Powering Our Future With Solar

We have relied on fossil fuels for nearly a century now and truly it has propelled every nation towards great progress and made our lives easier and better. The basis of almost every technology that we have right now is electricity, without it we would still be living in the dark. But the only question that remains right now – can it be sustained any longer?

Though oil and fossil fuel reservescan still power our cities for the next one hundred years or so, do we still need to wait until the very end before we take actions? A new age of renewable energy technology is opening the doors to a better and a cleaner future for all of us.

The search for viable alternative energy sources is finally coming to its final phase where technology now allows us to produce energy by renewable means without the environmental consequences. Solar panel technology produces electricity without emitting one single carbon molecule into the atmosphere, saving our planet for a brighter future of our children and grand children.

The technology is already present at a level that is economically viable for most homeowners, especially in countries like Australia where the government provides generous solar rebates and incentives. But we still heavily rely on fossil fuels, and they also are currently the backbone of our economy. So there is naturally some resistance from influential industries who wish to protect their interests. And despite over 80% of Australians being concerned about pollution and the environment, some people still have their head in the sand and hope that global warming will just go away without them doing anything….

So there are some hurdles to overcome if we are going to be able to reduce our carbon emission to the level required-

Lack of knowledge/awareness; some people dismiss the technology without fully understanding what it is capable of. Because the Australian government knows how crucial renewable energy is to our future, it is conducting massive awareness campaigns through all media sources to educate and correct any false notions they might have.

Hesitation to invest; making the solar switch involves money, money that some people are afraid to spend, thinking that if others don’t then why should they. The truth is investing in solar power technology is proving to be a great investment for any home or business owner today. Electricity prices are escalating uncontrollably and the environmental effects of fossil fuels poses greater expenditures in the future.

Government policies; during the legislation of the solar bonuses and schemes a massive growth of solar panel installation was recorded from nearly zero to 80 MW (average per state) in just a span of 2 years! But recently, policy inconsistencies& abrupt changes have negatively affected consumer confidence, which has caused difficulties to the solar power industry. The government must re-assure the community that fair and reliable set policies will remain for the benefit of all.

It is only when all of these elements are working together that we can better power the future with wide scale use of clean renewable soalr power. Technology alone will not solve the problem. People need do their part and support the government initiatives.

NSW’s 150 Megawatt Solar Project

New South Wales is gearing up for a large solar project to increase NSW’s renewable energy production. The Moree Solar Farm will be built near Moree in the north of NSW’s and is expected to generate more than 400 gigawatt hours of electricity a year which is capable of running 45,000 homes, state and federal officials said in a statement just released (June 20^th).

Australia has allocated about $900 million for the project to boost solar power in NSW and to reduce the total carbon emissions of the state. The project is part of NSW’s aim to be the lowest carbon emitting state and to become the solar PV capital of Australia.

"The solar project will be the largest of its type, I am advised, in the world," said Kevin Humphries, minister for Western New South Wales.

The Australian government said that projects like these will not only boost the state alone; individual large scale state project will have a huge impact in the overall solar credentials of the nation. For instance the energy output of the Moree Solar Farm in NSW will be directed towards that state but the project will increase the confidence of Australian and overseas investors inour projects planned for the rest of the country.

In addition to this project Australia has two more exciting large scale solar power projects underway; the CopperString and Solar Dawn projects in the new renewable energy hub area of Northern Qld.This will greatly boost solar power in Queensland as well as create many new jobs, and in time it too will have its flow on effects on all of Australia.

Collectively all the renewable energy projects around the country will aid in Australia’s aim to of met their carbon emissions targets by the year 2020.

Non-Green Buildings Soon to be Phased Out in Australia

Commercial spaces with at least 2000 square meters of leasable space will soon need to abide by specified mandatory NABERS rating as renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency campaigns strengthen. Research shows that buildings with higher NABERS rating are favoured by tenants and a relatively high occupancy rate can be established.

 What is NABERS?

National Australian Built Environment Rating or simply NABERS is a performance based rating system for buildings in Australia. The rating is based on the building’s environmental impacts from all aspects of their operations, and provides tenants and building owners an in-depth report about how well they manage their resources to minimise these impacts. The NABERS rating system was also designed for the entire community; rating offices, households, hotels, hospitals and the transport sector.

