As Australian debate about a national solar feed-in tariff heats up, international solar industry leader Conergy has urged the Australian Government to look overseas at the success of large-scale solar projects.

As Australian debate about a national solar feed-in tariff heats up, international solar industry leader Conergy has urged the Australian Government to look overseas at the success of large-scale solar projects.

Conergy recently sold El Calaverỏn in Spain, one of the world's largest photovoltaic (PV) solar plants to a group of private investors, including British lead investor Impax Asset Management.

The 21.2 MW project, which stretches over an area the size of 100 football fields, will produce approximately 40,000 MWh of solar electricity to at least 12,500 households annually.

"Large scale photovoltaic power plants like El Calaverỏn would provide great long term infrastructure opportunities right here and is a compelling example of why the private sector should consider investing in renewable energy," Conergy's Managing Director Rodger Meads said.

"As one of the largest players in the global solar industry, Conergy has the extensive expertise to deliver product, engineering, procurement and construction solutions on large scale solar projects like this one, in Australia.

"With the Australian Government's encouragement, and the right legislative and regulatory environment, this kind of large-scale project is just around the corner for Australians.

"The El Calaverỏn project will soon be connected to the Spanish electricity grid, securing an attractive feed-in tariff worth the equivalent of AU$0.74 per kilowatt hour of generated energy," Mr Meads said.

Mr Meads said new Australian laws on a national feed-in tariff were referred to the Senate Environment Committee for discussion last week and that the Rudd Government has previously expressed support for a national approach on such a scheme.

"From overseas experiences, it's clear Australia needs a gross feed-in tariff to provide the incentive for the private sector to invest in solar projects," Mr Meads said.

"While large solar projects are obviously very valuable, the feed-in laws could effectively make every home, every business and every factory a potential power station.

"We call on all Federal politicians to support the development of a comprehensive national gross feed-in tariff so we can see projects such as El Calaverỏn gain a firm foot here, in one of the sunniest countries in the world."