The Queensland Conservation Council is calling on the new Queensland government to honor its commitment to provide solar subsidies for rental properties – and reintroduce a battery subsidy.
Among the LNP’s pre-election pledges was the Supercharged Solar for Renters scheme. The program provided grants of up to $3,500 for the installation of solar panels on rental properties.
“The Supercharged Solar for Renters program is a win-win, it’s good for the environment and good for renters’ wallets,” said LNP leader (and now QLD Premier) David Crisafulli in March last year. “Our plan will deliver practical, long-term cost of living reductions for Queensland renters while boosting our solar energy capacity.”
The 2024 Queensland state election took place on October 26 and the LNP came to power. It’s still pretty early, but I haven’t seen any mention of the program since then.
“We want to see this program implemented as quickly as possible alongside other programs to give more Queenslanders access to battery storage,” Stephanie Gray from the Queensland Conservation Council said last week.
2019-20 Solar For Renters Test Results
This would not be the first project of its kind in the Sunshine State. The then Labor government ran a solar trial for tenants in 2019/2020, but this did not go ahead.
As part of the trial, landlords were offered rebates of up to $3,500 for installing solar panels on their rental properties, and landlords were also able to take advantage of the nationwide solar rebate (which is still available today). In return for a reduction in their electricity bills (including feed-in tariff credits), tenants agreed to a reasonable rent increase, no higher than the savings achieved through the scheme.
670 systems were installed during the trial in Bundaberg, Gladstone and Townsville; with a total output of 4 megawatts – an average of 6 kW. Tenants in the homes that took part in the trial were reported to be on average $600 better off per year, accounting for an average rent increase of $11 per week.
Call for the return of battery subsidies
From February last year, rebates of up to $4,000 were available to eligible Queenslanders to install home battery systems connected to new or existing rooftop solar power systems. The program was scheduled to end once initial funding was exhausted, but funding was increased in April. The extra money didn’t last long and the program closed to new applications in May 2024. According to QCC, the program could easily be extended.
“More locally produced clean energy is good news for our electricity bills and the environment and gives Queenslanders the opportunity to reclaim power from major energy companies,” the QCC says. “But currently renters and social housing tenants face barriers to accessing the full benefits of clean technology, and many homeowners cannot afford the upfront costs of battery storage.”
LNP and renewable energy in general
The Palaszczuk Government has set a target of 70% renewable energy in Queensland by 2032 and 80% renewable energy by 2035. While the LNP says it supports the national target of net zero by 2050, it is not enthusiastic about these government targets. They are very interested in ensuring that coal and gas continue to play a role. While the LNP could implement the Supercharged Solar for Renters program as promised (in some form), with a little more incentive to remind them of their commitment, subsidies for new batteries may be a hard sell – but that will only be the case Show time.
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