A not-for-profit national organisation dedicated to promoting the use of solar energy in Australia today called for all components of the Clean Energy Future package to be passed into law by the end of 2011.

According to the Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES), putting a price on carbon is the most cost effective way of cutting climate pollution, but that measure alone will not supercharge solar and deliver a clean energy future.

AuSES Chief Executive John Grimes said “The Australian Solar Energy Society supports the swift passage of the Government’s carbon pricing bills but is concerned draft legislation has not yet been released to establish the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the $3.2 billion Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

“Research by Bloomberg New Energy Finance showing the carbon price is likely to fall significantly under an emissions trading scheme confirms carbon pricing alone will not drive investment in Big Solar and renewable energy.

“Innovative, independent institutions like the CEFC and ARENA, together with the Renewable Energy Target, are needed to drive investment in clean energy research, development, demonstration and commercialisation.”

AuSES said it will continue to work with members of the Multi Party Committee on Climate Change to build Australia’s clean energy future.

“The Australian Solar Energy Society also calls on the Federal Opposition to support the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and ARENA as key planks of climate change action”, said Grimes.

“The Opposition has recently confirmed it will not repeal the Carbon Farming Initiative and it should take the same approach to the CEFC and ARENA.”

Research by Bloomberg New Energy Finance found Australia’s carbon price is likely to fall from $25 a tonne in 2014-14 to $16 a tonne in 2015-16 as scheme participants seek least-cost abatement from the international carbon market.