Comments on: The failure of solar photovoltaic policy http://www.vaesir.com/energy/the-failure-of-solar-photovoltaic-policy/ Energy · Environment · Engineering · Economics · Policy Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:42:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Claudio Trefny http://www.vaesir.com/energy/the-failure-of-solar-photovoltaic-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-339 Claudio Trefny Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:42:31 +0000 http://www.vaesir.com/?p=22#comment-339 There seems to be a disconnect between the generation and residential consumption of electricity in Australian capital cities. For the residential consumer, the concept of electric power is cut short at the three pin wall socket. Most consumers never see a power station or coal mine and hence are in a difficult position to make any intellectual inroads into electric power production. I believe that the purpose of the governments PV scheme was primarily to increase awareness of renewable energy in the community, which may one day be reflected in the eventual support for cleaner energy sources. The goal was not to generate power. PV panels are currently expensive, energy intensive to manufacture and relatively inefficient, but they are modular, quiet an can be installed onto the roof of suburbia. I am concerned that some home owners are choosing to install solar PV before first installing a solar hot water systems. Solar hot water, in contrast to PV has the potential to make enormous electricity/gas savings in a cost and resource effective way. There seems to be a disconnect between the generation and residential consumption of electricity in Australian capital cities. For the residential consumer, the concept of electric power is cut short at the three pin wall socket. Most consumers never see a power station or coal mine and hence are in a difficult position to make any intellectual inroads into electric power production.

I believe that the purpose of the governments PV scheme was primarily to increase awareness of renewable energy in the community, which may one day be reflected in the eventual support for cleaner energy sources. The goal was not to generate power. PV panels are currently expensive, energy intensive to manufacture and relatively inefficient, but they are modular, quiet an can be installed onto the roof of suburbia.

I am concerned that some home owners are choosing to install solar PV before first installing a solar hot water systems. Solar hot water, in contrast to PV has the potential to make enormous electricity/gas savings in a cost and resource effective way.

]]> By: vaesir » Blog Archive » Government subsidies - some alternatives http://www.vaesir.com/energy/the-failure-of-solar-photovoltaic-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-7 vaesir » Blog Archive » Government subsidies - some alternatives Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:07:09 +0000 http://www.vaesir.com/?p=22#comment-7 [...] more general aims, and can make changes in the future difficult. In my previous discussion of the flaws in policy for distributed solar photovoltaic power, I touched on some of the problems with government subsidisation. It may be useful to explore the [...] [...] more general aims, and can make changes in the future difficult. In my previous discussion of the flaws in policy for distributed solar photovoltaic power, I touched on some of the problems with government subsidisation. It may be useful to explore the [...]

]]> By: Ted http://www.vaesir.com/energy/the-failure-of-solar-photovoltaic-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Ted Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:08:11 +0000 http://www.vaesir.com/?p=22#comment-6 I'd be interested to hear about why residences feeding energy to the grid is bad policy. Is it because the rate is disproportionate to the that charged by large power stations? Something to do with economies of scale? I’d be interested to hear about why residences feeding energy to the grid is bad policy. Is it because the rate is disproportionate to the that charged by large power stations? Something to do with economies of scale?

]]> By: Richard Keetley http://www.vaesir.com/energy/the-failure-of-solar-photovoltaic-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Richard Keetley Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:18:11 +0000 http://www.vaesir.com/?p=22#comment-5 Wonderful critique of PV policy, however I would add a couple of points. When considering PV in a rational sense, it does not stack up against other forms of RE, e.g. wind. So the question is why is it so popular? PV has the ability to change energy use behaviour because it is visible, if it is sitting on top of a house. It is an instigator of conversation and makes people aware of the way their behaviour impacts energy use. Wind may do this, but it is not practical to install wind farms on houses. The passive nature of PV also appeals to people. The idea that sunlight can hit a panel and the energy is transformed into electricity with no moving parts resonates with people. PV also allows people to be responsible for their own energy production. Governments recognise these points and they are added to the list of reasons why PV is and should be subsidised. Wonderful critique of PV policy, however I would add a couple of points.

When considering PV in a rational sense, it does not stack up against other forms of RE, e.g. wind. So the question is why is it so popular?

PV has the ability to change energy use behaviour because it is visible, if it is sitting on top of a house. It is an instigator of conversation and makes people aware of the way their behaviour impacts energy use. Wind may do this, but it is not practical to install wind farms on houses.

The passive nature of PV also appeals to people. The idea that sunlight can hit a panel and the energy is transformed into electricity with no moving parts resonates with people.

PV also allows people to be responsible for their own energy production.

Governments recognise these points and they are added to the list of reasons why PV is and should be subsidised.

]]>