The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has launched its Large-Scale Solar Policy Roadmap, finding that Australia has five years to establish the foundations for a sustainable large-scale solar industry or it will run the risk of missing out on a huge economic opportunity.

 

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren said Australia needed to capitalise on the interest Solar Flagships had generated among international investors, who were sinking billions of dollars into projects in other countries.

 

In the second quarter of 2011 alone, the US Department of Energy ramped up its investment to $12 billion, divided among 12 solar projects.

 

"Once again, we are not at risk of leading the pack, but of falling behind. We need to put an end to the brain drain and keep our brightest solar minds delivering local innovations," Mr Warren said.

 

The Large-Scale Solar Policy Roadmap provides a snapshot of current large-scale solar projects and policies across the globe, including Spain, Germany and the US, as well outlining actions for governments to help reduce current barriers to its introduction. It also calls for a dedication of funds in the next five years to improve Australia’s solar resource data.

 

The document was launched at an event today which included presentations by Federal Energy Minister Martin Ferguson, the CSIRO, the Australian Solar Institute and Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

 

Key suggestions made by the policy roadmap for governments are:

  • Create a stable policy environment to facilitate investment in large-scale solar projects
  • Clearly plan a pipeline of large-scale solar projects required by 2020, 2030 and 2050 in order to achieve cost reductions and build local capacity.
  • Secure long-term sustainable funding for project deployment
  • Provide sufficient support for off-take agreements
  • Develop preconditions for program participation
  • State government support for land acquisition and licensing frameworks, streamlined planning processes and revenue subsidies
  • Facilitate grid connection
  • Improving the quality and quantity of solar resource data 

 

More information can be found here