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We’re in favour of anything that speeds up solar adoption (it’s the cheapest electricity households can get, it will help generate the extra electricity we need, and it can help replace fossil fuels in the energy system), so it was good to see another positive signal from the Government yesterday. As part of a proposed range of tax changes, income tax won’t be charged on any money gained from exporting solar from residential systems.
This certainly wasn’t something stopping people from investing in solar and, for most, it was balanced out on the electricity bill. As RNZ reported, “Inland Revenue thinks tax compliance among people with solar power systems is low, perhaps because they are not aware the income should be taxable.”
It’s good to see the Government removing all sorts of potential barriers and disincentives (including issues like this that didn’t seem to be much of a problem yet) and making changes to incentivise bigger systems (like changing voltage ranges to allow for higher export limits), but there are a few other things that need to be changed if we really want to get things cranking.
The real barriers to adoption are things like a lack of access to long-term, low-interest finance and the fact that install prices here in New Zealand are around twice what they are in Australia due to excessive red tape.
If the Government really wanted to supercharge the rollout of larger solar and battery systems, we would love for this exemption to be applied to farms and commercial buildings under a certain size because exports can be a significant revenue stream and that could have a major impact on the books - and have a pretty big impact on the country’s energy system.
How the sun led to higher salaries for teachers in the US and why this should be happening here, too; how "the once-rigid link between economic growth and carbon emissions is breaking across the vast majority of the world" as electrification gives more countries a productivity boost (and how that would allow New Zealand to keep embracing our long, languid summer break); solar continues to weather storms and provide 'free resilience'; Dunedin laundry company Preens goes electric and saves over 300 utes worth of emissions; the company that wants you to drink diesel exhaust; and a wonderful rundown of the Kill Bills tour - and the national electrification opportunity - from one of the tour sponsors.
Read moreDownloadAs gas supplies decline and prices rise, electrification is the best bet, but it's hard for big businesses without government support. Kirsty Johnston talks to Rainbow Nurseries about how it made the switch with help from a grant, and others who are unsure they will be able to keep getting gas. As one busines owner said: "We never considered the risk to the business of not actually having natural gas," one participant said. "We always expect that the price could fluctuate… But we never anticipated maybe having no gas coming from the pipeline." There are ways for the Government to help. And there is a huge amount of new renewable electricity coming on stream, so there won't be a shortage of electrons.
Read moreDownloadMarc Daalder reports on Vector's declining gas network and how it is responding to falling customer numbers. As he writes: "Gas in Auckland is formally past its peak in the latest forecasts from Vector, the city’s only gas distribution business, with new connections set to fall to zero in three years ... From 2029, there would be no new residential or commercial connections – with new industrial connections projected to have already ceased this year."
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