Australia’s solar energy future

Largest solar panels in the Southern Hemisphere Last week, Australia reached another milestone with the announcement of the large-scale solar power stations to be built in New South Wales costing a combined total of $450 million. he Australia Renewable Energy Agency approved the fund of $166.7 million while the NSW Government committed $64.9 million to support the project.

Australia maps out smart energy plans Asian Correspondent, By Rowena Dela Rosa Yoon Aug 07, 2013 “……….Solar Power By 2020, Australia aims to generate 20 per cent of its energy need from renewables. The Climate Commission earlier released a modelling of Australia’s future energy usage that consistently indicates a growing solar energy. By 2050, solar photovoltaics are projected to provide 29 per cent of Australia’s power needs.

Last year, the Climate Commission released a report– The Critical Decade: Generating a renewable Australia– which projects the unlimited potential of renewables, particularly solar.

The report underscores a major shift in global energy policy moving towards renewables and Australia has an advantage given the enormous potential for solar generation as the world’s sunniest continent.

The report also highlights major developments in Australia such as the cost of solar photovoltaic systems which have significantly dropped over the years enabling more consumers to shift to such technology.

In 2012, over one million rooftop solar photovoltaic systems have been installed, up from about 8,000 in 2007. About 2.6 million people, 11 per cent of our population, now use the sun for their electricity needs, the report said.

The Commission also admitted that while Australia generated $60 billion from the export of coal and gas, it, however, concluded that 80 per cent of global fossil fuel resources need to stay in the ground to limit global temperature increase to a relatively safe 2C.

Largest solar panels in the Southern Hemisphere

Last week, Australia reached another milestone with the announcement of the large-scale solar power stations to be built in New South Wales costing a combined total of $450 million. he Australia Renewable Energy Agency approved the fund of $166.7 million while the NSW Government committed $64.9 million to support the project.

The power stations will be built in two separate locations: Broken Hill (NSW) and Nyngan (NSW) which will generate a capacity of up to 155 megawatts (MW) (AC) of electricity. Construction in Nyngan is due on January 2014 and Broken Hill, July 2014 to be completed in 2015.

AGL Energy Pty Ltd was named to build the project and has contracted First Solar to do the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the project. First Solar will build the power stations using its thin film PV technology and will maintain the facilities for an initial five year period following construction.

The Federal Government boasts it will be the largest solar power stations in the entire Southern Hemisphere.

Mark Butler MP. Minister for Climate Change said the project will cover a combined area four times the size of the Sydney CBD. http://asiancorrespondent.com/111636/australia-maps-out-smart-energy-plans/