Currently the NABERS rating has been extended to six stars in response to buildings performing better than the previous highest rating of 5 stars, and to acknowledge leadership in environmental preservation and sole application of various solar technology and clean energy sources.

NABERS Ratings for Office Spaces

Carbon emissions from the country’s buildings and commercial spaces are growing in an alarming rate of 4% annually and contribute significantly to the national carbon emissions.

To address the growing problem the NABERS office rating was launched in 1998 to deliver assistance for both office space owners and tenants to both reduce their carbon emissions and their overhead production cost through energy saving measures, efficiency and installation of solar power systems and other renewable energy sources.

By observing NABERS’ guidelines building owners and tenants can reduce 20 to 40% of their current energy consumption and save significant amounts of carbon.

NABERS Today

The country’s property industry has embraced the idea of a low carbon economy and with it includes energy efficiency in buildings and commercial spaces. The industry has acknowledge the fact that tenants are seeking spaces with better ratings to save money on electricity and boost production.

The impending mandatory implementation of a scaled NABERS rating will soon bring further green building innovation focusing on energy and water conservation through a number of means. Currently Canberra has already implemented a mandatory minimum rating of 4.5 stars for government tenants and multinational companiesas part of their goal to bring down the city’s carbon emission.

According to the director of a well known real estate firm, soon Green buildings will the norm and non green buildings will be out of date and unable to keep up with the competition in their industry.

Brisbane Takes GREEN Living to the Next Level

The city of Brisbane is taking sustainability steps by encouraging its citizens to take part in its sustainability efforts and modifying their way of life towards a low carbon future in hopes of becoming Australia’s most sustainable city.

The city council of Brisbane launched several programs covering all aspects of the community and opening doors for clean energy integration such as solar power inBrisbane economy and other environmental grants.

Through Brisbane’s Green Hearts Program, the community will be able to modify their homes, schools and businesses towards sustainability.

GREEN heart homes

The city council aims to improve energy efficiency and water management in households, centering in rebates and incentives residents will have more opportunity and solar powerinvestments, solar hot water systems, other energy efficiency units such as power optimisers and water saving units like smart shower heads.

The rebates and grants are partnered with timely awareness campaigns and information dissemination to create a strong sense of initiative among the residents and committed themselves in reducing carbon, protecting the environment while saving money on energy bills.

GREEN Heart Schools

Brisbane is one of the few city to concentrate in sustainable school programs, through the green heart program both students and faculty are constantly informed about the latest green news that affects the entire community and school competitions directed towards sustainability that helps students to become more ecologically sound at a young age.

GREEN Businesses

Businesses have the opportunity to join several programs under the green business, through the city switch program businesses will be able to take advantage of huge discounts in energy efficiency units, clean energy investments and NABERS assessment that will determine your overall environmental actions which also includes a structured plan on how to improve it. Apart from discounts, the city council will also be providing sustainable grants to eligible businesses to subsidise green retrofit cost and improve overall green star rating from NABERS.

Other business programs include the EcoBiz that provides a detailed report on how your business is rated environmentally in the following key areas:

·         measuring your current resource use

·         identifying the areas of your business that need improvement

·         planning and implementing eco-efficient and sustainable business practices

·         and then remeasuring to see the savings.

Brisbane is also working closely with the transport sector to device plans on how to reduce pollution, improve vehicle mileage and encourage the use of bicycles for short distances.

Numerous events were also launched by the city council of Brisbane to inform massive groups of people about government programs and what they can do to reduce the overall carbon emission of the city.

With the favorable climatic conditions it enjoys it is surprising to see that Australia is lagging behind in the international race for solar energy capacity. As of September last year the vast country had a total of only 300 MW of energy generation through solar PV panels.

These relatively low figures when compared to other nations, is primarily because of the cost per KW of solar panels meant they weren’t as economically viable as the cost of coal produced electricity. This was up until the last couple of years, when the government stepped in with generous incentives and solar schemes to change that imbalance.

So since 2009 though Australia has made great strides in making the solar industry more professional and better regulated, and as the industry has boomed worldwide manufacturing costs have dropped considerably.

As a result of this, together with improved solar technology providing greater energy efficiency and smaller sized panels,the cost per KW of solar power has been halved and solar PV systems are much more affordable for an average family then before.

With considerable government investment support for renewable energy projects, the coming carbon tax to provide more funding for research and development, and increased investor interest in large scale solar and other projects, the country can be considered as a sleeping giant in the renewable energy field.

