Clean Energy Council
18 November 2008
NATIONAL: The Clean Energy Council says it is disappointed that BP Solar will no longer produce solar photovoltaic (PV) power cells in Australia, but hopes the decision will lead to more affordable solar energy supply for Australians.
"While we are certainly not pleased to see clean energy manufacturing leave Australian shores, we accept that this was a commercial decision by a global company looking to deliver the lowest cost solar panels to a growing world market by operating larger scale plants overseas," said Matthew Warren, CEO of the Clean Energy Council. "Hopefully this will mean more affordable solar energy for Australian households and businesses, making it easier for Australia's fast-growing solar industry to deploy solar energy panels on rooftops across the sunniest continent on earth".
"Now, more than ever, Australia's emerging clean energy industry needs the federal government to provide certainty by delivering on its promise of an expanded Renewable Energy Target (RET) and other complementary measures to ensure we assume our role as a global clean energy superpower as quickly as possible", Mr Warren said. "The future of Australia's clean energy business and the supply of affordable renewable energy must not be impeded in any way because of delays in implementing government policies to make this a reality".
"BP Solar says there was nothing federal or state governments could have done to influence their decision. Today's announcement reminds us that developing manufacturing industries in Australia is challenging in a global market, and the renewable energy sector is no different", he said. "The Clean Energy Council calls upon the federal government to deliver on its promise of providing a more certain future for Australia's renewable energy industry."
2 comments:
you think that's bad? BP have actually pulled out of solar in Britain to take their operations to the US where they enjoy greater incentives.
It seems to demonstrate that many company executives and Governments still cannot see investing in renewables will be more financially rewarding -- and responsible in the long run.
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