Queensland’s Renewable Energy Plan Success

The state of Queensland is working hard toward achieving its part of the national renewable energy target by 2020; the goal is to produce 20% of Australia’s energy from renewable energy sources like solar energy and wind energy. The challenge set was to produce 9,000 gig watts of electricity, and the large region of Queensland is responsible for at least 2500 megawatts of that.

 Accordingly the Queensland government has implemented the Queensland Renewable Energy Plan to rapidly increase the renewable energy capacity of the state through various programs and financial assistance. This includes the Solar Hot Water Rebate and the Feed in Tariff scheme which unlike the other states is currently uncapped.

During its first year administrators of the QLD’s renewable energy plan identified key locations to construct new renewable energy plants, based on their climate and geographical conditions. This was aided by a solar “atlas” which identifies strategic locations for solar power plants, and the Queensland wind map for wind energy. There have also been released pre-feasibility studies to obtain data on what other viable renewable energy sources could be pursued in the state.

The program has been extremely effective over only a few years; in 2008 Queensland’s renewable energy capacity had reached 743 megawatts which was surprisingly higher than expected, and the government is already confident that the target of 2500 mega watts will be achieved in time.

By early in 2010 the state had achieved a growth spurt of 29% and reached the renewable energy capacity of 960 megawatts. At the same time (April 2010), the Bligh government challenged their office to double the states solar power capacity in five years, which seemed a challenging target.

So you can imagine the shock when only 15 months later energy minister Stephen Robertson was able to announce that the Bligh’s government challenge has been fulfilled, more than 3 years earlier than expected! To date in August 2011 the current solar power capacity of Queensland has reached a very impressive 500 megawatts.

Previous data showed that the rapid growth of Queensland‘s economy and population had made it one of the top polluting regions of the country, so it’s reassuring to witness how the rapid growth of solar power in Queensland has opened so many new doors into sustainability and renewable energy.

It seems that the state’s dream of becoming a much less carbon extensive region and a leader in reducing carbon emissions while still propelling the economy and sustaining its huge population is well on the way to being a reality. 

Solar Panel Safety Precautions

Various news reports are saying that a solar panel system was responsible for at least two house fires in NSW. But detailed investigation has showed that the fire was caused by faulty wiring and not from factory defects of the panels themselves. The investigation clearly pinpoints that the fire was caused by human error during installation, and should not be blamed on the solar system itself.

Further investigation also shows that faults in Sydney were due to the DC circuit breakers not the system itself. An extensive Department of Fair Trading audit says the same thing, which was reinforced by along with professional solar power electricians.

In response to the rising public concern about safety, the federal government of Australia has launched a nationwide solar audit to evaluate both residential system and commercial systems. The audit will continue to be done on a regular basis to ensure safety in every green home. The auditors will assess every component of the system and check any potential hazards from the solar panels itself down to the length of the wiring and inverters.

The Clean Energy Council of Australia has put out a media where their Chief Executive Matthew Warren states that solar systems were safe and the risk to solar households was very low.

And an independent risk assessment by the industry’s expert advisory panel, the Standards, Training and Accreditation (STA) Committee, has confirmed that the risk from the incorrect installation of a DC circuit breaker is very low, which was backed up by an audit conducted by the Office of Fair Trading.


The DC circuit breaker is used as an isolating device to disconnect the PV panels from the inverter as well as to isolate the solar cable (connecting the panels to the inverter) from the PV panels. The DC circuit breaker will not, under any circumstances, operate with load because the solar supply is one way only, from the PV modules to the inverter.


Therefore the only scenario whereby an incorrectly installed DC circuit breaker could present any risk, is where a person manually turns the DC breaker off while the inverter is operating at full power. Even under such conditions the probability of an incident is deemed to be very low.


If the shutdown procedures are followed correctly and the AC power is turned off first, the inverter will turn off and remove any current from the solar PV panel. This will not present any risk with a DC circuit breaker, even it is wired incorrectly.


The advice from the STA Committee confirms that the greatest risk to householders would be in them manually shutting off their system, which there is no reason to ever do.

The Clean Energy Council of Australia also reminded the public to transact only with qualified manufacturers and installers of solar panels as indicated in their published list. The list is available to the public via their website and contains all of their approved solar manufacturers and Installers in Australia.

Aside from doing this there are some other additional safety precautions that you can do;

·         Before installation it is best to have your current electrical wiring checked first along with your circuit breaker.

·         When you installers arrive ask to see their identification and accreditation number before they begin.

·         Upon delivery of the panels and its components you can make visual inspection of the system to ensure that everything looks in good order.

·         Check the installation before the installers leave and make sure everything looks neat and tidy, especially the wiring.

·         The installers should also explain to you clearly the way everything works with your system and demonstrate the correct shutdown procedures should you ever need to do so.

Though it is the installer’s job to identify any potential problems, doing your part will triple the identification prowess. Always keep in mind that prevention is better than cure!

Solar Hot Water Very Affordable in Brisbane

The extensive support solar power in Brisbane has been given from Government rebates isn’t for solar panels alone; solar hot water systems have also been identified as an effective way of helping residents to reduce household electricity bills as well as their carbon emissions. And thanks to generousstate, federal and city council financial assistance, it is very affordable now to install a solar hot water system in Brisbane, and Queensland generally.

Statistics have showed that solar hot water can decrease household energy consumption by 30% and save up to 3.5 MW of electricity per annum. Solar hot water is considered to be the cheapest form of renewable energy system, affordable enough for nearly every homeowner, and one of the most cost effective ways of helping the environment.

Because of this the federal government of Australia is offering a generous solar hot water rebate of $1000 for pensioners and a $600 for everyone else who correctly installs solar hot water  as a replacement to gas fired water heating systems.

The state government of Queensland also offers the same amount of rebate for pensioners and non-pensioners further reducing the cost.

The city council of Brisbane has released basic guidelines to assist households in how to best go about making the switch;

Before installation

1.       Identify what system best suits your home and your needs.

2.       Check for the eligibility factors for the government rebates.

3.       Hire a professional plumber that knows the criteria for the rebates and schemes of the government and is certified to install solar hot water.

4.       Fill in the appropriate Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 application forms.

5.       Submit the accomplished forms to the city council either by mail or e-mail.

After the Installation

1.       Notify the city council and book an inspection. The inspection team will notify you if the system passes or failed and will give you guidelines for the improvements.

2.       Once approved, your system should be low maintenance and trouble free, but twice yearly checks are advised for water sanitation purposes and to ensure your system will last to its full lifespan.

Solar power continues to be embraced wholeheartedly by Queensland residents, as seen by the recent news that the state has already met its solar energy objectives a full 3 years ahead of schedule!

And with the Queensland government and Brisbane City Council both committed to pursuing ambitious renewable energy targets and projects,it seems likely that solar power and other alternative energy sources will continue to evolve and spread rapidly in the region, very appropriate for the Sunshine State!

Turn Your Business Green & Save Money with Solar PV

If you have a business and are interested in joining the fight against global warming and would like to increase your business profits at the same time, then investing on Solar PV is perfect for you. Many businesses in Australia, especially those inthe manufacturing sector where rising energy prices are biting hard, have already installed roof top solar panels and are enjoying many benefits.

There are some very compelling reasons why installing a Solar PV system can be a valuable asset to your business, and while the big savings off power bills are the obvious one,there is also another less obvious but still financially rewarding one; over 80% of Australians are concerned about the effects of global warming, and thanks to many environment protection campaigns there is strong consumer trust and supportfor “green” businesses.

Here is an overview of the Top 3 -

Cleaner Energy

Renewable energy sources like solar panels produces absolute carbon free electricity ready for use anytime. Depending on the system size, it can generate almost all the energy needed to run your business reducing your carbon footprint, and so negating any effective the impending carbon will have on your business.

Australian businesses accounts for a significant percentage of carbon emission in the country and by installing solar poweryou are helping to be part of the solution; for this reason the federal government is showing generous tax incentives and other support financial support to encourage businesses to make the switch to solar energy.

Big Savings

With energy bills continuing to rise and the impending carbon tax, investing in a solar panel system is offering a much more affordable optionto manage power costs for all types of businesses across the country.

Reports and statistics show that Australia will continue to see higher electricity bills every year indefinitely; solar panels will not only give you big energy savings over their 20+ years, but also allow you to fix your power costs at today’s prices which is a great advantage.

Consumer Approval

is inevitable that some form of carbon tax will be implemented, and that many businesses will then need to pass down the effects of that onto your consumers; this is likely to be bad business. Especially as some smart competitors have probably already set themselves up with a more economically sound solution that will enable them to bypass these higher costs and undercut you.

Edging out your competitors and still sticking to a fair market price and good profit margins is possible if you make the right solar energy investment. With your low prices and green credentials your products or services will be much more appealing to customers, so why wait?

Queensland Solar Increases 84% Since 2010

Energy and Water Minister Stephen Robertson told Parliament that the state is entering a huge milestone in its attempt to double the use of solar power in Queensland. Currently the state has increased more than 80% in just a span of 1 year.

The state’s additional solar bonuses and schemes were implemented last July 2010 to aid households who want to make the switch to solar power. The bonuses and schemes have been a huge success; the 84% increase means an extra 227,000 households with solar hot water systems, and about 125,000new solar panel installations. The tremendous growth in figures continues to rise daily as more Queenslanders take advantage of the bonuses and solar benefits.

A big incentive of the extra subsidy was directed towards retired and pensioned residents, who have received a $1000 rebate (for the upfront payment alone) and the rest receives $600. This is on top of the existing federal government rebates. In general a solar hot water system in the state will only cost $2000-$3000 after subsidies, depending on the size and the brand of the system.

