By Evolution Solar Sunshine Coast

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has released its Solar Power Australia 2011-12 report showing statistics of Australia’s use of solar power. With 17% of suitable houses installing solar panels, double that of 2010, Australia now has 3.2% of all electricity generation coming from solar power installations.

The report has smashed the myth that solar power is for the rich saying that more than half of solar power customers earn less than $100 000 per annum and even more than a quarter of customers earn less than $65 000 per annum. The Australian Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) say by 2030, solar PV is like likely to be the cheapest for of energy generation available. Solar is available to a wide range of communities around Australia with many choosing to invest in the industry. The highest earning suburbs do not represent the highest uptake of solar power further dispelling the myth that solar power is for the rich.

The report also acknowledges that the high exchange rate has helped bring the price of solar panels and components down but should not be taken for granted as circumstances can change in the blink of an eye. In 2009 we saw solar prices skyrocket when the Australian dollar crashed, drastically increasing the payback period of solar power systems.

In 2011, $5b was invested in the solar industry and 15 500 people were directly or indirectly employed in the industry. 859MW of solar PV was installed with a total accumulative capacity of 1.29GW – 95% of this was residential sales.

Solar power has never been more affordable than it is today and it will become, if it is not already, the most cost effective way to generate power.

The full report is available to Clean Energy Council Members on their website.