Remember Bob Hawke’s idea that Australia would become known as the “clever country”? Can anyone really say that we have come close to living up to it? The mess we are making of solar energy is a good example. Consider a few simple facts:
Fact: Australia has abundant capacity for solar energy. We’re a sunny country. The world leader in solar energy, Germany, gets only half as much energy from the same solar PV panel that we do in Australia.
Fact: The recently elected conservative state governments in Australia’s two largest states, NSW and Victoria, have reduced incentives for households to install solar panels. Federal and state strategies to encourage Australians to install solar panels are a mishmash of conflicting and uncoordinated programs.
Fact: Solar panels cost more in Australia than in Germany or the USA, where prices are dropping, despite Australia’s high dollar and low import tariffs. Prices in Australia are not falling.
Fact: Even at these high prices, the cost of electricity from solar panels has now reached parity with the cost of electricity off the grid. That assumes a 25 year lifespan for a PV panel.
Fact: Australia was once a world leader in the development of PV panels. Virtually all that expertise is now offshore, as are the manufacturing facilities.
Add it all together and it’s a sad tale. If Australia had any sense we would be making massive use of solar power. As it is, solar is a miniscule proportion of what we’re getting from coal-fired power stations. The energy industry is wedded to old models that are scarcely affected by attempts at reregulation.
Australia is missing the boat. We need a national solar strategy, coordinating incentives for consumers, manufacturers, researchers and energy companies.
Fact: Australia has abundant capacity for solar energy. We’re a sunny country. The world leader in solar energy, Germany, gets only half as much energy from the same solar PV panel that we do in Australia.
Fact: The recently elected conservative state governments in Australia’s two largest states, NSW and Victoria, have reduced incentives for households to install solar panels. Federal and state strategies to encourage Australians to install solar panels are a mishmash of conflicting and uncoordinated programs.
Fact: Solar panels cost more in Australia than in Germany or the USA, where prices are dropping, despite Australia’s high dollar and low import tariffs. Prices in Australia are not falling.
Fact: Even at these high prices, the cost of electricity from solar panels has now reached parity with the cost of electricity off the grid. That assumes a 25 year lifespan for a PV panel.
Fact: Australia was once a world leader in the development of PV panels. Virtually all that expertise is now offshore, as are the manufacturing facilities.
Add it all together and it’s a sad tale. If Australia had any sense we would be making massive use of solar power. As it is, solar is a miniscule proportion of what we’re getting from coal-fired power stations. The energy industry is wedded to old models that are scarcely affected by attempts at reregulation.
Australia is missing the boat. We need a national solar strategy, coordinating incentives for consumers, manufacturers, researchers and energy companies.
