Why Replace your Water Heaters with Solar

In Australia solar hot water systems are now becoming really popular and widely used in many households around the country. This is because auxiliary powered water heaters consume a great amount of electricity, and so are responsible for a large portion in your yearly energy costs as well as your total carbon emissions.

Solar hot water in Australia has become cheaper and cheaper alongside the falling prices of solar PV panels, thanks to greater demand,  continued research and development and improved manufacturing process  for better quality and efficiency rate of the systems, especially the new evacuated tube type.

The federal government of Australia is actively encouraging homeowners to replace their electric heaters with solar hot water systems because it has been shown to be one of the most cost effective solutions to reduce high electricity bills. Eligible systems can gain rebates of up to $1000 for pensioners and the low income sectors and $600 for everyone else.

Water heating accounts for about 30 percent of an average household's total greenhouse gas emissions and about the same proportion of total household energy use. Installing a solar water heater can greatly reduce your energy bills as it will use energy from the sun to heat water at zero cost.Using solar energy to heat water produces no harmful greenhouse gas emissions. A solar water heater can provide between 50 percent and 90 percent of your total hot water requirements, depending on the climate, the season and whether you choose a standard or evacuated tube system.

Like rooftop solar panels, hiring a qualified professional is also a must for solar hot water systems, not only because of the rebates but also to maximise the full potential of the system. In some states such as Qld, plumbers have to be specially licensed to do so.

Determine your hot water needs by making a checklist of the following:

How many bathrooms do you have in your home?
How many people live in your home?
How many children do you have?
How old are your children?
How many bedrooms do you have?
Do you wash your clothes with hot, cold or warm water?
Is your dishwasher connected to the hot water?
Do you have a spa bath?
Do you have gas and/or electricity connected to your home?
How many years do you think you will be in the home?

This simple guide questions will determine your hot water needs and the amount of financial benefit you can expect to receive from a solar hot water system.

Sunshine Coat’s Solar Potential

Aside from being one of Australia’s top getaway destinations the Sunshine Coast has a lot to offer from a solar power point of view as well; it was named the Sunshine Coast for a reason! The region enjoys many days of long hours of strong sunlight, and even in winter months temperatures and solar radiation are still at a reasonable level.

This amount of sun makes Sunshine Coast as a perfect candidate for becoming a largely solar powered city. All 311,900 hectares of the area is blessed with limitless solar power potential. Currently solar power on the Sunshine Coast is well accepted because of the tireless efforts of the local government conducting awareness campaigns, forums and public meetings regarding climate change and how each resident can make a difference. Just this month the city council is conducting a month long sessions in its libraries to teach people how solar PV systems work and the benefits they would receive from installing it.

Solar power’s success in the region does not entirely rest with its natural blessings; government funding and rebates have also played an essential role. Currently the coast is operating under the generous premium feed in tariff scheme together with federal and state government rebates which make a solar investment here one of the most financially rewarding in the nation.

Solar experts and analysts have said that the Sunshine Coast’s residents have embraced solar power more thoroughly compared to other cities primarily because of the supportive environment that the local government has striven to achieve. Many cities and local governments are presenting how they could save money and save the environment with solar panels but what Sunshine Coast is trying to achieve is something more than that.Feeling privileged to live in such a beautiful and unspoilt part of the world brings a strong incentive to protect that for future generations.

As proof to that just recently (June 5^th) the city held a large scale solar event to coincide with the World Environment Day celebrations. The event was packed with practical ideas and education and event goers brought home both the solutions and a social responsibility to reduce their carbon footprints.

With all the efforts of the local government, the private sector and the community combined with the Coast natural blessings it is possible to see a small rural region to rise up highly in the race to solar independence by the year 2020.

Solar Grid Parity Seen in Some Parts of Australia as Solar Panel Costs Reduce

 As the local and international price of solar panels plunges it is not surprising to hear talk about the country reaching grid parity faster than anticipated. From 2008 to 2010 solar module prices have decreased by 50% and before this year closes it is expected that they will decrease even further.

The continued reduction in cost is primarily because of the higher solar panel efficiency rating the best panels now have, reduced manufacturing costs due to increased demand, new technology and economies of scale.

Although nationally Australia may not reach grid parity until 2020, some parts of the country will achieve that much earlier, and indeed in some regions the price of solar produced electricity is already on par with that produced by coal.

