energy data.
h)	impact on projected energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for the Solar City over the period of the project.
i)	effective risk management, consumer education, community engagement and exit strategies. 
j)	the use of measures and technologies that can be readily deployed into existing building stock. 
k)	the proponent’s capabilities to deliver the proposed project outputs on time and within budget.
l)	support (either cash or in-kind) from sources other than the Australian Government, noting that the Australian Government is seeking 50 per cent leverage of total costs associated with each Solar Cities project. 
m)	expenditure by programme participants in adopting the technologies and measures being promoted by the consortium.
n)	acceptance of the legal principles in these guidelines.

Desirable criteria 

The extent to which the proposal demonstrates:
a)	guaranteed and timely post-sales support for any technology installed and measures implemented.
b)	development and retention of intellectual property in Australia.
c)	the introduction of changes in policies, guidelines or mandatory requirements that facilitate the adoption of photovoltaic and smart meter technologies, energy efficiency and load management measures, including cost-reflective pricing. 
d)	potential for change in community attitudes and behaviour in relation to the efficient use of energy and uptake of new technologies over the course of the project. 
e)	other economic, environmental or social benefits.