With it widely tipped as being one of the top growth industries in the next 10 years, the solar energy capacity of Australia is expected to climbrapidly upwards, and hopefully we will soon belong to this list of world leaders in solar energy generation;

Germany

Despite an often gloomy sky Germany is clearly the highest electricity producer from solar photovoltaic energy. With almost 17,000 MW of solar energy capacity from solar farms, the business and industrial sector and nearly a quarter of a million private solar panel systems, Germany clearly outruns any solar industry to date.

The success of the country is primarily because of the renewable energy act of 2000 which was designed to reduce the cost of solar panel systems, and improved energy efficiency from the economies of scale. With the country nearly saturated now though other younger solar countries will have the chance to emulate their success, like Australia whose government has drawn on Germany policy as a role model.

Spain

Spain is one of the most advanced nations in solar energy development, and coupled with it’snatural blessings (the country has one of the longest sun hours in Europe)  it’s not surprising it his home to over 3000 MW of total solar energy capacity. The country currently holds second spot as the most installed photovoltaic in the world.

However with the recent delays and issues over government subsidies and programs, along with economic setbacks, the country is now only slowlyprogressing its solar industry and is on the verge of being outrun by other nations.

Japan

Although Japan is more likely to be known for its nuclear power plants, the truth is the Japanese alreadyhave the highest solar power capacity after Germany and Spain (over 2600 MW).

After the recent nuclear disaster as a result of a tsunami, the Japanese government is increasing its efforts to improve the solar industry instead, and develop cheaper and more efficient solar cells in the future so they can gradually replace nuclear energy.

United States

The US solar energy capacity of 1650 MW is small for its population but expected to double within a few years as the government is now working on a state level policy and numerous large scale projects. Many of the countries major corporations are also embracing solar investments, as well as making it a priority to reduce their carbon footprints by making their buildings more energy efficient and reducing carbon emissions.

Italy

The rapid growth of the Italian solar industry has been brought about by a well-designed and segmented feed in tariff scheme that encouraged more and more residents to install rooftop solar panels.

As a result Italy holds a record for one of the biggest spurts in solar capacity in a very short period of time.

Be a part of Adelaide Solar City Program

Adelaide is one of the lucky seven cities in Australia to receive government support under the solar city program which aims to introduce new and innovative ways in producing and utilising solar power in specific conditions unique to the region.

The city of Adelaide will receive a total of $15 million which will be used to integrate solarpower in Adelaide communities, businesses and government infrastructures. The integration will be carefully monitored through a series of testing and the date that will be collected will serve as the baseline of future solar projects.

The unique approach of the solar city program will determine that different needs of different communities considering culture, climate, economy and behavior the four core factors will aid the government in planning for better projects that will solve energy difficulties region by region.

Major Components of the Program

Under the Solar City Program major public places in Adelaide will receive green retrofits installing solarPV systems in variable size reducing their environmental impacts. Currently the program has finished installing solar PV systems for the following public places:

·         Adelaide Bus Station: 50 KW solar PV system

·         Golden Grove Recreation and Arts Centre: 4 KW solar PV system

·         Playford Aquadome: 15 KW system

·         The Watershed: 4 KW system

·         Rundle Latern: 50 KW system

·         Adelaide Central Market: 288 solar panels

The Victoria Square will soon be the latest addition to the list as plans for green retrofits including a 1500 solar panel array is being tabled.

What’s in store for you?

Adelaide solar citizen will be able to take advantage of generous rebate offers for green products available under the solar city program. Currently the program launched a 4 trial packages that you reap benefits from.

Package 1: Solar Hot Water - The Hot Water package is available to participants in the Adelaide Solar City Hot Water trial and includes:

·         $500 discount to solar hot water system and heat pump solutions

·         A smart meter installed at no cost which measures your half hourly electricity usage

·         Half hourly electricity usage on-line

·         A FREE energy efficiency pack

Package 2: Green Power Products – The government made green power products available through the solar city program to assist households in reducing their climate impacts and save money from the rising energy cost. Products that meet the strict government guidelines and are produced after 1996 will be honored under the program.

Package 3: Business Solutions – The program will provide accredited businesses a free and detailed energy expenditure audit identifying key factors that heavily contribute to your energy usage and determining key strengths of your businesses that can be capitalized for energy saving measures.