Andrew Blakers, the director of the centre for sustainable energy systems at the Australian National University, announced recently that with prices being paid for solar PV there are areas in the state of New South Wales where it is even slightly cheaper to produce electricity from solar power sources rather coal.''If you look at the prices being paid today, we have already reached grid parity in a lot of places except Melbourne and Hobart.''

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal said that thousands of households and small business are still lined up for the $1.9 billion of solar bonuses,and once completed the renewable energy capacity of the country will spike significantly, adding to the current 371 megawatts of generated power installed to date under the scheme.

Australia has the capabilities to reach grid parity sooner than 2020 as more government support for research and development takes place in the form of the Emerging Renewable Energy Fund, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and the $10 billion Finance Corporation; all funded by the planned carbon tax package that the government will soon implement.

Getting close to grid parity as soon as possible is critical for the country to reach it’s challenging renewable energy targets by 2020, hence why so much effort and funding is being put towards it becoming a reality.

Solar City Programs Educate about the Benefits of Solar Power

The “Solar City” Program was launched a few years ago by the federal government of Australia to educate people about solar power and its benefits for the community, the environment and for their cost of living. The ongoing program also aims to test the viability of different energy efficiency set ups and solar PV technology under variable conditions.

The collected data from the last 3 years will be soon used to introduce community based energy efficient measures, and will also help design a structured plan how the government should allot resources throughout the transition to a low carbon economy.

Currently there are 7 solar cities in the country which were established from 2007 to 2010;Adelaide, Alice Springs, Blacktown, Central Victoria, Moreland, Perth and Townsville. As of today, the solar city program has increased the uptake and usage of solar power across the 7 cities and has demonstrated the effectiveness of encouraging energy efficiency at a community level.

In June 2011 a report showed that under the solar city program more than 10,000 home energy assessments have been conducted, and over 5300 KW of solar PV has been installed, including more than 20,000 smart meters.

Adelaide Solar City

Adelaide is blessed with enormous amounts of sunshine each year making solar power a perfect solution for its peak electricity supply problems and high average domestic electricity bills. Under the solar city program massive campaigns for adopting green power will be undertaken, to compliment the significant number of Solar PV systems already installed in Adelaide.

The use of smart meters, passive heating and cooling means, energy audits and solar hot water systems will also be a focus of the program. Major solar projects will also be involved, for e.g. the 50 KW solar PV system installed in Adelaide’s Central Bus to power the very first electric powered bus “Tindo”.

Alice Springs Solar City

The Alice Spring Solar city project will be centered in a trial feed in tariff scheme to encourage the use of solar PV systems. Special incentives will also be provided for residents who have significantly reduced their energy consumption.

Already the city has proved to be one of the country’s green energy hubs with almost 50% of its residents using solar hot water systems.

Major solar projects include 305 kW solar PV system in Crowne Plaza which is capable of generating 530 megawatt hours of electricity each year, providing about half of the hotels energy needs.

Blacktown Solar City

Launched in July 2007 the project has been supporting a solar PV financial assistance program and energy efficient packs for households and local businesses.

A new trial double pack solar power system will soon be launched in the city to produce both heat energy and electricity under one system to save roof space and money.

Central Victoria Solar City

Under the program two major solar parks will be built in the city, each using a concentrated solar PV tracking system with a combined output of 600 KW per hour. Assistance for solar PV installations in residential buildings, use of smart meters, solar hot water systems and energy audits will also be a focus of the program.

Moreland Solar City

The Moreland project is a massive awareness campaign to drive energy efficiency among its residence. The project will also be formulating a community based approach to adopt groundbreaking discoveries in the renewable energy field. The consortium of Moreland will also be looking for ways to adopt sustainable home designs and practical methods to assess and install effective energy efficiency measures.

A sub program will also be included to provide energy efficient opportunities and develop strategic and cost effective means suited for to the city’s low income sector.

Perth Solar City

Under the Perth Solar City program, 5 major solar PV projects (all capable of generating 60 KW per hour) and twelve demonstration projects will be built to show to the public how solar power can benefit the city and its residents.

A sub focus will also include an assistance program for solar PV installation, energy audits and smart meter usage.

Townsville Solar City

Under the program a 1 MW solar PV system will be granted to selected businesses and households and provide assistance in energy efficient measures for the rest of the city. The Townsville Solar City won the Queensland Regional Award from the 2011 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Australasia for its excellence in community engagement and support mechanisms.

