Antinuclear

The facts on Australia’s potential for rooftop solar energy

Rooftop Solar Could Supply 134% Of Australian Residential Power Needs (includes excellent table illustrating Australia’s rooftop potential and costs) http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3660   27 March 2013: Australians feeling the pinch from high electricity prices have an economical alternative, and if every suitable rooftop in Australia was turned into a solar power station, the amount of energy generated would supply more than 134.8% of the country’s residential electricity needs.

Not only would the installation of solar on every roof be a boon for jobs, the cost of the electricity being generated would be reduced to a mere 7 cents per kWh. This potential new pricing point is in total contrast to what Australians are currently paying; up to 40 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)¹ in some parts of the country, which is predicted to continue climbing.

The conservative figures were calculated by solar energy provider Energy Matters, utilising recent government data in order to prove a point; that solar power is a viable solution to Australia’s energy challenges and would dramatically change our nation’s reliance on expensive, polluting fossil fuels to generate electricity.

While the total cost of the installation would represent 8% of Australia’s yearly GDP, the actual cost would be 0.4% per year as the figure would be amortised over 20 years. Consider this; Australia spends over $15 billion each year on electricity, that’s 1% of it GDP.

“This could easily become a reality and the positive impact on our lives would be immediate and long-lasting, “commented Nick Brass of Energy Matters. “Our vision is not too dissimilar to Bill Gates’, who predicted every household would have a computer. People at first scoffed at this vision, but the advent of the affordable personal computer changed the world. Energy Matters’ grand plan is to help convert every suitable rooftop in Australia into a solar power station.”

Energy Matters’ figures are extremely conservative. While the company’s calculations show solar can supply 134% of Australia’s residential needs, the actual figure would be much higher.

The knock on effect would be massive; energy prices and CO₂ emissions would be reduced dramatically. The initial costs of installation would be steep, but the yearly savings would soon pay off this investment.

Energy Matters has determined there is just shy of 400 sq. kms of available roof space on residential roof tops in Australia that could accommodate solar panels. That’s the size of inner Melbourne.

With the company’s conservative calculations, each one of the suitable houses could theoretically hold an 8kW solar power system; 32 panels per rooftop. The cost for each system at the current market rate would be less than $14,000.

“The idea is for the eligible houses to produce more electricity than they need with the excess supply fed back into the grid in order to power Australia’s residential and non-residential needs,” continued Mr. Brass. “Further calculations we performed indicate the amount of electricity generated would supply 38.8% of Australia’s total electricity requirements (inclusive of all residential, industry, commercial services, metal production and mining).”

These houses with 8kW solar ‘power stations’ on their rooftops would generate 36kWh per day. With the average household currently consuming 18kWh per day, the resultant electricity would earn the household between $2100 and $3,200 per year depending on how much electricity they consume themselves. This would mean the system would be paid off in between 4 and 6 years. Once paid off, the solar power system would create free electricity thanks to the sun. A government-sponsored rollout of solar power systems would drive down the cost even further.

What would this mean for Australia’s current electricity production facilities? “There would be almost no need for base load power stations on a sunny day,” said Nick Brass. “Australia could close down most of its coal-driven power stations overnight, except for those in heavy industrial areas. Under-utilised gas fired peaking plants, which are already in existence, would be called upon to generate Australia’s night time and cloudy day electricity needs. Shutting down Australia’s coal power stations alone would mean our emissions targets would be met almost immediately.

“A national rollout would be a mammoth task and would involve many companies coming together for the good of the country. Energy Matters is in a very fortunate position in that we not only have a national presence, our solar power systems are built for Australia’s harsh environment,” said Mr. Brass.

“We have relationships with the best suppliers in the world and when we feel components don’t meet the standards needed for Australian conditions, we’ve manufactured our own. Our Australian designed and manufactured SunLock mounting system is a prime example. This mounting system is the toughest in the business and can even withstand cyclonic conditions,” concluded Nick Brass……. http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3660

March 28, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, solar