Yesterday in Canberra, a clean energy roundtable hosted by the Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) featured key stakeholders participating in discussion about the Renewable Energy Target (RET).

AuSES Chief Executive John Grimes told EcoGeneration that at the summit, industry leaders unanimously agreed that the RET should be expanded and extended in future.

“We need to tell communities about the benefits of the RET for Australians,” Mr Grimes said. “We recognised at the meeting that solar is under real attack from vested interests, and that therefore the industry needs to be clever, organised and determined if it is to succeed in protecting the RET.”

The summit was important because it is the first time that the industry has held a solar policy meeting where so many industry associations came together to help ensure a co-ordinated approach, according to Mr Grimes.

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Industry associations involved included:

  • AuSES
  • The Australian Photovoltaic Association
  • The Australian Solar Thermal Energy Association
  • The Alternative Technology Association
  • The REC Agents Association
  • The Solar Business Council
  • The Solar Energy Industries Association
  • 100 Per Cent Renewable Energy.

Climate Change Authority Chair Bernie Fraser announced the process for the RET Review following the recent first board meeting of the new body.

An issues paper will be released by the Authority in August 2012, and public submissions invited. A discussion paper will be released in October 2012, which will be followed by stakeholder consultation.

A final report will then be released in December 2012.

“Over the coming six months, we will be examining the operation of the RET scheme, its Act and regulations, taking into account certain criteria including economic efficiency, environmental effectiveness, equity and the impact on the community and business,” said Mr Fraser.

“Feedback from the businesses and community members affected by the scheme will be an important source of information for the review as the Authority examines the wide range of issues over the coming months.”

The RET Review is the first study to be conducted by the Authority, which began operation on 1 July 2012 as an independent statutory body that provides advice on the operation of Australia’s carbon price, emissions reduction targets, caps and trajectories, and other Federal Government climate change initiatives.