Solar strategy push for carbon package

The Australian Greens and several independents want extra support for the solar industry wrapped into the final carbon pricing package.

With an agreement on carbon pricing expected to be reached by the end of next week, Greens deputy leader Christine Milne on Wednesday joined independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott - both of whom have also been involved in climate talks with the federal government - to call for a national solar strategy.

A key document in the climate talks - the Productivity Commission's research report on carbon emission policies in other countries - says subsidies for solar energy are a very expensive way of tackling climate change.

But all three parliamentarians, backed by the solar industry, said the commission got its figures wrong and there were clear benefits in solar power which was proving very popular in the community.

Australian Solar Energy Society CEO John Grimes said the commission's report had several mistakes in it.

These included underestimating the size of the average solar system by 25 per cent, overestimating the amount of solar power going back into the grid and putting the price of solar panels at double their current rate.

SOLAR ON TRACK, SAYS CEO

"Those mistakes make a massive difference to the conclusions that the report draws around solar," Mr Grimes said.

He said the industry, which is scheduled to hold a summit on Thursday to look at a national solar strategy, was on track within five years to hit a point where the cost of putting on solar will be the same as buying power from the grid.

Mr Oakeshott said the state, territory and federal governments needed short- and long-term plans for the industry.

"The solar industry should matter and should have a place in the landscape of business and economic growth in this country," he said.

Senator Milne said a nationally uniform system was vital if the industry was to avoid the boom-and-bust cycle of recent years.

"What we now need is ... a one-for-one, so for every kilowatt hour that you generate from your renewables you should get the same price as you pay for a kilowatt hour you take from the system," Senator Milne said.

"That way we would get the industry on a long-term sustainable basis."

Mr Windsor said he had asked for a briefing from the commission to explain its figures.

Senator Milne said the talks were progressing and that the Greens had given the government an undertaking "to try to get a carbon price by the end of the month and we are certainly trying to do that".

PLEBISCITE REJECTED

However, Greens leader Bob Brown said there were "very real hurdles" in the negotiation process.

Opposition climate action spokesman Greg Hunt said it was time for the government to reveal its hand.

"This has been the slowest birth in Australian political history," Mr Hunt said.

The government wants to legislate for carbon pricing in September with a fixed carbon price to start on July 1 next year.

Meanwhile, the Senate has rejected a bid by the coalition to debate putting the carbon tax to a national vote.

Family First senator Steve Fielding voted with the government to defeat the move.