Renewable Energy Handbook 2010 - Department of Finance - The ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

48 OFFICE OF ENERGYRENEWABLE ENERGY HANDBOOK 2010RENEWABLE ENERGY BACKGROUNDA 1.2 Solar EnergyA 1.2.1 INTRODUCTIONThe average amount of solar energy falling on Australiaequals about 15,000 times the nation’s energy use.Use of solar thermal energy has been documentedsince 1860. In 2008, Australia generated just over100 MW of photovoltaic (PV) power, equivalent to0.07 per cent of the world’s total PV output.Technologies for producing electricity from the suncome in two forms – solar thermal and photovoltaic.Both solar thermal and photovoltaic systems aregenerating commercial-scale electricity around theworld today.Recent trends show that the capital costs ofphotovoltaic systems have decreased steadily,effi ciencies have improved and the market forthe technology is growing markedly. Despite this,the cost of electricity derived from solar energysources remains largely uncompetitive with othertypes of renewable and conventional energy ingrid-based applications, without fi nancial supportfrom funding schemes.The development of photovoltaic technology hasimproved over the past decade, driven by demandfor rooftop grid-connected systems and remote areapower requirements. Effi ciency and unit cost haveimproved as a result. Most of this improvement inperformance and cost is a result of developments inthe device architecture and manufacturing techniquefor silicon-based devices.Commercially available silicon solar cells currentlyhave maximum effi ciencies of about 18 per centand a life of between 20 and 30 years. They typicallyhave low maintenance requirements and norefuelling needs, although when used with invertersor batteries, the maintenance costs can increase.A 1.2.2 TECHNICAL INFORMATIONSolar photovoltaic panels are comprised of asemi-conductor material that converts solar energydirectly into electricity by producing an electriccurrent when exposed to sunlight.Solar thermal electricity is generated byconcentrating incoming sunlight using lenses andrefl ectors, then trapping its heat – as used for solarwater heaters. If used for electricity production,the heat collected in the receivers is sent to acentral location where the energy is stored as heat.An engine then converts this heat to electricity.A 1.2.3 Current ApplicationsSolar-powered systems are used extensively inAustralia for a variety of purposes. Some examplesof typical current economical uses of solar powersystems in Australia are listed below:Atmospheric Monitoring StationsBattery Charging and MaintainingCathodic Protection of Pipelines andUnderground FoundationsDisaster Power Systems and Civil DefenceDisaster Lighting SystemsElectric Fence ChargingElectric Gate Openers on Remote FencesMicrowave RepeatersPavilion Lighting Railroad Switching and Signal LightsRefrigeration for Homes or VillagesRemote Schoolhouse LightingRemote Health Clinics in Hot and Dry EnvironmentsSecurity and Car Park LightingSign and Billboard LightingTelecommunications SystemsWater PumpingWeather StationsPond Aeration Systems
A 1.2.4 SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONSIn undertaking a solar assessment, it is importantto consider the intermittent and diffuse nature ofsolar energy, and that different solar technologiesdepend on different sunlight qualities. For example,photovoltaic technology can generate electricity fromboth direct and diffuse sunlight, whereas solar waterheating depends on direct sunlight to a much largerdegree. A thorough assessment of the solar resourcein Western Australia requires information on a widevariety of solar characteristics. The average annualdaily hours of sunshine in Australia are presentedin Figure 11. More detailed data is available fromthe Bureau of Meteorology.OFFICE OF ENERGYRENEWABLE ENERGY HANDBOOK 201049RENEWABLE ENERGY BACKGROUNDRENEWABLE ENERGY ATLAS OF AUSTRALIA:Daily Solar Exposure - Annual AverageDarwinMegaJoules/m²121314151617181920212224Figure 11.Daily Sun Exposure –Annual Average 2008.SOURCE:RENEWABLE ENERGYATLAS, DEPARTMENTENVIRONMENT, WATER,HERITAGE AND THE ARTS.BrisbanePerth0 250 500 1,000KilometresAdelaideMelbourneSydneyCanberraData Sources:Capital Cities© Commonwealth of Australia (Departmentof the Environment, Water, Heritage andthe Arts) 2008State Borders© Commonwealth of Australia (GeoscienceAustralia) 2008Solar Exposure© Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) andCommonwealth of Australia, Bureau ofMeteorology 2008Caveat:All data are presumed to be correct asreceived from data providers. Noresponsiblility is taken by theCommonwealth for errors or omissions.The Commonwealth does not acceptresponsibility in respect to anyinformation or advice given in relationto, or as a consequence of anythingcontained herein.www.environment.gov.au/renewable/atlasHobartMap produced by:Environmental Resources InformationNewtork (ERIN), Department of theEnvironment, Water, Heritage and theArts, October 2008.Albers Equal-Area Projection (GDA94)
Page 1 and 2: enewableenergyhandbookWESTERN AUSTR
Page 3 and 4: ForewordOFFICE OF ENERGYRENEWABLE E
Page 5 and 6: OFFICE OF ENERGYRENEWABLE ENERGY HA
Page 9 and 10: 1.1 Purpose of the Handbook1.1.1 IN
Page 11 and 12: OFFICE OFENERGYRENEWABLE ENERGYHAND
Page 13 and 14: 1.2.2 BENEFITS TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Page 15 and 16: enewableenergy02
Page 17 and 18: 2.2 The WholesaleElectricity Market
Page 19 and 20: 2.3 Western Australia’sElectricit
Page 21 and 22: System ManagementSystem Management
Page 25 and 26: 2.5.3 STATE REGULATORY ANDGOVERNING
Page 27 and 28: enewableenergy03
Page 29 and 30: A number of different assessments w
Page 31 and 32: State and Australian Government dep
Page 33 and 34: Entry on the National Heritage list
Page 35 and 36: 3.4 EnvironmentalAssessment and App
Page 37 and 38: 3.5 Electricity NetworkConnections
Page 39 and 40: 3.5.7 DISPUTES OVER NETWORK ACCESSI
Page 41 and 42: 3.6 Other Approvals -Wave Energy Ap
Page 43 and 44: 3.8 Operational Approvals -Electric
Page 45 and 46: enewableOFFICE OF ENERGYRENEWABLE E
Page 47: A 1.1.4 SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONSWind
Page 51 and 52: ·=A 1.4 Hydro EnergyA 1.4.1 INTROD
Page 53 and 54: A 1.7.3 TECHNOLOGIESHot rock proces
Page 55 and 56: A 2.1 Resources Availablein Western
Page 57 and 58: Wood represents 3.1 per cent of Aus
Page 59 and 60: The WA Geothermal Centre of Excelle
Page 61 and 62: A 3.1 Useful ContactsOFFICE OF ENER
Page 63 and 64: ····BCSE (2005), Waste to Energ
Page 65 and 66: A 3.3.2 COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATIONAbo
Page 67 and 68: A 3.5 Geographic InformationSystem
Page 71 and 72: TERMGasifi cationGasoholGreen Power
Page 73: Office of EnergyLevel 9Governor Sti

Renewable Energy Handbook 2010 - Department of Finance - The ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?