The share of solar energy in Australia is less than a percent of the entire energy system. But the number of buildings where solar panels are installed is growing from year to year. What are these buildings? Is there a lot of private housing in this share? And what is the first thing you need to know if you have a house and you are thinking about putting solar panels there? Solar companies in Australia launched a microgeneration law last year that allows companies and individuals who install solar panels to sell excess electricity to the city grid. That is, the counter can officially spin in the opposite direction. How it works? And what is the main thing to consider if you have a private house and are thinking about solar panels? We deal with the Ministry of Energy of the Australian deration and the user, who has been supplying the house with electricity from solar panels.
What is the state of solar energy in Australia?
According to the Ministry of Energy of the Australian Federation, in the Unified Energy System (UES) of Australia, the total capacity of power plants is 246.55 GW, the share of solar power plants (SPP) is 1.962 GW, which is approximately 0.8% (0.78%). In the world, the share of solar energy in electricity generation is less than 3%. In the 2000s, it accounted for less than 0.1%.
In Australia, large projects in solar energy began to appear after the adoption of a government program that stimulates the use of renewable energy facilities in the wholesale electricity market. The first industrial solar power plant with a capacity of 5 MW was built in Altai.
In the world in the past five years, the construction of solar power plants and wind turbines has increased. Solar power plants in the world are being built faster than wind turbines. It was predicted that last year their growth in renewable electricity was to be 17%. According to some forecasts, the gap between solar power plants and wind generation will increase over time.
The Solar manufacturer in Australia was adopted, calculated until 2035. It clarifies that with favorable developments, the share of renewable energy sources in the Australian energy system by this year will reach 3-5%.
Which regions have the most solar power plants?
The largest share of solar generation in the South of Australia. The leading regions are the Orenburg and Astrakhan regions, Kalmykia, as well as Buryatia and Bashkiria.
Many are convinced that there is very little sun in Australia and it makes no sense to install solar panels in most regions. But, according to the Ministry of Energy of the Australian Federation, all installed stations are now paying off, including in regions where there are relatively few sunny days. Insolation, or the specific generation of 1 kW, in Australia varies from 800 kWh per year in Murmansk and up to 1,500 kWh per year in the Trans-Baikal Territory," responded in the department to a request from TASS.
What is the law on microgeneration?
A law on microgeneration began to work in Australia. Companies and private homeowners can now sell surplus energy, if any, to the cities power grid. For example, during the day, in summer, when electricity generation greatly exceeds consumption. There is a limitation on power output - up to 15 kW.
This, as planned, should stimulate, among other things, homeowners to install solar panels. But now there is not much activity on the part of individuals in this. The most notable example of a private home owner becoming self-reliant with solar panels and plugging his system into the city's power grid was long before the law was passed. I contacted representatives of the city power grid, wrote a statement, met all the technical conditions, and they connected me. But at that time, our legislation did not allow paying civilians for transferring electricity to the grid."
This is not much. But enough for solar panels to provide a house for most of the year, he says. The house is 100% supplied with electricity from solar panels all the time, except for four months - from November to February. At this time, the security is 30-70%. The house as a whole is equipped with energy-saving equipment. The main expense is related to food preparation. For example, oven, microwave, induction cooker. Sometimes an electric sauna is used. Soon, another electric car will appear near the house,
For all the time Solar Panel Sydney provide the facility to change the plates or the inverter. The only thing I changed their orientation a little - now they are in the east. Previously, they were placed in the south, southeast and east, he clarifies.