Package 4: Solar Energy Efficiency Package – Businesses that will participate under this package will be able to showcase to the public and fellow businesses how solar power can benefit you and will receive generous discounts up to 60% for energy audits and 50% for solar power system installations for associate companies of the Solar City Program.

Queensland Achieving its Renewable Energy Goals

Energy minister Stephen Robertson recently opened the Queensland Centre for Advanced Technology (QCAT) Innovation and Excellence Day. During his visit he commented that Queensland is achieving its renewable energy goals, and that the state government is delivering the vital factors to sustain growth in the state’s energy and water resources.

Minister Robertson also said the government is driving the technology forward through supportive measures, and assisting the industry not only to further develop the existing technology but also to produce skilled and professional workers through the aid of Skills Queensland. This was established by the Bligh government to identify and meet the needs of workers across the region, and is proving to be very valuable for this new and rapidly growing industry.

Robertson drew attention to the Solar Dawn project in North Qld, which will be the largest project of its kind, as the proof the state’s commitment to clean energy and its ultimate goal of carbon reduction.

Queensland’s vast renewable energy potential is yet to be fully unlocked, but projects like this are hoped to soon establish the region as the leading clean energy hub in the country, and a leading one in the world. Robertson also added that Queensland will continue to grow its energy resource sector.

The state has already spent over $37 million in financial assistance of exploration projects improving the current status of energy water resources.

The Queensland government has been surprised by the very enthusiastic response of Queenslanders to solarpower technology. In April of 2010 the state government set a target to increase the state’s solar power capacity by 100% within the next five years, however to their amazement the target has been reached in just 15 months.

The state’s capacity was escalated from 250 MW to 500 MW, which was including 141,000 households who installed solar panels in their roofs and 230,000 solar hot water systems. Currently 8% of Queensland’s energy needs are supplied by these systems, and the government is aiming for a 20% supply in 2020 along with the rest of Australia.

Queensland’s success in the renewable energy target is the largely the result of the government’s continuous and consistent efforts to encourage more and more households to install and embrace 

solar power in Queensland.

The Qld Premium Feed in Tariff, even with a few recent changes in the eligibility factors, still offers one of the best financial rewards in the country, and provides a strong investment return for households with a mid-size solar panel system who are connected to it.

As well as encouraging households to make the switch to solar energy, the state government has also been very supportive of crucial role to be played by large scale solar applications, and multiple solar farms and solar power projects are in operation and planning across the state. Thanks to Queensland perfect climatic conditions for high solar output some of the largest renewable energy projects supported by the federal government will be established in Queensland in Chinchilla, Harvey Bay and Cloncurry over the next few years.

Already one of the most progressive alternative energy states in the country, Queensland will contribute greatly in Australia’s 20% goal in 2020 and 80% goal in 2050, and will continue to make history as more projects are lined up to develop clean energy.

Queensland’s ClimateQ Initiatives to Reduce Carbon Emissions

ClimateQ is the Queensland Governments latest way of bringing their environmental efforts to the next level in the ongoing fight against global warming and energy problems. The ClimateQ response is a collection of initiatives across many sectors to work towards a greener Queensland.

The state has increased its carbon emissions by 37% since the 2007 carbon emission report. The huge increase is primarily because of the State’s economic growth which entails a significant amount of energy consumption. As answer to that issue the Queensland Government has released its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme to reduce the carbon emissions from the energy sector.

The government will be working in key sections of the community to meet its goals;

Businesses – The business sector of the state is responsible for 31% of the total emissions produced and the government is encouraging a range of energy efficient measures including the use of solar power systems and energy saving light bulbs to reduce the figures. Various programs and incentives have also been implemented focusing on the commercial sector.

These initiatives of the government will not only serve the environment but more importantly businesses themselves. As climbing energy prices place a growing burden on the expenses of many companies,investing in things with a proven cost effectiveness and ROI like solar PV systems is a great way to manage costs.

Infrastructures – Queensland’s expected ongoing population growth will lead to more residential apartments and establishment of many more public buildings. Stricter building standards will ensure that every building will need to consider energy efficiency measures that will reduce environmental impact and utility costs.

Community – Queenslanders are encouraged by the local government to make the switch to solar power to reduce their own carbon footprints and save their money from rising electricity prices. Solar hot water bonuses, rebates and the feed in tariff scheme has been the heart and soul of the program for several years, and Queenslanders has embraced other renewable energy technologies well.

