14 facts about solar energy to celebrate the 14 hours of sunlight this Solstice
Solar is the most abundant energy resource on the planet. In only an hour, the amount of power from the sun that strikes the Earth is more than the world consumes throughout a year.
The future of Australia looks bright and sunny! Australia’s solar radiation is the highest in the world. One of the sunniest continents in the world, there is a massive potential for solar energy and it will make a significant contribution to electricity generation in the coming decades. The continent is becoming the country with the most solar power generation per person in the world. The domestic market is dominated by rooftop PV. It is electricity for the people by the people. Here are some other Solar Energy Facts of Australia to help you enjoy the sunny side of life!
Fact 1: Australia has the highest uptake of solar globally, with around 30% of homes with rooftop solar PV. As of 9 November, 2021, more than 3 million rooftop solar PV systems have been installed across Australia. * Note these 13 gigawatts (GW) are now on the nation’s rooftops. That’s nearly 1 kilowatt (kW) of panels for every one person.
Fact 2: In 200-2021, Solar photovoltaic (PV) generated almost 10 per cent of Australia’s electricity. This makes it the fastest growing generation type in Australia.
Fact 3: All new homes in Australia have a requirement to meet minimum energy efficiency standards. If you build a new home, you need to get an energy efficiency rating certificate as part of the building approval process.
Fact 4: In Australia, the new decentralized grid vision and increasing energy storage system (ESS) implementation will broaden the future of the renewable energy sector and contribute to the stability and well-being of Australian citizens.
Fact 5: By choosing solar energy to power their homes, businesses and community spaces, Australians are helping build our clean energy future and are taking control of their power bills.
Fact 6: The amount of solar energy that falls on Australia is 15,000 times more than the country uses!
Fact 7: Installing solar panels is an excellent way to help the environment and save money. Did you know that a 1.5-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system can avoid about 2.2 tonnes of CO2 greenhouse emissions from being emitted each year?
Fact 8: Australia has the highest solar radiation per square metre of any continent, providing some of the best conditions in the world for producing solar energy.
Fact 9: In Queensland and South Australia, 40 per cent of the homes are powered by solar.
Fact 10: The deeming period for solar PV systems decreases by one year for all systems installed after 1 January 2022. For systems installed in 2022 the deeming period is a maximum of 9 years, one year less than the 10 years for systems installed in 2021. This change will reduce the number of small-scale technology certificates (STCs) that solar PV systems may be eligible for.
Fact 11: In every Australian state, no matter your electricity consumption, solar panels are worth buying in 2021. If you buy well, a good solar power system should deliver you savings for 25 years.
Fact 12: As of September 2021, Australia’s over 2.96 million solar PV installations had a combined capacity of 23,466 MW photovoltaic (PV) solar power, of which at least 4,117 MW were installed in the preceding 12 months.
Fact 13: Solar generates electricity when it is needed most – during the day and during hot sunny periods when the demand for power (air conditioners) is at an all-time high.
Fact 14: Large scale solar farms are also on the rise in Australia, with almost 7 GW of generation connected to Australia’s electricity grid.
Sources
* https://www.energy.gov.au/households/solar-pv-and-batteries
*https://arena.gov.au/renewable-energy/solar/
* https://cleantechnica.com/
*Source: Clean Energy Australia Report 2021, Clean Energy Council
*Source CSIRO May 2021
