Monash expert: Free electricity under Solar Sharer Scheme - what it means for households
Monash University
A Monash University expert is available to comment on the Federal Government’s new Solar Sharer scheme requiring energy retailers to provide households in select states with three hours of free electricity each day, how it is good for consumers and what other measures could help share the benefits of the energy transition.
Professor Yolande Strengers, Director (Research) Monash Energy Institute, Faculty of Information Technology
Contact details: +61 450 501 248 or [email protected]
Read more of Professor Strengers’ commentary at Monash Lens
- Energy futures
- Smart homes and energy automation
- Smart energy grids
- Consumer energy resources
The following can be attributed to Professor Strengers:
“Offering free energy through this solar power sharing initiative ensures that more Australians are experiencing the benefits of the transition to renewable energy sources. This is important for renters, apartment dwellers and many other households who are not able to afford or access solar energy on their property.
“Our research shows that the concept of sharing energy is appealing to many households and is aligned with community values to support the efficient operation of the grid by using energy when it is available.
“Households have long associated the evening as the cheap time to use energy and make use of off-peak rates. That is changing with the high penetration of rooftop solar generation. This policy is a signal to households that using energy in the middle of the day is the best way to make use of abundant solar energy. This might include running dishwashers, washing machines, charging large appliances and electric vehicles, or cooling the home on a hot day.
“Giving people free power during the middle of the day is a positive initiative that supports a more equitable sharing of the benefits of the energy transition between solar and non-solar households. While it’s not a silver bullet, and while not everyone can shift their energy use to the middle of the day, it is a move towards sharing the collective benefits of the energy transition with more households.”
For any other topics on which you may be seeking expert comment, contact the Monash University Media Unit on +61 3 9903 4840 or [email protected]