Currently there are over 107,000 solar PV system users in Queensland and that figure will continue to increase.

Major industries – The agricultural sector is the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, however over 40% of the state’s emissions are currently created by it. The government is now looking for innovative measures to reduce agricultural emissions without compromising productivity.

The bio-sequestration of greenhouse gases in forests and carbon farming offers great potential for reducing emissions and still leaving a window of opportunity for the sector to thrive.

Transportation – Reducing the emission from the transport sector is a major challenge for the Qld. The dense population of state and large land mass leads to 10% of the state wide emission. The government is encouraging the use of public buses and railways to take out residents from their individual cars, bicycles and walking are also encouraged over short distances.

The government of Queensland lives what they preach; they are also aiming to improve energy efficiency from government buildings and infrastructures. Future buildings will aim for a 5 green star rating to reduce their own impact on the environment. 

Gain More Income Through Solar Farming

It is difficult to gain income from farming, especially in the challenging climatic extremes of Australia, and many farmers in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland have been struggling to be able to maintain their traditional farming revenue streams.  Fortunately there are some other income generating possibilities from their vast stretches on land, usually with many buildings, and an exciting new one is solar farming.

So what is Solar Farming exactly?  Solar farming is when a medium solar panelgrid (5 -10kW’s depending on your state allowances) is installed on private property, either on available roof space or mounted on the ground.  As long as this solar farming system is able to secure the premier feed-in-tariff scheme then this provides a secure & easily calculable investment return for a period of time, usually set for up to 15 years.  The solar panels owner receives an ongoing income for the power fed into the grid that remains for the term of your feed in tariff agreement with your local electricity provider.

2010 was the year where solar farming started to become profitable, financially viable and shown to provide a high yield with low risk.  Australia has set government schemes and generous tax incentives to make solar farming financial viable and there are a range of finance options including making it a SMSF (you’ll need to speak to your expert financial advisor about what option is best for you)

 This is an environmentally positive and financially rewarding investment that will continue to bring benefits for the next decades…..In 2009, the $8,000 solar rebate was replaced with the combination of fantastic new schemes like the solar bonus feed-un and Solar Credit Schemes.  Some of the eligibility restrictions based on the income capacity have been lifted which means as well as residential solar owners, many small or business sites and farms that have a connection to the electricity grid can now take advantage of these new schemes. Be aware that these vary in every State though so you will need to do your research 1^st to check your eligibility and any restrictions.

 The year 2008-2009 had a massive international oversupply of the PV solar panels. This economic situation has caused the manufacturers to drop the wholesale price of the solar panels. Now, with the combination of the new incentive schemes gives an advantage for the year 2011 to be the best time to install and operate a solar farm. Speak to an expert PV supplier who specialises in solar investments for further information.

Solar PV Price Models Outdated

Canada's Queen's University Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Professor Joshua Pearce stated that current price models of solar photovoltaic panels are already outdated thus projected price ranges are far higher what the trend is actually projecting.

Professor Joshua Pearce added that older price models do not consider recent advances, breakthroughs and innovations in the solar industry which is responsible for the continued drop in solar power prices resulting to a false price projection. Pearce said that solar power is nearing its tipping where it will soon par with traditional energy sources like the dirty and exhaustible coal.

Since 2009 solar pv prices have fallen almost 70% and the technology’s productivity only decreases by around 0.1 to 0.2% and remains in an acceptable level given the significant price reduction, far less than the 1% that is projected in some analytic studies. Pearce strongly stated that price models and market analysis should consider all factors in the industry to keep the public well informed and provide a diverse and holistic report.

Pearce statements are indeed factual, solar PV prices have fallen drastically thanks to various manufacturing advances and discovery of cheaper yet better material which made solar power more viable and one of the fastest  growing industry worldwide.

Pearce has released a new calculator model that will determine the true price range of solarpower considering all aspects in the industry in real time updates.

In Australia, PV prices have fallen significantly, in fact certain parts of Queensland and New South Wales claimed to have achieved grid parity and will soon be achieved nationally in a year or two, according to Clean Energy Council, Kane Thornton.

