{"id":10225,"date":"2017-04-06T14:01:15","date_gmt":"2017-04-06T03:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=10225"},"modified":"2024-01-25T15:35:21","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T06:05:21","slug":"scheme-donate-solar-sydney-opera-house-boondoggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/scheme-donate-solar-sydney-opera-house-boondoggle\/","title":{"rendered":"Scheme To Donate Solar To The Sydney Opera House Is A Boondoggle"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"sydney

Sydney Opera House In Sustainability Scam Shocker! Photo Credit: Finn<\/p><\/div>\n

This morning the Australian Financial Review reported on how the Sydney Opera House and Energy Australia<\/a>, and apparently even the CSIRO, are teaming up to create a solar energy trading scheme that, on the face of it, is completely useless.\u00a0 But, once you think it through, it clearly makes the world a worse place.<\/p>\n

Under the innovative scheme audience members could donate electricity produced by their solar panels at home to the Opera House by using peer-to-peer electricity trading<\/a>.\u00a0 The instigators of this\u00a0scheme say this will increase the Opera House’s sustainability.\u00a0 But the overall effect will not\u00a0increase sustainability at all.<\/p>\n

It seems to me like it is\u00a0actually just a giant circle jerk1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

I will quickly explain the difference between actually reducing carbon emissions in the real world and accountancy sleight-of-hand that cons well meaning people into thinking they have helped the environment when they have not.<\/p>\n

Real Life Environmental Benefit Vs. Lying Via Accountancy<\/h2>\n

Human beings currently use fossil fuels to generate most of their electricity.\u00a0 This is bad for the environment.<\/p>\n

Human beings also currently use accountancy to help organize many of their activities.\u00a0 Accountancy is neither good nor bad, but merely a tool.\u00a0 It is a very useful tool and in general greatly improves our lives, but it can definitely be abused.<\/p>\n

An example of using accountancy in a way that is reasonable, fair, and helpful to the environment is the Australian Capital Territory’s drive towards sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite being almost as large as the entire country of Luxembourg<\/a>, by Australian standards the ACT is actually very, very small.\u00a0 Far too small to possibly contain the very best sites in the country for wind and solar power.\u00a0 As a result, it is cheaper to build new renewable generating capacity outside of the ACT than in it.\u00a0 So, in order to save money, the ACT government decided to build new wind and solar farms outside outside the Capital Territory and use accountancy to say the electricity generated counts towards Canberra’s total, no matter where the electrical power is actually consumed.<\/p>\n

Regardless of what one may think of this scheme, it has resulted in money from Canberra being used to build new renewable generating capacity that wouldn’t have been built otherwise and does reduce fossil fuel generation and damage done to the environment.<\/p>\n

Having people donate electricity from their already existing rooftop solar systems to the Opera House does not result in any new renewable generating capacity being built.\u00a0 It does not result in a single extra kilowatt-hour of clean electricity being produced.\u00a0 It does not reduce fossil fuel use.\u00a0 It does not reduce greenhouse gas emissions.\u00a0 It may allow someone\u00a0to say Opera House sustainability has gone up in an accounting sense, but only at the cost of reducing sustainability elsewhere.\u00a0 It does the world no good at all.<\/p>\n

But the people who are asked to donate green energy will probably think they are helping.\u00a0 The average person doesn’t have time to consider carbon budgets and to work out whether or not donating solar electricity to the Opera House provides any environmental benefit.\u00a0 They’ll just take it for granted that they are helping.<\/p>\n

If the Opera House wants money, they should just ask people to donate money.\u00a0 The Opera House would get 100% of the donation without a parasitic loss from electricity traders taking a cut. They could then use this money to build new renewable generation which would actually help the environment.<\/p>\n

