For the past decade, Australian researchers have been at the forefront of international PV R&D efforts. There is not national PV programme as such, but USD 25 million of public funds have been allocated to PV related R&D since 1985. Private investors, concentrating initially on PV devices, but now largely on the development of balance of system components, have matched government spending. This groundwork is beginning to pay off, as electricity utilities start to recognize the long-term potential of PV.

Per capita, Australian PV usage is one of the highest in the worlds. Not surprisingly, for a vast continent with such a dispersed population, the majority of systems to date have been in remote locations. Professional (non-domestic) applications like telecommunications, navigation aids, route signalling, and lately water pumping, accounted for almost three quarters of Australia's entire installed PV power capacity (estimated to be around 13 MWp) at the end of 1995. The public telecom utility, Telstra, is alone responsible for almost 20% of all installed systems.

However, the recent major restructuring and privatization of part of the electricity industry has served to arouse increased utility interest in PV, bot for off-grid, domestic remote area power supply (RAPS) systems, and latterly for the grid-connected market. Utility interest in PV RAPS is understandable: in New South Wales, for instance, rural customers account for 74% of the distribution network line length, but only 2% of the load. Australia wide, some 10 000 permanent residences are not currently connected to a mains supply. Taking holiday homes into account, the potential market for domestic RAPS systems could be 70 000 units. The provision of mains quality AC power through PV-diesel hybrids incorporating (largely home-produced) deep-cycle batteries, inverters and control systems is a cost-effective alternative to diesel only generators and is generally more reliable.

More than 3 MW of PV, with an average array size of 0,6 kWp, is now installed for domestic off-grid power supply. Innovative product developments, such as fully integrated transportable PV-diesel hybrid power supplies, couple with government measure such as one state's requirements for electric distributor to employ least-cost electrification practices, should help to further strengthen PV's position in the RAPS market.

With the off-grid market reasonably well established, demonstration activities have been transferred to the grid-connected market, which is expected to grow rapidly over the next 5 to 10 years. More than 20 demonstration systems, ranging in size from 600 W to 20 kW have been installed since 1994, with utilities contributing 50% of the funds for these activities.

As with the RAPS market, there are a number of interesting innovations in the grid-tied field: on the product development side, novel approaches to PV-building integration include concentrating modules for roof-tiles and integrated mounting systems for frameless modules.

Market stimulation measures include the Victorian utility, Citipower's, PV panel buy-back scheme, while a number of distributors are developing purchase agreements for buying back surplus PV power and premium payment arrangements for 'green' power.

As for education, one flagship project has seen the installation of a 1 kWp system on the roof of a high school in Sydney. Pupils can analyze real-time system data and so gain familiarity with the technology, its uses and performance characteristics.

Aside from further cost reductions and more widespread information efforts, the major issues to be addressed for grid-connected systems relate in particular to interconnection and building integration issues - including system and component standardization and safety and performance standards. Australian participation in the IEA  PVPS Programme will address these factors.

[ Top ] [ Previous article in PV Power ] [ Next article in PV Power ]