FACTS

• The global solar industry is growing at 30% per year as the world is driven by the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, meet future energy needs and achieve energy supply security.
• The Australian solar industry is growing around 15% per year - significantly below the rest of the world’s leaders in solar development despite our favorable sunny conditions and high usage of fossil fuels for energy generation.
• At current rates of oil consumption reserves will be depleted in less than 40 years and natural gas will last 65 years. Reserves of coal will last about 190 years.
• 80% of our electricity needs are currently met by coal-fired generation – the worst greenhouse gas emitter.
• Australia is currently the highest greenhouse emitter per capita in the world ahead of the USA. This is primarily driven by enormous amounts of coal-fired generated energy used by industry.
• It is predicted that more than half of the worlds energy supply will come from renewable resources within the next 35 years.
• The amount of solar energy that hits Australia in one day is about half the world’s total annual energy usage.
• Australia could supply 10% of its electricity demand from solar by 2020 simply by installing 3Kw solar PV systems on one third of Australian households.
• Australia - The sun burnt country - should be embracing solar power! Compared to most other countries in the world, Australia is rich in solar resources. Our average irradiation received is 50% higher than Europe and 35% higher than the US, where the uptake and investment in solar is far more advanced than here.
• Under the Federal Governments rebate program (PVRP) up to $8,000 can be claimed back from the cost of an installation of PV modules on a residential property.