Storing Solar Energy a Major Issue

Australia’s quest for sustainability and dependence on non-carbon intensive energy sources does not only require the obvious developing of renewable energy technology for producing power through means such as solar and wind.

The 2^nd and equally important part of the puzzle is being able to effectively store the power produced by these renewable energy sources at the time of their peak production so it is then available for use 24hours a day as required.

This is the reason that there is so much focus on Feed in Tariff schemes that enable households with solar panels to feed any excess electricity they produce during the day back into the main power grid as credits for the evening when they can they draw upon it again.

Some people, especially in rural areas, prefer to be completely independent from any existing electricity grid provider though, and so choose an “off grid” solar panel system option to enable self-sufficiency. And in this case the issue of storage of their power produced becomes crucial.

Currently the most popular battery pack available in the market are the deep cycle batteries, which typical look like a car battery but have the ability to discharge in greater depths (50% to 80%) and can do so over and over again.This type of battery can also be cycled down to 20%, however to maintain a longer lifespan it is best to keep it at around 50% discharge.

Although the performance of a deep cycle battery is promising it lags behind due to the economic aspects. The batteries are generally expensive and may require regular maintenance to function at their full potential.

This is exactly why energy storage has become a major issue in Australia and with other renewable energy loving nations.

Solar PV technology is evolving and achieving greater efficiency ratings at a fast rate, and energy storage also needs to evolve apace, for ‘Off Grid” solar power to be a widely available viable option.

Worldwide there has been numerous of advances to Lithium-ion. This technology was popularized by cell phone manufacturers and it has proven to hold the key to our storage problems.

However the real issue in energy storage is the number of cycles the battery perform and the cost. One of Australia’s top researchers Maria Forsyth from Deakin University in Canberra together with a team of researchers from the Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship are now developing battery technologies that will enable us to collect and store clean energy efficiently and economically.

According to them if a battery will cost about $1000 then it should be capable of delivering 10,000 cycles to be acceptable.

Unfortunately a lot of work is still needed to be done to develop such technology. The team are now focusing on discovering cheaper materials to produce this types of battery, and in a few years’ time we will hopefully have much more effective energy storage capabilities; only then we can say that Australia has reached the point of true sustainability and carbon neutrality. 

Residential Solar Power Solutions

Being the most viable source clean energy, solar had surely becomea fuzz both in the national and international scene. Along with it are countless claims and advances to harness the great circle’s energy.  But with that much said, many still remain clueless on how they can produce their own energy and possibly sell them for an immense profit.

If you’re thinking of going solar then you might want to consider these two options

A solar hot water is commonly used in parts in bad need of hot water, it works by directly transferring heat into a medium, in this case water, the panels are lined with tubes were water passes and are collected in a tank. The system is very simple and is effective. One thing that we need to put emphasis on this matter is that these panels don’t generate any electricity and it can be termed as a hot water reserve only.

Probably the most advance breakthrough is the Solar PV or solar photovoltaic system. The amount of energy that it produces will vary depending on the system that you will install. An average home with a descent roof space can cater to a one kilo watt system.

A solar PV works by absorbing the heat from the sun and then breaking up its components collecting the electrons. Then a magnetic field attracts these charges to a circuit producing the electricity. This phenomenon is known as the photovoltaic effect However, it is not the useful form of electricity yet. It should be converted from DC or direct current to AC which is the useful form. An inverter is responsible for the conversion which can be transformer based or not.

Inverters which are transformer based are commonly heavy, bulky and cost more. Non transformer based inverters are totally the opposite. It uses the available transformer near your home to convert the electricity to AC.  A solar panels system is quite complex but if installed properly it will work like magic, the inverters feed electricity to your home directly by your existing outlets and circuitry.

Often times, after installing a one kilowatt system (the maximum power it can produce on a perfect condition) you can see a dramatic change with your electric bill and would still want for more panels, if so, it would be better if you would use expandable inverters.  Not only will it allow you to add more panels it can also cater to various types of panels all at the same time.

Unlike before, harnessing the sunlight for energy is more accessible today, not only that the advances in technology permitted a massive production of the system, the government is also gave its full efforts (in a form of rebates) to encourage every home to settle for a clean energy source.

