Prospect of domestic grid connected PV systems under existing tariff conditions

The abundance of natural fossil fuel resources in Australia adds a new dimension to the obstacles to be overcome when introducing photovoltaics (PV) into the electric utility market. Regulations are been considered to enforce a form of penalty unto nonenvironmentally friendly energy producers. Electric utilities are required to offer a purchase tariff and structure to private producers of electricity. Under the current conditions, it is technically feasible to introduce small-scale roof-top PV generation systems with or without battery storage. Economic analysis have shown that the electricity tariff structure for PV and other renewables needed a major change to allow a reasonable and acceptable pay-back period if PV is to become an attractive economic investment to private owners