Dramatic Increase in Solar Power Dependence in Australia

Efforts of the federal government of Australia together with state and city government have finally paid off. A recent report released in the South African conference showed that installed solar power systems in Australia have grown 35 folds over the past 12 months.

Currently Australia produces 9.6% of its energy from renewable energy sources equivalent to 29,302 gigawatt hours. The figures mark a significant milestone in achieving the 20% by 2020. The Greens and the Clean Energy Council expressed their support for the RET and stated that it is possible and it will be done in the said date.

The Clean Energy Council said that Australia has now over 1 million homes with solar power systems fitted to it and it is projected that 2012 will be even be a good year for solar power especially with the impending carbon tax that will catalyze renewable energy investment and bring back the confidence of both foreign and local investors to invest in clean energy in the country.

Primarily the Australian solar panels market was boosted by the feed in tariff (FiT) scheme that allowed eligible system owners to connect to the state grid for import and export of electricity with a certain amount paid for every KW of surplus electricity. However before the year 2011 closes majority of feed in tariff scheme by state has closed down or has been cut down significantly, fortunately this does not mean that the solar industry will die along with the FiT scheme. PV prices have fallen significantly paring with coal in certain parts of the country. The low cost, highly efficient solar panels available in the market today will sustain the industry and more installations can be expected as Australian Solar Energy Society chief executive John Grimes stated in an interview that there’s not been a better time to get into solar.

Solar power system owners are now reaping the rewards of their wise investment; clean energy became the safe haven under the continued energy price hikes.

Households and small businesses have become the primary market of the Australian solar industry, schemes and policies are primarily directed to support small private investments in renewables, but today the federal government is bow also looking in utility sized clean energy farms. PPA agreements are now being worked out and a structured policy is said to be tabled soon.

Australia’s success in solar power and other renewable energy source was a story of ups and down, but the administration together with greens and all clean energy enthusiast proved that with determination and the will to protect mother Earth everything will be possible.