Australia wide, solar power use has increased by some 35 folds since 2008 equivalent to 1.2 million people depending on solar for energy needs based on the Clean Energy Council’s recent report. The rapid market growth, is primarily because of the falling cost of solar power systems which is expected to hit record high as soon as the Clean Energy Future Package of the Gillard administration is implemented mid next year.

The package includes hefty government funding for solar power research and development, emerging renewable energy technologies and large scale solar power integration which according to PM and the GREENS will bring true grid parity.

Facts only show that renewable energy specifically solar power will be an essential factor in Australia future and carbon neutrality ambitions.

National Energy Savings Initiative for Households

We have heard a lot about how Australia can unlock limitless potential to solar power and that the country can lead the world in solar power. However recent reports show that there is a significant overlap of federal and state government initiatives that have been set up in response to climate change. In energy efficiency alone over 200 individual initiatives were identified in 2008, today it is near 300.

Experts believe that the key to unlocking the true potential of the country in renewable energy lies in effective coordination of the federal government, the commercial district and the public under the umbrella of strong policy. The Wilkins review has showed that the numerous energy saving initiatives,despite being a huge monetary investment, are not really contributing to the national goal of carbon reduction and better quality of living in the country.

In response to that the PM Gillard’s tasks force had suggested to establish a strong framework of a National Energy Savings Initiative (NESI). The NESI scheme was highly supported by the Clean Energy Council of Australia and other environmental groups. With the carbon tax nearing implementation the recommendation is that the revenues from it should be considered as a national savings, and be used in establishing a strong foundation of policies and support groups aside from solar power investment itself. Such groups and policies would strengthen the technology and patent the purpose of the tax.

The PM’s tasks force showed that the NESI scheme could deliver $50 to $240 savings to households and small businesses in the 1^st year, and a financial gain ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 in the next few years.

Surveys also show that more than a third of the country’s population is asking for more information on how they can save on energy bills, and that more people are making the switch to solar power and other renewable energy sources for the financial gain alone rather than for the sake of reducing carbon emissions.

The NESI scheme and the good policies that it will bring would shape the foundation of the true purpose of the government’s efforts and carbon tax, which is to bring environmental protection through large scale reductions in carbon emissions and also improve the economic future of all Australians’.

Driving Sustainability for Queensland Homes and Business

The Queensland government is known for its supportive programs to drive sustainability in homes and businesses to createa low carbon community and carbon neutrality. The success of renewable energy sources in the state is primarily because of the generous feed in tariff scheme and solar rebates.

Queensland’s feed in tariff remain the country’s most generous and stable, paying eligible system owners 44 cents per KWh fed back to grid. By shifting to solar power generous rebates both for solar hot water systems and solar panel systems also awaits Queenslanders. However the state’s efforts are not all about financial incentives and grants. The local government also aims to bring behavioral change in the community by providing massive awareness campaigns and forums across the state..

As part of thisthe Sustainable Homes Program was recently launched, with display homes showcasing how households can incorporate sustainable living in their daily lives. The model homes demonstrate practical solutions to energy problems that are specific to the climate conditions of the state. The open house features practical home designs to improve water and energy efficiency and to make your homes more liveable and comfortable.

The timely program meets the demand for better home design in the state as a response to the growing effects of climate change.

Queenslanders can reduce their ongoing household expenses by improving their home’s passive energy efficiency (following the Smart & Sustainable Homes Design Objectives) and installing supportive energy efficient systems like solar PVs and solar hot water systems. It is possible for all of us to make our homes socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

The Queensland government are also working closely with the business and manufacturing sector to reduce their environmental impacts and promote sustainability within every industry. Large scale applications of solar power are also in planning with the massive Solar Dawn Project in North Qld nearly ready to commence construction.

CEC Releases Solar Roadmap Actions

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has recently released a large scale Solar Roadmap which includes recommended actions for the federal government of Australia over a five year period that will ensure the growth and development of the solar industry, especially large scale utility applications.

The Solar Roadmap also gave emphasis to the University of New South Wales and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) as the leading research and development institution of large scale applications of Solar Powerin Australia.

The Roadmap also features CSIRO support for current large scale projects that are truly groundbreaking in the renewable energy field. The Moree Solar Farm project just outside the town of Moree in NSW will be the largest of its kind, capable of generating 150 MW of energy from pure solar PV technology. Construction is due to begin early next year.

