Australia
Australia has a high level of solar energy availability,
which is increasingly being utilised by the installation
of thermo-electric devices and PV systems and by the
application of passive solar design principles.
PV power received much publicity during the Sydney
2000 Olympics with the PV powered lighting pylons
along the Olympic Boulevard, the 70 kWp array on the
Superdome and the 629 kWp installed on houses in the
athletes’ village. The emphasis was on developing
the world’s largest solar-powered suburb, offering
a model for future urban development.
Furthermore, the nature of the country is such that
its sparsely populated regions are ideal for the installation
of off-grid systems to service telecommunications,
power supplies, navigation aids and transport route
signalling, in addition to domestic applications.
Growth during the 1990’s recorded an annual average
increase of 19.4% in the total installed PV power
capacity; at end-1999 it stood at 25 320 kWp of which
92% was off-grid. There has also been strong growth
in the installation of grid-connected capacity in
recent years.
The Government has recently initiated a number of
new measures designed to support renewable energy
and, in some cases, PV in particular. The Renewable
Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 and the Renewable Energy
(Electricity) (Charge) Act 2000 are designed to implement
the Government’s renewable energy target. The measures
place a legal liability on wholesale purchasers of
electricity to proportionately contribute towards
the generation of an additional 9 500 GWh of renewable
energy by 2010.
Solar and PV electricity generation, PV renewable
stand-alone power supply systems and some solar hot
water installations are all energy sources that will
be eligible for renewable energy certificates, where
the electricity is delivered to a grid, end-point
user or directly to a retailer or wholesale buyer.
With effect from April 2001, producers of electricity
generation from such sources will "earn" the certificates
and will subsequently be able to trade them.
Two programmes launched during July 2000 will operate
for four years: the Remote Area Power Supply Programme
aims to replace diesel-generated electricity with
renewable energies in remote areas and the other,
the Household PV System Programme, is aimed specifically
at the expansion of PV systems. Both the Federal Government
and the State Governments offer rebates for the installation
of small roof-top and building-integrated systems.
Additionally, rebates are offered for community buildings
and grants supporting off-grid systems.
Australian PV production capability has been expanded
in recent years and is running at full capacity. BP
Solar, a major manufacturer, has increased module
production at its Homebush plant since providing the
solar installations for the Sydney Olympic Games in
2000. Other companies, including new thin-film manufacturers,
are planning their entry into the production phase.
Currently supply exceeds demand and Australia exports
a large part of its production to the Philippines
and other countries in Asia.
Country Notes
(SOLAR ENERGY)
Australia || Canada
|| China
|| France
|| Germany
|| India
|| Indonesia
|| Israel
|| Italy
|| Japan
|| Kenya
|| Korea
(Republic) || Mexico
|| Netherlands
|| Norway
|| South
Africa || Spain
|| Switzerland
|| Thailand
|| United
States Of America
