We don't have solar cells worthy of buying that
are available in Australia or any kind of reputation
that would make a large Australian solar farm viable.
We are behind when we should be the world leaders.
What is wrong with this country?
We could make $ billions if we could manufacture
the world's best solar panels.
I blame Howard & Rudd for this.
Vote green in the next election.

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/business/items/2010 07/s2952765.htm

Lateline Business 13th July 2010.
QUOTE:ANDREW ROBERTSON

Quote:

" The other major point of contention with the Government's solar flagships program is that Australia's only manufacturer of solar panels, Silex Solar, has been excluded, failing to make the final eight. Whilst Australian technology is prominent in the shortlisted consortiums, their solar panels will be made overseas. Silex is naturally disappointed, but is wary of antagonising the Government, so management refused to be interviewed on camera."

QUOTE: MURIEL WATT, UNSW:


Quote:

"You had to prove that you had built and operated a 30 megawatt power plant previously, and given that we haven't had any 30 megawatt solar power plants in Australia in the past, that would be very difficult for Australian companies to prove."

We do, and they export to overseas:

http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/

They are pretty good SVP's too - triple junction with concentrators. I'll still be voting Green, although I think Bob Brown is a miscreant who panders to pot smoking hippies and deep greens too much.

muso wrote on Jul 17^th, 2010 at 8:46am:

We do, and they export to overseas: http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/ They are pretty good SVP's too - triple junction with concentrators. I'll still be voting Green, although I think Bob Brown is a miscreant who panders to pot smoking hippies and deep greens too much.

Well they didn't win the contract!

Bobby. wrote on Jul 17^th, 2010 at 12:22pm:

muso wrote on Jul 17th, 2010 at 8:46am: We do, and they export to overseas: http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/ They are pretty good SVP's too - triple junction with concentrators. I'll still be voting Green, although I think Bob Brown is a miscreant who panders to pot smoking hippies and deep greens too much. Well they didn't win the contract!

Probably because they were looking at more conventional SVP's.  These are more expensive, but also much more efficient. They are a similar grade to the ones used on Space Probes, and they have an additional concentrator which focusses the sun's rays a bit like a magnifier.

The CEO is Greg Watson, and I've had discussions with him on other forums. They're based in Adelaide and have won a number of major contracts overseas.

With the contract, the specs might have been too inflexible for this type of SVP.

Of course the future is in Solar thermal and large scale installations. Everybody knows that.

Muso - if we were as good at funding science as we are at sports
we would be world beaters.

Bobby. wrote on Jul 17^th, 2010 at 3:12pm:

Muso - if we were as good at funding science as we are at sports we would be world beaters.

I might not agree with you on other things, but on that we agree.

Similarly with wind power. We have no IP or manufacturers here.

If a $100 million wind farm is built 95% goes straight to Europe/China. The industry is absolutely smashing it worldwide of which we get nothing.

We do have good dirt though! Mmm dirt.

I heard that some AFL players and representatives have gone to Shanghai to try and impress them with their leather kicking skills ;) LOL

They must think the Chinese are as stupid as the Aussies :(

Just a 'prediction' ...reckon Africa and to a lesser extent, India - will become the world leaders in Solar Power after watching a program on SBS today. I guess anything can be successful if you take it seriously.

Although it is a minor power source, it is a consistent, very available and cheap as chips system. Put into effect upon a large scale, it is very effective indeed.

It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Oct 20^th, 2010 at 1:50am:

Just a 'prediction' ...reckon Africa and to a lesser extent, India - will become the world leaders in Solar Power after watching a program on SBS today. I guess anything can be successful if you take it seriously. Although it is a minor power source, it is a consistent, very available and cheap as chips system. Put into effect upon a large scale, it is very effective indeed.

Pity - we should be the world leaders.

We should be, but I think 'Water' is our H20 to go, rather than Solar.

Prediction: The so-called 'Outback' to be terra-formed into an Oasis and the once fabled "Inland Sea" will become a reality.

It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Oct 20^th, 2010 at 8:25am:

We should be, but I think 'Water' is our H20 to go, rather than Solar. Prediction: The so-called 'Outback' to be terra-formed into an Oasis and the once fabled "Inland Sea" will become a reality.