The road map suggests that the federal government should;

1.       Implement a stable policy that will assist investments in large scale solar power projects, including a long term budget and various supportive measures.

2.       Increase the country’s solar capacity by planning a volume of large scale projects that will allow the transition of the country to sufficient clean energy use to meet our 2020 and 2050 emission reduction goals.

3.       Require concerned institutions to participate in the government programs.

4.       Review local governments’ policies in the approval of future large scale projects.

5.       Improve and facilitate grid connection capabilities.

6.       Devote government resources to the improvement of data related to solar power.

The CEC’s solar roadmap is centered on the development of stable and firm policies for clean energy especially solar, primarily because the country already has most of the elements for the industry to succeed, but it is progress is suffering from a lack of consistent Australia wide policy to guide it.

With electricity prices continually increasing, many householders and businesses are struggling with the burden of paying much higher bills, and this is causing financial stress that could be reduced. There are many energy efficient measures that you can use to reduce your power usage.

In the case of businesses and homes with a high usage though even some of the best practices to save energy will not alone be enough to greatly reduce your electricity expenses. The key solution is investing in energy saving devices and renewable energy systems that offer long term solutions and a guaranteed ROI (Return on Investment).

Top 3 Best Investments

Solar Panel Systems – Whether for business or home use, rooftop solar PV panels is so far the most cost effective renewable energy alternative available in the market. Costs vary depending on the system size that you choose but in general the prices of solar panels halved over the past few years, 

and you will get the best cost return if you pay a bit extra now for a system which will come close to eliminating your current bill. The payback period varies between about 5 to 7 years but the long lifespan and reliability of solar systems over 20-25 years means you will enjoy great savings for a long time.

Another strength of the technology is its ability to be scaled in size depending on your needs, homes can install small systems and businesses can be fitted with larger systems, both of which may be able to be connected to your local electricity grid (depending on you signing a contract with your local power provider, and varying state regulations as to the maximum size allowed)

Solar Hot WaterSystems – Australians uses enormous amount of hot water, and heat pumps and other electricity powered heaters are high electricity consumers. Solar Hot Water systems, particularly the most efficient evacuated tube models, are a very cost effective way to produce almost all your hot water needs.

Like solar panels, solar hot water systems have a guaranteed ROI over time, you can even qualify for government rebates up to $1000 just by replacing your old electric heaters.

Power Optimisers – This unit is a device that protects your electrical systems from fluctuations in power supply and surgesthat often result to energy wastage. The unit harmonizes your electrical system together with all your motorised and electronic equipment to promote optimum performance and maximise every watt that they consume. Power Optimisers are designed for very high energy using businesses (bills $2000- $3000 per month min), have a payback guarantee of 1 to 3 years and can cut these large energy bills by up to 15%.

Aside from energy savings the unit can also prolong the lifespan of your equipment, motors, and appliances by protecting them from harmful surges and electrical imbalances.

Investing in energy efficiency solutions like the 3 above offers long term financial benefits, helps reduce your carbon footprint and increases the value of your home or business, have you made the switch yet

Brisbane City Gets Greener; EzyGreen Project

The Brisbane City Council has formulated the EzyGreen project to provide its residents energy saving options to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills. The project is partnered with the Queensland government and together they have designed and effective and an easy-to-use-program.

The aim of the project is to make Brisbane one of the most livable cities in the world, and is considered as one of Brisbane’s trump cards to make the city “greener” and more desirable compared to other Australian cities. The city council expects it to help generate more support for residents to install solar power in Brisbane and to reduce living costs while giving a higher quality of live.

The city council said the EziGreen plan is designed to allow each individual to choose what is most suitable for them. The plan is open to all greater Brisbane residence and tenants and they can apply online for the following:

• A choice of two GreenPower offers, including a 5% discount on energy usage charges with 10% GreenPower
• From $275 in vouchers for energy-efficient appliances and alternative transport options from The Good Guys and NOPE Electric Bikes & Scooters
• A high quality solar hot water system at a competitive price
• An exclusive $1,000 EzyGreen discount on all 3.15kW solar power systems if purchased prior to 30 June 2011
• A minimum $300 discount available on 1.575kW solar power systems and above if purchased prior to 30 June 2011

The project is part of the Living in Brisbane 2026 vision which aims to reduce the city’s energy consumption and become the lowest carbon emitting city in the country. Visit www.ezigreen.com.au for further information.