Queensland Launches Renewable Energy Industry Development Plan to Boost Clean Energy Sector

The government of Queensland has launched the Renewable Energy Industry Development Plan (REIDP) to assist and boost the renewable energy sector particularly the applications of solar power in Queensland and to energize carbon mitigation in all aspect of the community.

The plan is expected to propel clean energy investments from the private sector both business and residential since more renewable energy zones will be established and more green opportunities will opened to the public. According to Queensland’s energy minister Stephen Robertson the plan will highlight 23 clean energy initiatives of the government over the next couple of years to assist the growth and development of the sector, pave way for green energy jobs and ultimately reduce the state’s carbon emissions.

The plan includes the establishment of RE zones in various regions of the state that holds potential and in need bad need of renewable energy sources.  It will also strengthen the employment prowess of the clean energy sector by facilitating skills and knowledge development in related field along with policy reforms and delivery of incentives all catering for better deployment of clean energy across the state’s industries

In the course of the plan, it aims to improve the integration of clean energy in our way of life from the company that produces our goods and to our own homes. Queensland has shown remarkable leadership in renewable energy actions particularly solar power and has resulted to great success with more than 100,000 Queenslanders signed up for the government programs for solar power alone. The Renewable Energy Industry Development Plan is believed to increase this figures significantly in the next two years.

Mr Robertson said that Queensland already now positioned to attract more than $3 billion in renewable energy investments and creation of about 3500 green jobs in the 2020. 

Solar Panels Still a Wise Investment

Some consumers are wondering if solar PV systems are still a wise investment despite all the uncertainty in the feed in tariff scheme. Most of the Australian states have nearly reached their Feed in tariff caps, and following the abrupt closure of the NSW scheme is the imminent cut in the Victorian Tariff.

Unlike in New South Wales, the Victorian feed in tariff will not end on Sept 30^th, but instead change over to a transitional program for another 5 years.  The premium rate of 60 cents paid will now be replaced by a new rate of 25 cents, which is still higher than the costs of paying for electricity. People who have already been accepted into contracts for the PFiT will not be affected.

Energy minister O’Brien said that despite the huge cut the new Victorian TFiT will still offer one of the highest rates in the country next to Queensland.

But the question still remains are solar panels still worth it? Well the answer is a resounding yes! While the state feed in tariff scheme have played an important role in helping the solar industry in Australia to become as strong as it has, we all knew that it would not last forever. The feed in tariff’s purpose of widely introducing solar power to many Australian homes by making it more affordable has already fulfilled; now that system prices have fallen so much the extra financial assistance is no longer required to the same extent.

The falling prices of solar PV systems and the ongoing rises in the cost of fossil fuel produced electricity now make it a wise investment regardless of the bonuses that the tariffs supplied. 5 years ago a typical 1.5 Kw system would cost around $7000 compared to today’s average of $4000, which has made solar panels affordable to many more people in the community.

Half of the power requirements of an average Australian home can be powered a typical 1.5 KW system, which means the system can generally have a payback period of only 5 to 7 years, out of at least 20 years of productive life.

The sheer number of investors in Australia today will serve as proof that solar is still a stable industry and a wise investment.

On top of all the financial benefits that you can gain even with the absence of the feed in tariff scheme, there are also the important environmental advantages of a solar system as well. Significant cuts in your family’s carbon footprint will be achieved also, helping you to play a part in leaving behind a healthy planet for your children.

Solar Power is Essential in Australia’s Future

As Australia reshapes its economy towards lower carbon production, renewable energy technologies, particularly solar power will play a very important role during and after the transition. Solar energy has the potential to become the primary source of energy in our country rather than only a supplementary source.

Why Solar Energy?

First of all, solar technology has become more affordable and efficient, with nearly limitless applications. But it is the continued evolution of the technology that puts it ahead of any other renewable sources, thanks to constant research and development by both government and private sectors, and in our universities.

 Role of Solar Energy in Your Home

Energy prices today are soaring uncontrollably, and installing solar panels and or solar hot water systems will bring enormous energy bill reductions for any household. The options that the systems offer are suitable for any home with sufficient unshaded north–north west facing roof space.

Investing in solar panels or a solar hot water systems is crucial if you want to save money in the long run. Both systems have relatively long life span up to 25 years and with a quick and guaranteed return of investment.

