Enhancing Renewable Energy Supply in Australia via Solar Power

In an effort to develop solar technologies in Australia, the government has allocated funding for the Australian Institute of Solar System in Newcastle, focusing on cost-effectiveness and area efficiency. Additionally, a new program, Solar Flagships, has been launched with a budget of 1.5 billion dollars, aiming to install four power plants with a combined output capacity of 1000 megawatts, including solar thermal and PV systems.

Solar Energy Potential and Barriers in
Australia
Author Name:

Abstract
In Australia, the energy demands are drastically increasing. At present it uses coal for
generating energy, which is a non-renewable source of energy. The concern of Australia
includes, world facing depletion of fossil fuels, in the near future. When compared to other
countries, Australia receives highest solar radiation per sq.mt. Thus, to meet the demands,
solar energy is found to be the best alternative in the form of a renewable energy source. This,
research revolves around the challenges and constraints to implement the solar energy
systems in Australia. The research is expected to provide appropriate solutions for the faced
issues. This scientific report's objective is to meet the energy demands in Australia by
overcoming the barriers. Finally, the results and the research will be discussed to represent
the outcome.
Keywords- Fossil Fuel, Solar Energy, Australia, Barriers, Potential, renewable

Table of Contents
Abstract................................................................................................................................................................2
1. Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 1
2. Methodology................................................................................................................................................2
3. Results..........................................................................................................................................................4
4. Discussion....................................................................................................................................................7
5. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................8

