Like many in our industry, I waste a staggering amount of time just trying to keep up with and correct an increasing amount of incorrect data emanating from apparently esteemed sources.
Todays blunder comes from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, described as “A company limited by guarantee under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act), wholly owned by the Commonwealth”.
The story, published on fxstreet.com was titled “Australia Going Solar – Gonna Cost Ya, Mate” and was put up by Oilprice.com who obviously thought it was wonderful story worth publicising. Interesting to note that there is no author listed and nowhere to post comments.
Although not reknowned for energy policy commentary, on the 1st December 2011 the Australian Strategic Policy Institute released a paper titled “Keeping the Home Fires Burning”, looking at the issues of energy security.
In it, this Australian Commonwealth body, quite astoundingly claims that:
- solar panels produce “40 W/m2—a population-weighted average of the average power” and that
- “the average Australian would need 200m2 of solar panels” and
- “would cost a little under $100,000 per person at current retail prices”
I couldn’t actually believe that I was reading facts that were incredibly so far from the truth, especially from an organisation who deals with such important issues as the nations security.
I purport that for such an organisation, it is completely and utterly inexcusable and indeed, contradicts a myriad of the Government’s own data, facts and figures and most certainly industry data. Everywhere. For years.
As I said in my emailed response to them, I acknowledge that PV is not a silver bullet; we need diversity in our energy mix and need a portfolio approach. I also reluctantly accept that we will probably (but not necessarily) rely on coal for many years to come.
But PV has a massive role to play and we need our policy makers and senior advisors to get their facts right if they are going to decide on our energy future.
Australia has around 1.2GW of PV which produces around 1.6TWh of energy each year with no reliance on fuel. What could be more secure than that.
The only good thing about all of this is this is that it seems the oil industry at a minimum, is obviously feeling increasingly threatened by PV - or they wouldn’t even bother. And that means we are material.
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