For Businesses

The applications of solar energy are not only for home use; small businesses to large scale commercial establishments can also benefit from the technology in many ways, here are a few;

1.       Save money from energy bills and increase production rate.

2.       Protects against increasing costs from new Government carbon tax related policies.

3.       Helps brand your business as an icon in environmental protection.

Multinational companies, such as Google, Facebook, GE and others are investing heavily into solar today because of its proven long term economic benefits and green credentials.

The federal government of Australia will establish the Renewable Energy Investment Program to assist local business with making RE investments. With a minimum grant of $25,000, qualified businesses can enjoy the full potential of renewables and their cost reducing benefits.

For the Top 500 Polluters in the Country

Under the proposed carbon tax of the current administration, the top 500 polluters will have to pay $23 for every ton of carbon emitted in the atmosphere.

The government hopes that this financial impact will bring a strong enough initiative to reduce their carbon emissions through better production practices and investments on renewable energy. Solar power is proving to be one of the best options, even on a large scale basis.

Government Investments

The government has made solar investments of their own, currently the Solar Dawn Project and the Moree Solar Farm are about to start construction under the Solar Flagship Program. Local governments are also investing into solar power projects and programs to reduce carbon emission with their communities.

Reduce Your Electricity Bill WithSolar Power Solutions

If you live in Australia and arethinking of making the switch to Solar Power then your 1^st decision is whether you want to reduce one of your major electricity costs by simply installing Solar Hot Water, or if your goal is to eliminate your electricity bill entirely, which will require the installation of a well-designed Solar PV Panel System.

Solar Hot Water- In simple terms this works by directly transferring heat generated by the sun into water; the panels are lined with tubes were the water passes through, is heated and then collected in a storage tank. The idea is very simple and is effective, and the latest technology which uses Evacuated Tubes is more efficient again and removes some of the problems inherent in the older style of design such as excessive weight on the roof. Be aware though that regardless of what type of Solar Hot Water system you select none of these panels generate any electricity and they can be termed as a hot water reserve only.

Solar PV (Photovoltaic) System-This is a much more advanced technology which uses photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are simply a group of cells electrically connected and packaged in one frame) contained within large solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity with the help of an inverter. Depending on the KiloWattsize of system you choose (determined by your budget & the roof space you have available, panels take up a lot of space!) it can produce enough free, clean renewable energy to significantly reduce or even eliminate your electricity bill!

While consumers tend to only consider what the KW size is when purchasing, an important thing to know is that the amount of energy that is produced by say a 1.5KW system will vary depending on multiple factors; the quality of the components that are used, the effectiveness of the panel design, and the mechanics (such as the direction faced, slope and surface area) of your particularroof space.

An average Australian house design has the roof space to cater to at least a 1 kilowatt system, but to produce sufficient energy to enable a family to be able to eliminate their electricity bill is more likely to require approximately a 2KW system, and this many panels take up a lot of roof space! So beware of unethical companies making big promises without coming to your premises to accurately assess what solar energy production is possible with your particular home.

A Solar PV System is quite complex & the creating the most effective design to suit an individual building requires expertise and the use of premium components that will produce the highest amounts of electricity possible.

Unlike electricity costs which are predicted to continue to rise exponentially; harnessing sunlight for energy has becomemuch more affordable & accessible today, thanks both to the advances in technology that have permitted  massive production of the system components, and the strong Australian Government encouragement of the switch to clean energy in the form of generous rebates.

These rebates are being reduced though, with price rises confirmed from July 1^st, and possibly beginning as early as mid-April, so don’t delay any longer! Rising demand is already seeing lengthening delays of installation times, and systems must already be installed before the cut-off dates to receive the highest rebates. So to make sure you don’t miss out of the best savings 

Reasons Why Brisbane Has Turned to Solar

Like any other major cities in Australia, Brisbane is not one to be left behind with technology. The city prides itself as one of the greenest and cleanest as it produces a large amount of power through renewable energy sources like solar pv panels.

The city has made a strong effort to encourage the switch to solar power because of several major reasons;

Demand

The increase of energy consumption seems inevitable; the continuous growth in population even in controlled numbers means a continual increase in demand for energy. The weather also plays a vital role in energy consumption, Brisbane is known for its long humid summers and as the weather causes more and more discomfort we all enjoy the comfort brought by high electricity using air conditioners.

Also no matter where we live,there are more and more technological breakthroughs being made and more “life enhancing” gadgets invented we can’t do without ……and these all require more fossil fuels be burned.