If energy was cheap, we could have quite a few Ord River type irrigation schemes.

If you had enough of them, it would make the climate in inland Australia altogether different.

Like TOTALLY AGREE with ya there Muso.

...I think Solar Power and even Wind and Tidal power will always be there for Australia although I think such things still get oppressed by powerful 'Fuel/Oil' businesses, to some degree here. Ironically, some of these Fuel/Oil businesses also sponsor research in regards to 'better' alternatives.
Whoever figures out how to harness an electrical strike and storage of such an immense capacity is a sure-fire winner. One strike could power a Space Shuttle take-off, trip and return easy as.

Hope we still continue with Solar Power as a positive source towards higher living and production quality - its a 'win' for all situation, even if ALP/Libs muck it around sometimes.

Someone I know, high up in Sydney's Integral Electricity tell me that the Sydney Electrical system is outdated and can't cope with demand. The fact that the 'turbines' are overheating to such a extent that they have to 'hose em down with water' to cool em. ::)

It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Oct 20^th, 2010 at 9:53am:

The fact that the 'turbines' are overheating to such a extent that they have to 'hose em down with water' to cool em. ::)

What a load of speculative, unverified URBAN MYTH

Who ARE you ?

MELLIE ?

buzzanddidj wrote on Oct 20^th, 2010 at 2:25pm:

What a load of speculative, unverified URBAN MYTH Who ARE you ? MELLIE ?

snigger

Bobby. wrote on Jul 17^th, 2010 at 1:55am:

We don't have solar cells worthy of buying that are available in Australia or any kind of reputation that would make a large Australian solar farm viable.

[/quote]

Have you read anything regarding the silver monocrystaline cells Origin Energy is funding in conjunction with Micron Technology?

Sorry Buzz,
Mellie? Er, well - close :D

I'm just saying what was said to me by someone who 'works' high up in the Integral Energy system.
Someone I know as close to ,er...just across the road.

qikvtec wrote on Oct 20^th, 2010 at 8:22pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jul 17th, 2010 at 1:55am: We don't have solar cells worthy of buying that are available in Australia or any kind of reputation that would make a large Australian solar farm viable.

Have you read anything regarding the silver monocrystaline cells Origin Energy is funding in conjunction with Micron Technology?

[/quote]

No but the original quote applies from my first post on this thread.


Quote:

"You had to prove that you had built and operated a 30 megawatt power plant previously, and given that we haven't had any 30 megawatt solar power plants in Australia in the past, that would be very difficult for Australian companies to prove."

Bobby. wrote on Jul 17^th, 2010 at 1:55am:

We don't have solar cells worthy of buying that are available in Australia or any kind of reputation that would make a large Australian solar farm viable. We are behind when we should be the world leaders. What is wrong with this country? We could make $ billions if we could manufacture the world's best solar panels. I blame Howard & Rudd for this. Vote green in the next election. http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/business/items/2010 07/s2952765.htm Lateline Business 13th July 2010. QUOTE:ANDREW ROBERTSON Quote: " The other major point of contention with the Government's solar flagships program is that Australia's only manufacturer of solar panels, Silex Solar, has been excluded, failing to make the final eight. Whilst Australian technology is prominent in the shortlisted consortiums, their solar panels will be made overseas. Silex is naturally disappointed, but is wary of antagonising the Government, so management refused to be interviewed on camera." QUOTE: MURIEL WATT, UNSW: [quote]"You had to prove that you had built and operated a 30 megawatt power plant previously, and given that we haven't had any 30 megawatt solar power plants in Australia in the past, that would be very difficult for Australian companies to prove."

[/quote]



At the moment we do a lot of importation of solar.
There are some Australian companies that also manufacture solar but they are still in their infancy (5 years or less). There are some that have been established a bit longer though and have settled into teh market and are surviving - just.
The o/s Chinese companies had started out earlier than Australia, and our companies had to learn from the o/s.

But with the difference in labour rates between Australia and particularly China it would be difficult to see the Australian companies surviving, unless there is some govt assistance somewhere (rebates, tax breaks).

That Green and Gold Energy that I mentioned  earlier is based in Adelaide, and they have a manufacturing plant in India. The usual story - cheap labour.