The need to build as much renewable generation as possible is urgent. Marketing\u00a0boondoggles<\/a>\u00a0from corporate Australia\u00a0\u00a0that lull people into a false sense of ‘doing their bit’ actively harms the cause. The AFR should know better than to blindly peddle this crap2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This morning the Australian Financial Review reported on how the Sydney Opera House and Energy Australia, and apparently even the CSIRO, are teaming up to create a solar energy trading scheme that, on the face of it, is completely useless.\u00a0 But, once you think it through, it clearly makes the world a worse place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":10339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[677],"class_list":["post-10225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-solar-panels-2","tag-greenwash","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nScheme To Donate Solar To The Sydney Opera House Is A Boondoggle - 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The EPA says the new Bankstown facility is expected to process up to 6,000 tonnes of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar and the Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Solar and the Environment","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-and-the-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Solar panel recycling facility at Bankstown Airport, Sydney","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/solar-panel-recycling-factory.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/solar-panel-recycling-factory.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/solar-panel-recycling-factory.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/solar-panel-recycling-factory.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/solar-panel-recycling-factory.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20707,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/jinko-mx-solar-panels\/","url_meta":{"origin":10225,"position":1},"title":"Jinko Maxim Panels With Cell String Optimization Will Not Be Sold In Australia","author":"Ronald Brakels","date":"April 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Last Tuesday I went to Sydney to attend the Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition.\u00a0 I learned many things, one being that Jinko Maxim panels that use use cell string optimization -- described in\u00a0 this article -- will not be sold in Australia because they were unable to stop them interfering\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Panels"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Panels","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-panels-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jinko Maxim solar panels","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/2018-04-16_07-51-43.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/2018-04-16_07-51-43.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/2018-04-16_07-51-43.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/2018-04-16_07-51-43.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/2018-04-16_07-51-43.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":94825,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/solar-home-values-mb3279\/","url_meta":{"origin":10225,"position":2},"title":"Rooftop Solar Adds Big Bucks To Australian Home Values","author":"Michael Bloch","date":"September 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A new report finds Australian homes with solar power and other energy efficiency upgrades aren't just saving their owners big on bills, but also providing a significant price premium when they sell their houses. How Much Value Do Solar Panels Add To Australian Homes? Short answer: between around $14,000 and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Economics Of Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Economics Of Solar","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/economics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Solar panels and a cash register","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/solar-home-value.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/solar-home-value.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/solar-home-value.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/solar-home-value.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/solar-home-value.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43790,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/tweed-shire-renewables-mb1711\/","url_meta":{"origin":10225,"position":3},"title":"Tweed Shire Council’s Wind\/Solar Energy PPA Kicks In","author":"Michael Bloch","date":"October 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"New South Wales' Tweed Shire Council has commenced a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement that will see more than half its electricity for larger sites being generated by wind and solar farms. The PPA, which was established with Flow Power, involves supply from Sapphire Wind Farm situated near Glenn Innes, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Solar & Storage News"","block_context":{"text":"General Solar & Storage News","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-battery-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tweed Shire Council solar energy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/solar-tweed-shire.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/solar-tweed-shire.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/solar-tweed-shire.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/solar-tweed-shire.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/solar-tweed-shire.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/aussie-technology-promises-to-make-solar-panels-more-efficient\/","url_meta":{"origin":10225,"position":4},"title":"Aussie Technology Promises To Make Solar Panels More Efficient","author":"Finn Peacock","date":"March 27, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"New solar energy technology has been demonstrated at the University of New South Wales. Developed in Sydney, the first ever silicon solar cell production will commence at the university with the help of funds granted from the Federal Government. This technology is expected to have a positive impact on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Panels"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Panels","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-panels-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61478,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/msquare-solar-delisting-mb2457\/","url_meta":{"origin":10225,"position":5},"title":"More On The MSquare Solar Panel Saga","author":"Michael Bloch","date":"May 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Further detail has emerged on the latest de-listing of MSquare Energy's Australian-made solar panels from the Clean Energy Council's Approved Modules List. According to MSquare Energy's website, the Sydney-based company claims to be Australia\u2019s largest solar panel manufacturer. Back in February 2021, the Clean Energy Council (CEC) announced all MSquare\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Solar & Storage News"","block_context":{"text":"General Solar & Storage News","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-battery-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"MSquare Energy solar panels","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/msquare-solar-panels-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/msquare-solar-panels-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/msquare-solar-panels-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/msquare-solar-panels-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/msquare-solar-panels-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10225"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81264,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10225\/revisions\/81264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}