Uptake of solar power in Australia

Uptake of solar panels in Australia. 252,332 219,597 153,464 197,740 116,456 151,177 65,790 83.790 41,009 90,239 1,479 478 1.661 1.124 142,021 13,623 32,566 83,784 124,372 12.089 23,904 18,269 58,982 OLD Key Annual number of solar PV system NSW installations in Australia 17.270 5.021 1,219 2009 2010 2011 2012 10,952 2,355 Ис *2012 data based on first ten months of year only 2.902 5.684 TAS Grand Total* National Total* ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS ИС WA 1,963,469 26,341 455,092 5,165 590,153 286,745 21,039 339.170 239.766 *since 2008, 2012 data based on first ten months of year only 10 wow-facts about solar power. Globally Australia 6. Australia has the highest average solar radiation per square metre of 1. In 90 minutes, enough sunlight strikes the earth to provide the entire planet's energy needs for one year. any continent in the world. In the north-western part of Australia, sun radiation ranges between 28 and 33 megajoules per square metre per day". 2. The global PV solar market has been increasing for more than a decade with an average annual growth rate of 40%. 7. As at the end of August 2011, 1031 MW of solar power was installed across Australia, representing more than 500,000 household systems. 40% + 3. Solar photovoltaic (PV) power contributes to significant greenhouse gas emission reductions and delivers substantial benefits in terms of the 8 The Australian production of solar electricity doubled between 2003 and 2009 (increasing 40% in 2008-2009 alone), and the production of solar hot water more than tripled. security of energy supply and socio-economic development. 4 Over the period 2000-11, solar PV was the fastest growing renewable power technology worldwide.4 O Nationally it is estimated that 8% of all suitable homes are fitted with a solar photovoltaic (PV) power system, which helped to drive down costs for solar 2$ 5. According to IEA analysis, under extreme assumptions solar energy could provide up to one-third of the world's final energy demand after 2060. 10 By 2050, concentrated solar power could provide Australia with 40% of its energy." How does solar power work? When the sun is shining, the panels of a solar power system capture sunlight and convert it into solar DC power. The system converts this power into 240V AC electricity you can use around your home, using what's called an inverter. Under a net feed-in system this electricity then gets distributed for use around your property, and any electricity that is not used, is fed into the electricity grid through your electricity meter. Under a gross feed-in system all of the electricity generated is fed into the electricity grid through your electricity meter. Adapted from agloolarenergy.com.au NAGL 1 International Energy Agency 2011, New IEA study assesses solar technologies and shows how an integrated approach will increase efficiency, foster deployment and reduce costs, http://www.iea.org/index_info.asp?id-2257 2 International Energy Agency, Technology Roadmap, Solar Photovoltaic Energy, http://www.iea.org/papers/2010/pv_roadmap.pdf, p.9 3 International Energy Agency, Technology Roadmap, Solar Photovoltaic Energy, http://www.iea.org/papers/2010/pv_roadmap.pdf, p.1 4 International Energy Agency, Solar (PV and CSP) http://www.iea.org/topics/solarpvandcsp/ 5 International Energy Agency, Solar (PV and CSP)http://www.iea.org/topics/solarpvandcsp/ 6 Clean Energy Council, Clean Energy Australia Report 2011, p. 38 7 Australian Government, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Energy in Australia 2011, p.34 8 Clean Energy Council, Clean Energy Australia Report 2011, p. 7 9 Australian Government, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Energy in Australia 2011, p.31 10 Clean Energy Council, Clean Energy Australia Report 2011, p. 7 Solar Energy in action: