In the last number of years, solar power has grown exponentially in popularity in Australia. Today, it is one of the biggest contenders for alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. As development progresses, Australia is quickly becoming one of the world’s leading nations in solar power usage.
Due to its geographical position, Australia is one of the best-located countries on the planet to take full advantage of solar energy. With New South Wales and Southern Australia trailblazing the solar power industry, it’s no surprise that Adelaide and Sydney solar power providers are among the most frequently requested suppliers for solar power panels and systems in the country.
Continue reading to get a better understanding of how solar power is being consumed and developed in Australia.
Types of solar power
Around Australia, there are two main types of solar power usage currently in play. The first and most common is thermal solar power, which converts sunlight into heat (thermal) energy. This kind of solar energy is employed to heat water and spaces but can also be used to generate steam for turbines and replace gas in some industrial heating processes.
The second and perhaps more well-known type of solar power employed in Australia is photovoltaic (PV) power in the form of solar panels which convert sunlight into electricity. This electricity can be directly used for appliances in the home.
Recent Australian solar power development
With the world’s highest rate of solar radiation per square metre, Australia is well placed to benefit from this source of renewable energy. In fact, according to the Clean Energy Australia Report 2018, the country completed over 4 large-scale solar energy projects in 2017 making the country one of the top ten in the world in terms of solar energy consumption and development.
It is now estimated that over 2 million homes in Australia have solar panels installed. Along with all over industrial solar installations, this makes the total photovoltaic solar power measure as high as 7,803 MW.
Reasons for solar energy increase in Australia
There are different elements that have influenced the rise in the use of solar energy in Australia over the past 30 years. The feed-in tariff allows those who install solar panels to receive a percentage of what is exported to the grid as an incentive.
Additionally, the last decade has seen incredible price reductions related to the sale of solar energy systems and increases in the prices of grid electricity. Therefore, more people have been persuaded to invest in a long-term solution such as solar panels for homes and offices. There are also other incentives such as the solar rebate and renewable energy targets as set by the Australian government.
The future of solar power down under
While research and development continues and prices remain low, it seems a sure thing that Australia will keep their place as one of the top countries in the world for solar energy manufacturing and consumption. With constant improvements being made to existing solar power methods, new innovations are being developed all the time. These new measures include photosynthetic-based solar energies and solar enhanced fuels.
The question now, is to ask if Australia will be the first country to produce more than 50% of their electricity through renewable resources, given their increased disposition to solar energy sources? Only time will tell but one thing is for sure, Australia is on the road to a brighter, greener future with solar energy firmly in the driving seat.