Minister Robinson said that hot water accounts for about 30% of the total electricity bill of a typical in Queensland and that soalr hot water can slash that figure down to 5%. With only a small outlay which is affordable for many households it’s not surprising how many have taken up the offer; as of this month more than $12 million was spent by the government to subsidise solar hot water alone.

Another big reason why solar hot water has been such a big success in the state in the last 12 months was timing; as natural disaster hit many areas over summer a lot of water heating systems were damaged.  Instead of replacing them with expensive auxiliary powered systems many people turned to solar as a much better alternative.

“This is practical help to assist the many families throughout Queensland who lost everything during the devastating floods and Cyclone Yasi,” he said.

The minister also said that he is very happy that Queenslanders are embracing solar power as a better way to heat water and produce electricity. He added that the state will see more system installation in the coming months as another $32.9 million solar package was recently tabled.

Queensland’s $1.2 Billion Solar Project

In a further exciting development for renewable energy projects in Queensland, it has been announced that $1.2 billion investment into solar energy and other renewable energy sources will take place in the outback by the year 2013. The “Solar Dawn” project will utilise Australian technology to further transform Chinchilla and other remote parts of Queensland into the Australian capital of renewable energy.

The proposed project is part of the Australian Government’s Solar Flagships Program, which aims to provide the foundation for large-scale, grid-connected solar power. The aim is to accelerate the commercialisation of solar power in Australia and encourage the major investments and job opportunities this will create.  It is part of the Australian Government’s $5 billion Clean Energy budget.

Construction will take place just 300 Km west of Brisbane and the project will commence at the beginning of 2013, just a year after the carbon tax is implemented. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that Queensland’s extremely favourable solar radiation profile will help power the state profitably and reduce its high carbon emissions at the same time. She added that the project is a proof that the carbon tax will make it possible to propel the economy while at the same time keeping the environment protected.

The project is expected to open doors to about 300 jobs directly and another 1000 jobs indirectly.  The 250 megawatt solar thermal gas hybrid project is expected to power nearly 70,000 homes and reduce about 500,000 tons of carbon every year.

PM Gillard said that projects like this will make solar power in Brisbane, in Chinchilla and in all of Queensland cheaper and more viable and soon enough throughout the nation.

The Solar Dawn project is also expected to boost more solar power and renewable energy investment throughout the region and will serve as proof that the carbon tax will help industrial scale investments become more feasible and appealing to major investors both from Australia and overseas. 

Fossil Fuels are the Past Solar Power is the Future

We have depended to fossil fuels for quite some time now, and indeed without them we would still be living in the dark and commercialisation and industrialisation would not have taken place. We could even say that fossil fuels are the true foundation of the world’s economy.

However, the same energy source that built our cities is also the reason why our problem with global warming and climate change is worsening rapidly.

The extensive burning of fossil fuels over the years has released enough greenhouse gases to finally manifest its harmful effects in our planet to levels where scientists no long debate that global warming is a reality. At the rate that we are burning fossil fuels and the amount of carbon dioxide that is releasing into the air we will increase Earth’s temperature by 3 to 6 degrees within the century, which will have devastating effects on our climate and way of life. Some major concerns include a rise in sea levels by over 1 meter due to the continued melting of ice caps around the world, which will be enough to decimate many habited regions.

The figures of a 3-6 degree temperature rise may not sound too alarming, but the fact is that even slight differences in Earth’s perfectly balanced climate and ecosystem would spell disaster for many of its inhabitants.

Governments around the world are recognizing that now is the time when we must put fossil fuel dependence behind us, which requires the dawn of a new era of energy production.  Fortunately technology has now progressed to the point to allow us to harness solar power effectively enough to replace dirty fossil fuels with a clean and renewable energy source.

Though there other renewable energy sources presently under use and further development, like wind, wave power and geothermal energy, not much is currently comparable to the potential and versatility that solar power offers.

Solar panel technology in widespread use today is predominately photovoltaic; the discovery of solar panels which are able to break down light energy from sunlight once they are placed into the building blocks of solar arrays and solar panels.

 Although in use for some time, it is recent developments which have improved the efficiency of solar energy output that has allowed breakthroughs which have seen usage increase exponentially in many countries like Australia. Now that governments are finally taking steps to put a price on carbon in an attempt to offset the country’s emissions, it will greatly encourage investment in more large scale renewable energy production like large scale solar farms.

The Australian government also has in place comprehensive solar schemes and rebates to assist households in making the switch to solar power as it will aid in the essential decentralisation of energy production and free people from rapidly rising electricity costs, as well has help to reduce the country’s carbon emissions.

Solar power is unquestionably the future;  the technology keeps getting better and more affordable, and breakthroughs in both the technology itself down into the manufacturing process arebeing continually discovered and developed from all parts of the globe.