The Right Conditions

Brisbane is situated in the sub-tropical South East Queensland region in Australia, where the “solar resource” rating is among the best in the world thanks to the high levels of solar irradiance for much of the year. Temperatures in the city may not always be favorable in the long hot summersfor comfort, but the excessive strong sunlight provides the perfect conditions for getting maximum output from a solar system.

 Installing solar panels in Brisbane to an average home ensures optimal efficiency many days of the year, and this high return on investment has made it easy to show the economic benefits of making the switch to solar power.

Strong Environmental Concern & “Green” Support

Massive State and Local Government campaigns were conducted throughout the state of Queensland since 2008 to promote widespread awareness regarding global warming and how every household can make a difference. This increased concern for our individual carbon footprint, together with the solar schemes and bonuses being implemented to improve solar panel affordability, has made Brisbane one of the largest clean energy use areas in Australia.

Solar The Best Renewable Energy Investment

A recent study conducted in the United States revealed that investing in solar power offers the quickest return of investment among the possible renewable energy options, offering an average payback period of 4 years reduced from 7 to 10 a couple of years back. The falling prices of the solar PV panels and the continued improvement in efficiency ratings contributed to this much quicker ROI.

The US solar market has grown tremendously over the past few years and now employs more than 100,000 solar workers.  A report from Forbes showed that before the year closes the solar market can double its size, primarily because of strong policies and loan guarantees offered by the government.

Kilowatt per kilowatt solar power has proven to be the cheapest form of renewable energy.  A global report showed that the cost of solar PV cost will reach $1 per watt by 2020. The same report also suggests that by 2030 solar power cost could drop down to only 50 cents per kilowatt.

In Australia, the same turn of events is happening. Prices of solar panel systems have halved and general payback time has also been reduced to less than 5 years in some states. Major investments in large scale solar power projects have also been made because of the same fact. Companies have invested in solar because of the quick return of investment and long term contracts that give low risk and financial stability.

But main beneficiaries of cheaper solar power are households and small local businesses, the falling prices coupled with generous government incentives and rebates have made solar technology affordable and accessible for everybody, allowing Australian families and businesses to have a safe haven from continued energy price hikes.

The federal government of Australia will soon strengthen its campaign for solar power and other renewables as the carbon tax is implemented and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Australian Renewable Energy Agency becomes operational.  The three components of the country’s Clean Energy Future plan will deliver significant investments in the industry as well as many research opportunities to further decrease solar power prices.

Soon enough as the carbon tax is implemented and the entire package comes to play the federal government expects to create a strong sense of initiative not only for the top 500polluters of the country but also from small scale investments from households and small businesses bringing to reality the virtual power stations that Australia so desperately needs to achieve its 20% renewable energy goal in 2020.

Australia’s Solar Flagship Programs Underway

Australia is known for its historical places and untouched natural reserves like the outback and a whole bunch of other tourist spots. But soon enough the country will be known for something else.

True that the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions cannot be denied, and as part of the large scale solar applications the country has tabled two of its solar flagship programs which is largest of its kind worldwide.

The country has allotted about $1.5 billion to construct the solar dawn project and the Moree solar PV farm. The two is expected to add 400 MW of clean and renewable energy to the current mark of 540 MW (Australia’s current solar capacity as of 2010).

The Moree solar farm will be largest of its kind utilising photovoltaic technology; the project is expected to generate 150 MW of clean energy. Construction will take place in the state of New South Wales flanking the town of Moree by 2012 and when completed the solar farm will be comprised of 650,000 solar panels and will deliver new job opportunities during construction and eventually lift the local economy.

Paired with the Moree solar farm is the solar dawn project which will take footing in Queensland. The 250 MW project is a natural gas hybrid combined with CSP technology. Concentrated solar power (CSP) systems or concentrated solar thermal (CST) systems are systems that use mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight into a small area. Electricity is produced when the concentrated light is converted to heat which drives the steam turbine connected to an electrical power generator.

The technology works by producing electricity with CSP with natural gas powered boilers as auxiliary steam source when needed and during at night to provide continued source of energy.

Both projects are expected to put the country in the top renewable energy producers and to reduce carbon emission significantly.

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.

