Why is Solar Power Becoming so Popular in Australia?

As any Australian knows, it gets hot in the land down under. And it seems to be getting hotter. December 2018 was the hottest December ever recorded with the mercury reaching an average mean maximum temperature of 40.19C.

Thanks to all this sunshine, Australia experiences more solar radiation per square meter than any other continent in the world. This radiation is what we capture and convert into solar power. But why the mainstream interest in what was previously a niche technology. Why is solar power becoming so popular in Australia?

What is Solar Power?

First things first, let’s try to understand the basics of solar power. Solar power technology works in two ways:

Solar Thermal

Solar thermal technology involves transforming solar energy into heat energy. Thermal energy can be channeled into turbines in the form of steam to generate electricity on a large scale. Heat energy is also used in hot water and space heating systems.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV)

Solar photovoltaic technology skips the thermal step and converts radiation from the sun directly into electricity. The solar panels you see installed on house rooftops use solar photovoltaic technology to generate energy.

Solar Thermal/Photovoltaic

To achieve the most efficient energy output, some systems use both thermal and photovoltaic technology. These systems are capable of using solar energy to generate both heat and electricity at one time.

Why is Solar Energy Becoming so Popular in Australia?

Australia is the perfect country to take advantage of the possibilities of solar power. In figures, Australia sees an average of 58 million petajoules (PJ) of solar radiation each year. That’s around 10,000 times more than the energy it consumes.   

There is an urgent global need to move away from the burning of fossil fuels and towards a cleaner, greener energy source like solar power. Australian government policies, such as the Renewable Energy Target and Clean Energy Initiative’s Solar Flagship Program, are putting pressure on large and small businesses to invest in solar PV technology. Homeowners are doing their bit too and investing in renewable energy for their home.

Solar PV technology has been in use across remote areas with limited access to the grid for many years. Now solar technology designed for residential rooftops is becoming popular, even in densely-populated urban areas. Recent figures show that more than two million Australian households have a rooftop solar power system. That’s around 20% of homes.

1) Improved Technology

Thanks to research organizations like ARENA, the solar cells used on residential rooftops today are both efficient and attractive. Rooftop systems also come with smart energy tools. By tracking the generation and consumption of solar panels' power, these tools give you complete control over your energy needs.

2) Financial Benefit

Investing in solar power now will save you money in the future. Energy rates are rising, a trend that is likely to continue. By making the switch to solar power you can save money on energy bills and make money selling your surplus power.

It works like this - when you’re connected to the grid, electricity companies have to credit you for any excess energy produced by your panels. This is known as a solar feed-in-tariff. The Australian government also offers renewable energy rebates and incentives to cover the initial costs involved in rooftop solar power installation.

3) Environmental Benefit

Last but by no means least, investing in solar power reduces yours and your country’s carbon footprint. Right now, Australia uses unsustainable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, for 60 percent of its energy needs. Generating and consuming energy using your own renewable energy source massively reduces your household's impact on the environment. Never a bad thing!