1. Introduction
Australia utilizes fossil fuel as the primary source to produce electricity. The more
number of coal-fired power stations are the main reason that impacts on the global warming.
According to the reports of 2004, Australia used 24 fossil fuel power stations for generating
more than 90 percent of electricity, which denotes carbon pollution of approximately 200
million tons. The key fossil fuel includes coal, gas and oil (Byrnes et al., 2013). It is required
to plan that transforms fossil fuel (Chattopadhyay et al., 2014). Because, it generates more
emission (O'Gorman and Jotzo, 2014) Thus, it increases climatic changes (Guglyuvatyy and
Stoianoff, 2015). However, Australia requires more electricity (An Australian Energy Story,
2014). To provide energy supply for Australia, the renewable energy like solar energy creates
more possibilities and is must. It is the place that receives highest solar radiation that
increases the potential for covering more percent of energy demands. Moreover, solar energy
is cost-effective, which can be easily relied on, in Australia. The renewable sources like
geothermal and hydropower are avoided in certain regions, which actually increases the
electricity distribution cost.
Electricity is generated from the huge centralized, fossil fuel powered generators and
it transmits high voltage electricity with the help of transmission networks, which is
transmitted to the distribution networks. Finally, from this network it reaches the consumers
(Byrnes et al., 2013). The types of barriers include, cost for Grid connection; Policy and
regulatory uncertainty; Sociable acceptance and network effect; and Small scale regional
projects (Yaqoot, Diwan and Kandpal, 2016). The limitations in solar development includes
(Byrnes et al., 2013):
1. The important barrier to develop the renewable energy in industry is Grid connection
cost. It mainly enhances the project expenditure.
2. Policy and regulatory uncertainty is the considerable barrier in Australia to develop
the renewable energy.
3. The Queensland current analysis identified the barriers to develop the renewable
energy, in the administrative delays and hurdles in the approval of the projects,
inadequate economic incentives, huge capital cost, and in infrastructure shortage
(Gulagi et al., 2017).
4. The fundamental challenge to face the renewable energy technology is network effect.
5. Small scale regional projects are the extra barriers to improve the renewable energy.
Because of the lower population and the relevant distance from the centers of the
major demand and supply.
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2. Methodology
The practical considerations are as follows:
Data Sources and Collection
During 2011, from the Queensland government web pages, the data was gather to
check the increasing demand of RE in Queensland, by the
Environment and Resources Committee. The related challenges were identified. Then the
related solution was suggested as policies that support in the developing the RE barriers.
Figure: Tracking of Surging emission in Australia (Slezak, 2017).
The above graph represents the increase in greenhouse gas emissions (Slezak, 2017).
Australian industry uses wide ranging solar energy for some applications like oil
industry and much more (Rahman AM, AS and MHM, 2017). In Australian industries, like
Victoria, the potential utilization of current examination proposed that, due to electricity, the
users of large scale industry and natural gas low cost, the input of solar thermal is feasible for
small scale to medium scale commercial plant. The new government initiative in the Australia
called green loans helped the Australian to tackle the climatic change. The programs of the
green loans helped Australian to install water saving, efficient solar energy products. The
program of green start is an initiative of one hundred and thirty dollar to help to develop the
energy. Thus, the solar power needs the implementation of new technology.
The yearly solar radiation rate which is falling in Australia is about 58 million PJ that is
nearly ten thousand times the consumption of energy in Australia. The resources of solar
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energy is higher in the centre and north-west of Australia where the grid of national
electricity is not accessed. The resources of solar energy approaching in the mentioned area
needs the investments in infrastructure transmission. The important resources of solar energy
in the area are associated with the access to the gird is also present in Australia. The
resources of solar energy in flat topography in twenty five kilo meters of the existence lines
of the transmission is around five hundred times larger than the yearly consumption of energy
in Australia. Over the last ten years, particularly over last two years, the net capacity of PV is
enhanced in Australia. It has been operated by Programme for remote renewable energy
generation, for the applications of off-grid, as well as Home and Communities for solar
applications of on-grid. It is caused by the combining factors namely, House and Community
programme for solar, higher awareness in public for the solar PV, lower in worldwide
requirements which effects the crisis of global finance, retailers of PV are greater efficient
marketing, and due to drop in the cost of PV system.
Solar PV
The solar power includes the transformation of the solar energy into electricity, it
reflects the cost reduction and photovoltaic cells higher efficient conversion (Bahadori and
Nwaoha, 2013). By using the solar photovoltaic system, the solar power is generating
electricity. It is the widely recognized method. The PV panel which is on the roof of the
business enterprises and homes, absorb the energy of the sun for generating electricity. By
transferring the photon energy of sunlight into the electrical energy, the energy of light is
directly converted into electricity. The transformation takes place in the cells, particularly by
the fabricated crystal of semiconductor. Nowadays, the PV solar power is installed in
approximately twenty five thousand homes, across Australia. The system of photovoltaic is
appropriate to the applications of the off-grid generation of electricity. The cost of the
generation of power is greater from the other sources. Today’s problems related to
photovoltaic in Australia includes, the numerous market potential in the industry which is not
self-sustaining. The major obstacle to the development of solar potential is the inadequate
national policy, which identifies the allowance of PV solar and enables it to create the
weather variation response in Australia. The barrier of solar PV is the inadequate storage.
Because, only during the day hours the electricity is supplied.
Concentrated Solar Power
The concentrated solar power is also termed as solar thermal that includes the
absorption of radiation which is converted into steam, to operate the engine or turbine for the
purpose of electricity generation (Bahadori and Nwaoha, 2013). It varies from the PV solar,
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where the storage of heat via oil or molten salts acts as a medium of liquid, to enable the
power generation apart from the sunlight hours. It is generally utilized for the system of hot
water. It is commonly designed for large scale generation of electricity. The technologies of
concentrated solar power can function in the hybrid system, associated with the power plants
of fossil fuel. It is also associated with the convenient storage control, where it has the
potential to produce the base load electricity generation.
3. Results
The determined results are provided below. In the rural areas, the potential of
concentrated solar power for generating electricity is identified in Wheatbelt, Western
Australia using a software called geographical information system (GIS). The results show
that various places can be identified as shown below.
Figure: CSP potential map of Australia (Peterseim et al., 2014).
It is also observed that Wheatbelt has high CSP and the policies can help in stimulating the
CSP, to increase the potential in the rural area development and help in increasing the
greenhouse gas emission (Foster, Wagner and Byrnes, n.d.) (Peterseim et al., 2014).
The below table represents the recognized barriers for the companies and the
stakeholders for the need of renewable energy in Queensland.
