Turning Australia into a solar nation

Australia has the know-how and the industrial capability to become a solar nation but needs government and individuals to take action, according to BP Solar, the country’s largest producer of solar energy products.

BP Solar regional director Brooke Miller said Australia could install three gigawatts of peak energy, enough to provide solar power to more than one million homes and thousands of businesses.

That would make the country a benchmark solar nation and a world leader in alternative energy.

Miller also told the third international Solar Cities Congress in Adelaide the drive towards a sustainable energy future would also produce more than 9000 new jobs and save four million tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.

“We have an enthusiastic and engaged market,” she said.

“Australian families and householders are embracing the technology like never before and the Australian business community is awakening to opportunities to turn their roofs into power plants.”

Miller said what was needed now was action from governments around Australia to adopt feed-in legislation, to make switching to solar power more economical for individuals and companies.

The South Australian government recently introduced into state parliament feed-in laws which allow consumers to sell back electricity they produce in their homes or businesses to the grid at a profit.

If approved, the SA laws would allow consumers to be paid twice as much for any electricity they return as they would be charged for it.

Miller said South Australia was to be applauded for the move and urged other states and the federal government to follow suit.

“Indeed, action from the other states is now all that stands in the way of truly seeding a solar-powered nation,” she said.

“We ask all policymakers to be brave in decision making, adopt a long-term view, and be open to both residential and commercial players emerging in solar energy solutions.”