Federal Government Ensures Minimal Effect of Carbon Tax for Low-Income Households

The carbon tax is expected to affect everyone in Australia, from the richest Aussies to the lowest income sector. The tax is heavily directed towards high polluting sectors such as coal fired electricity producers and other carbon intensive energy and goods, and will significantly raise their production costs. The aim of this is to strongly encourage various sectors in the country to make the switch to renewable energy sources by making it more financially viable to do so.

As a result of the increase production costs, electricity prices will increase as well as many market products. The federal government anticipated that the low income sector of the country will be heavily affected by these price hike because they;

§ Incur the greatest energy costs as a proportion of weekly expenditure.

§ May be unable to improve energy efficiency through purchasing efficient appliances.

§ May be unable to select an energy efficient home.

§ Record higher energy consumption despite the low income and energy inefficiency

§ Be located in isolated communities that have either inadequate infrastructure or restricted choice of energy source; and

§ May have health and disability issues.

The government has foreseen these possible problems and so a portion of the total carbon tax revenues will be used to compensate heavily affected sectors of the community and improve their quality of life. 50% of the total revenue has been committed for the first 12 months that the carbon tax is in place.

The government has been recommended to prepare a plan to assist the low income sector through the encouragement of energy saving measures, as well as tax or social security adjustments, rather than short term handouts that don’t have any long term effects.

The government will also be providing financial support for improving home energy efficiency such as assisting households to purchase solar hot water systems and small scale renewable energy systems like solar panel systems. There will also be extensive information and education about how to reduce their home energy usage.

Ultimately the government can best aid these households by:

§ Providing energy saving measures that will reduce their energy consumption long term

§ Opening doors for new work opportunities, and assisting the community in the overall reduction of energy costs and improving efficiency.

§ Reducing the big spike between peak and non-peak demand for energy.

§ Social mobilisation in terms of energy use.

§ Providing the community with the knowledge and opportunity to reduce pollution.

The government hopes that the plan will eventually bring behavioral changes to the community as a whole and impart initiatives to move Australia towards large scale carbon emission reduction.

The Clean Energy Council of Australia has been the major force behind the plan of the government in assisting the low income sector of country, and also suggests that it should be further backed up with a National Energy Savings Initiative scheme for sustainability.

Queensland Solar Panel Installation Incentive Scheme

The Queensland government is committed in reducing the states carbon footprint by one-third by the year 2020.  They aim to accelerate the installation and generation of electricity by using clean energy sources and follow the Queensland Renewable Energy Plan. The federal government is also giving out financial incentives for the installation of roof-top solar panels through the Small-scale renewable energy scheme (SRES).  

With this scheme, the projected electricity production capacity of a roof-top solar panel system is eligible for a certain number of small scale technology certificates (STCs), which are timed by the solar multiplier number. This is being reduced from July 1^st from 5 down to 3 which represents about a $2500 increase in the out of pocket cost of a solar panel system. The multiplier will reduce by 1 each year until 2014 when the scheme will end.

The Renewable Energy Plan will provide a series of financial incentives that will help make the switch to renewable energy financially viable for an average family. This incentive can be taken advantage by any Queensland home owners. There also is another incentive given by the Queensland (QLD) government, which is the solar hot water rebate. QLD homeowners will be provided with up to $1,000 to be invested as an initial fund for the installation of the solar hot water system.  This rebate should cover the installation of over 200,000 hot water systems in the next three years.  

Queensland has the highest solar energy production of any area in Australia, thanks both the strong government support & favourable climate. There are currently about 15 to 24 Mega joules of solar energy per square meter under production.  Thanks to a commercial feed in tariff in place as well, solar panel installation is not only good for the environment, but also has exciting potential as a high return low risk investment for people with a large area of land or roof space available.

For anyone with just an average sized home though it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of your electricity bill. For example in the city of Brisbane a 1.5 kW solar panel will generate an average amount of 6.3 kWh of energy; this amount of electricity production combined with QLD government’s 44 cents/kWh feed tariff is the amount the households can save.  At current electricity prices this would be about $736 per year, but prices are expecting to increase exponentially in the next couple of years. Choosing to install a 2.5-3KWh system can eliminate the bill of an average family completely.

Another factor that has made renewable energy such a popular choice in Queensland is the support of the local government in creating awareness through promotion. Solar panels in Brisbane account for a significant number of the total solar installations in the state, and other major cities like Sunshine coast also add a considerable number, in fact that region from Brisbane through to Gympie and Hervey Bay is a booming area for solar!