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During mid-1990 to 2007, the PV market in Australia moved from thirteen percent to 0.5
percent of the IEA market. Australia was the fourth largest manufacture country of PV cell.
PV along with wind provides help for Australia in reaching hundred percentage renewable
electricity, with least cost price (Blakers, Lu and Stocks, 2017).
The organization of stakeholder and firms recognized seven significant activity areas
which may enhance the renewable energy supply in Queensland. The below table illustrates
that actions and policies covers 88% of entire reactions (Martin and Rice, 2012).
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The Renewable energy finance actions and activities enhance the greatest level of
attentiveness, from the organizations of stakeholder and firms. Especially, the financial
inducement which is in the formation of large trade scale net Fit and appropriate tax
malfunction to aids large-the medium renewable energy finance investments is seen like the
enchanted mechanism to enhance the amount of renewable energy initiatives and supply
projects. For the renewable energy investments, the robust Fit formation has recognized as
significant asset initiatives. For the several renewable energy supply projects, the state
government provided funding of around two hundred million dollar. This commitment
requires to be enhanced, to encounter the required QREP results. The remote grid connections
and increments in the high voltage network were recognized by the organization of
stakeholders and firms as the significant effort for the renewable energy supply. The future
and present scheduling illustrates the power link, which is owned by Queensland government,
transmission network service producer for high voltage electric power. They allotted, around
two hundred and fifty million dollar for the action of replacement in 11 electricity network
over the year 2013 to 2017. The organizations of stakeholder and firms also observed that
long term renewable energy investment policy involves the carbon cost into the supply of
services and goods aids to develop higher renewable energy. The federal government of
Australia authorized constitution to create the carbon emission cost and conveyed investment
and transitional support for the electricity industry. This is to shut down the greater pollution
plants and encourage investment in the renewable energy generation. These alteration in the
policy and constitution of government, produce the framework that helps the supply
development of renewable energy. It also helps in further improvements.
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4. Discussion
The acquired results are compared. It is observed that in Australia, the 90 percent of
electricity demand is for servicing New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia
and Tasmania, without national electricity grid from the National Electricity Market (NEM).
The major towns and the capital cities are provided electricity service by Darwin Katherine
Interconnected System (DKIS) and Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM). But, there are
certain geographical area that doesn’t come under their control to provide service. The
solution for the main barriers to the renewable solar energy must be approached via policies,
which concern on the medium term, long term and short term priorities. Moreover, it is
practically satisfied for the advanced approaches like enhanced usage of transmitted
generation, in the electricity networks. Therefore, the government of Australia has
implemented steps for meeting the objectives with policies.
Thus, the solution can restructure the policies of Western Australian energy sector.
The present barriers can be resolved and WA SEA's submission to the State's Strategic
Energy initiative review addresses the present problem.
Nowadays, the problems for the photovoltaic in Australia is that, the numerous market
potential in the industry which is not self-sustaining. The major obstacle to the development
of solar potential is the inadequate national policy which identifies the allowance PV solar is
able to create the weather variation response in Australia. The barrier of solar PV is the
inadequate storage. Because, during the day hours only, the electricity is supplied. In research
of solar, CSIRO is the world leader. Nowadays, the CSIRO is tackle the solar power to
decrease the obsession on fossil fuel in Australia. For reducing the effects of the emission of
greenhouse, the renewable energy is more significant. The CSIRO generates the solar power
more effectively and efficiently. The CSIRO is committed in developing solar photovoltaic
cells which is commercial solar technology. The solar photovoltaic cells are everlasting,
environmentally sustainable and cheaper. Nowadays, most of the commercial solar cells are
construct from solar grade silicon or large purity semiconductor that produce the cell
expensive. The CSIRO is examining new inorganic and organic materials which will generate
the solar cell for next generation that will be more flexible, most significant, cheaper, lighter
and attractive.
The CSIRO project about the present photovoltaic involves organic solar cells, dye-
sensitized solar cells, solar intermittency examine characterization and Victorian organic
solar cell consortium (Bahadori and Nwaoha, 2013).
The Australia formulated policies for the solar energy, in lowering the obsession on
the fossil fuel and to enhance the production of energy. This helps in domestic purpose via
renewable energy and solar energy. The government of Australia has allotted funding to
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organize the Australian institute, for solar system on the basis of Newcastle. The aim of the
institute is to develop the technologies of PV and the solar thermal in Australia involves cost
effectiveness and area efficiency. The government of Australia announced new funding about
1.5 billion dollar for the Programme of solar flagships. The objective of this Programme is to
install new four power plants, for solar associated with the combination of output power
about thousand megawatt. It consists of thermal power plants for solar and solar PV
(Bahadori and Nwaoha, 2013).
5. Conclusion
This study tried to cover the challenges and barriers faced for meeting the solar energy
potential in Australia. The research covers the s solar potential in Australia, then it describes
various barriers present to implement solar energy, followed by limitations and related
practical solutions for the issues. The increasing consciousness of the hazardous effects of the
emissions of greenhouse gas leads to interest in technologies of RE, to substitute the fossil
fuel to generate electricity. Due to dry weather conditions Australia has been considered to
utilize a huge capacity for succeeding establishments of solar power. Appropriate data is
collected to provide the appropriate results. The various barriers are listed along with its
limitations. The advantages and disadvantages of solar power is determined. The various
barriers are listed along with its limitations. The solution for overcoming the barriers are
studied.
The solar power electricity generation by using solar photo voltaic system is
discussed. It is observed that, it is one of the methods to generate electricity which is widely
used. The study of PV panel that absorbs the sun energy for electricity generation is studied.
The solar thermal methods for the electricity generation is detailed. The conversion of sun
radiation into steam and the production of electricity is described. . It enable the power
generation apart from the sunlight hours. The policies and actions in Australia to enhance the
renewable energy supply is discussed. It enchants the greatest level of attentiveness from the
organizations of stakeholder and firms. The solar voltaic cell which is the commercial solar
technology is mentioned. The CSIRO project about the current photovoltaic involves organic
solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, then the solar intermittency examines the
characterization and Victorian organic solar cell consortium. The Australian policies for the
solar energy in lowering the obsession on fossil fuel and enhancing the energy production for
domestic purpose via renewable energy and solar energy is studied. The present and future
solar photovoltaic cell features are discussed.
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