PV Gap

Thomas Said:

issues regarding australia's small reliance on solar energy?

We Answered:

Conversion of solar to electricity remains only marginally cost effective, and requires use of storage batteries, with all their associated cost and maintanence. Use of solar to heat water is viable, but storage of the hot water requires appropriate tanks, and you still may need to pump the water to site of use. We are perhaps ten years away from commercial solar farms. The biggest problem there is that solar is converted into DC power, which is very hard to transport over distances. Converting it to AC has about a 40% efficiency, making it unrealistic for widespread use and transmission over long distances.
Having said all this, solar may be very useful for specific applications, such as a power source for a farmstead or station house, for a limited purpose motor (like on a bore) or for some lighting applications, and in remote locations, may actually be cost effective, even at todays costs.

Melanie Said:

solar energy in victoria, australia?

We Answered:

Additional to the above, when your house is not using much power during the day (say its empty and everyone is at work) the electricity you generate is actually fed into the power grid and your electricity service provider has to credit you!

Lisa Said:

Should solar power be used as a major energy source in Australia?

We Answered:

Yes it should be and in the future it probably will be. One of the big advantages of solar power is the saving on distribution cost, no fuel to transport or electricity pylons to maintain, and in a huge sparsely populated country this is significant.
Currently the greatest problem with solar heaters in a hot country is that nobody wants their house heating or a hot shower when the sun's blazing down, but concentrating the sun's heat to provide chemical refrigeration for air conditions is closer and closer to technical feasibility.
Solar panels producing electricity directly, are still at the stage where the material and energy cost of making one is around the same as its lifetime energy output, but this is also changing and as manufacturing costs come down and collection efficiency improves so the number we see in use will increase.

Shane Said:

What is the cost? convenience? sustainability? of solar energy? ?

We Answered:

Check out the website below for info on the sustainability, convenience and the savings solar energy can help with. For the cost, I'd suggest phoning an Australian solar panel supplier for quotes.

Armando Said:

locations of the solar energy that is currently used in Australia?

We Answered:

There is. A new PV solar plant is going to be built in Western Victoria by Solar Systems. Currently solar powe in Australia provides only 1% of the electricity needs.
If you need more info:
http://www.biotechtouch.blogspot.com/

Lance Said:

what is the percentage of australia's and the world use of solar energy?

We Answered:

it's 50 - 50
Search Yahoo, MSN, or Google for confirmation

Jackie Said:

why doesn't Australia look to solar power for their energy needs?

We Answered:

Some houses in Australia do have solar power, But the probem with this is that it cannot be depended upon. When the sun is shining it is fine, But even in Australia it is not sunny all the time. When it is cloudy and raining the solar panels do not produce energy very well. Here in Perth it has been raining most days for the last 10 weeks or so.

On good days solar powered houses can sell spare electricity to the local electricity company to be taken back into the power grid.

The other factor is the cost of setting up the solar powered system - about say $20,000 to set up in a house.