Hello sunshine

Border Mail
Wednesday 28/3/2007 Page: 30

Despite abundant sunshine, Australia lags decades behind Europe in the use of solar power, but there, is hope we will soon see change

GOVERNMENT reluctance to fully embrace renewable energy means Australians lag more than 17 years behind their German counterparts in recouping the cost of installing a feed-to-grid solar system. The system enables individuals to generate their own power and feed in excess power to the national grid, reducing demand for nonrenewable resources energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

A leading German renewable energy company with a subsidiary in Australia says Germans can recoup the cost of installing a grid connect solar system in eight years thanks to government incentives and electricity company premiums. But it will take Australians more than 25 years.

"It's only the very environmentally conscious people in the Australian community who can see the value," Conergy Australia managing director Rodger Meads said. "They're investing in their children's future and the future of the planet not for any financial gain they can see in the short term." But with improved incentives, Australian households could become part of the energy solution instead of the problem, he said.

Mr Meads said the company was working, all the time to bring the up-front cost of the system within reach of more consumers worldwide, but the current technology still cost the average consumer between $10,000 to $20,000 to install.

In Europe, this cost was largely offset by initiatives such as a "feed in tariff" which has encouraged thousands of families in places such as Germany, Austria and Spain to install solar power systems in their homes. Some of those countries receive as little as 60 per cent of Australia's sun. Yet, in Australia, solar power is not valued at an appropriate price to reflect its credentials as a clean energy source that produces the power right where it is needed without the need for poles and wires.

The feed in tariff works because solar electricity system owners are guaranteed a fair price for the clean electricity they generate. The fair price, which is higher than the average price for electricity, is reached by factoring in the predicted expense to the taxpayer of building and maintaining coal or nuclear power stations over a period of time.

Solar electricity system operators can still buy back any additional electricity they need, paying the same price as ordinary consumers. The owner of a solar energy system is therefore receiving a solid return for their investment in clean energy and the global community benefits from a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The feed-to-grid system also more adequately matches periods of peak demand. "Peak demand is often the result of increased use of air-conditioners on extremely hot days and of course, this is when the solar system really comes into its own," Mr Meads said. He said other benefits of private investment in solar power were on a local community, national and global level.

Requirements for power stations and infrastructure such as high power lines and substations would be reduced; local economies would prosper from significant private investment which would create local jobs, there would be reduced climate change impact and a more reliable energy supply particularly in times of peak demand.