LOWER government subsidies may be causing people to hesitate about

investing in solar power, but energy groups say with summer electricity bills likely to cause some nasty shocks, solar is still a smart purchase.

Australian Solar Energy Society chief executive John Grimes says a huge fall in solar panel prices and rising electricity prices mean there has “never been a better time to buy” solar panels.

Full story at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/money/solar-switch-is-still-worth-flicking/story-e6frezc0-1226250949150

EcoGenerations reports on the 2011 Solar Conference;

Solar energy experts joined policymakers, scientists and energy industry professionals in Sydney during December 2011 for the annual Australian Solar Energy Society Conference – Solar2011.

Full article on:

http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/solar2011_conference/065551/

The Chief Executive of AuSES, John Grimes, said in a statement: “Greg Combet has been a very successful Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, driving carbon pricing and the Clean Energy Future package.  The reforms initiated by Minister Combet will supercharge solar in Australia.

The combination of the Climate Change and Industry portfolios sends the powerful message that clean energy is absolutely central to Australia’s economic future.

China, the US, India, Japan, the European Union, South Korea and many other countries are making major investments in clean energy and Australia will be left behind unless it moves quickly to a low carbon economy.”

Australia is seeing the start of the solar sunrise:

• More than 1.2 gigawatts (1,200 megawatts) of solar panels have been installed on houses and commercial buildings around Australia;
• Construction is underway on the 44 megawatt Kogan Creek solar boost project in Queensland;
• Construction has begun on the 10 megawatt First Solar PV plant near Geraldton, Western Australia;
• Planning is well underway for the 150 megawatt Moree Solar Farm in NSW (partly funded through the Solar Flagships Program); and
• Planning is well underway for the 250 megawatt Solar Dawn solar thermal project near Chinchilla, Queensland (partly funded through the Solar Flagships Program).

The Clean Energy Future package could help deliver 5 gigawatts of large-scale solar photovoltaics and 2 gigawatts of large-scale solar thermal by 2020, on top of many gigawatts of residential and commercial solar.“The International Energy Agency recently concluded solar could provide half of the world’s electricity needs by 2050.  As the world’s sunniest continent, and the home of world-leading solar scientists, Australia has much to gain from a solar future,” said Grimes.

The Australian Solar Energy Society looks forward to continuing to work with Minister Combet and Parliamentary Secretary Dreyfus in their expanded portfolios.

View Hon Greg Combet MP address to AuSES conference in the newsroom

The winners of the Solar Industry Awards 2011 were Nigel Morris of SolarBusinessServices and Warwick Johnston of SunWiz.

AuSES Clean Energy Finance Corporation Submission – view document