Solar Cells: Best Emission Solution Under the Aussie Sun

28 May 07 – For immediate Release – Melbourne, Australia

Australia has the potential to reduce its housing sector greenhouse gas emissions to zero if it replicates Germany's solar photovoltaic revolution. The European country installed 960MW of solar photovoltaic power in 2006, and will be increasing this to over 2800MW by 2010. At the current growth rate of solar electric installations in Germany, in 2010 they'll be installing the equivalent of over one million units on house rooftops per year.

Beyond Zero Emissions is calling for a similar nation-wide roll out of solar photovoltaic technology in Australia. By matching the annual international growth rate of photovoltaic installation, in 2020 every residential home in Australia should be powered by zero emission solar photovoltaic cells.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Australia to significantly reduce its national greenhouse gas emissions,” said Matthew Wright, spokesman for Beyond Zero Emissions. “With the current water crisis solar power will very quickly achieve price parity with coal-generated electricity. Australia can create a vibrant local photovoltaic industry, using local workers and materials. The technology is there, we merely need the political will.”

The German photovoltaic industry is worth US$5 billion and employs over 8000 people. It continues to grow at over 30 per cent per annum due to a visionary feed-in tariff scheme. Any excess solar electricity generated is fed back into the grid for which the owner of the solar system is paid at premium prices. This encourages new installations and reduces the payback time on new solar systems to less than five years.

“This is all in a country that has significantly less sunlight intensity than Australia,” said Mr. Wright. “Australia is blessed with the greatest solar photovoltaic potential in the world yet our government fails to take action.”Starting at 685MW (1/4 of what Germany will install) of photovoltaic capacity in
2010 as a benchmark, by 2020 Australia will have installed over 22,000MW of solar panels if the industry is allowed to grow at 20 per cent per annum. This is the equivalent of a large 3kW photovoltaic system on every residential homein Australia.

“We are calling for only a quarter of the installations that Germany will achieve by 2010,” said Mr. Wright. “22,000MW of clean solar is the equivalent of eleven dirty Loy Yang coal-power stations running at full capacity. Because solar energy potential peaks on the hottest days in full sun, widespread photovoltaic installation also will reduce any likelihood of 'brown outs' from water stress caused by the drought coinciding with excess power usage.

“Stationary energy accounts for over half of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Combined with a ten star energy rating system for homes, massive roll out of wind power, demand side reduction, energy efficiency measures and solar air conditioning, solar photovoltaic technology can lead Australia to a zero emission stationary energy sector by 2020.

"We are lucky that Germany, California and Japan have borne the considerable costs of creating the volume market for solar panels. By 2010 solar panels are projected to fall in price by 40%. Now all we have to do is leverage their early adoption and start a massive program to roll them out on every north facing rooftop at a price that makes not only good environmental sense, but good
economic sense.

“Global warming waits for no one. We need to take the initiative now. Solar photovoltaic technology goes a long way to protecting our future.”

2NUR Newcastle interviews Matthew Wright Beyond Zero Emissions

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