Large Scale Solar Overview

Kane Thornton
Director of Strategy
Australias Energy Challenge 2
Renewable Energy Objective
A portfolio of renewable energy
technologies that leverage from
Australias world leading and diverse
resource base to provide low cost and
reliable energy supply.
3
Portfolio of Emerging Technologies
Solar costs dropping dramatically
Geothermal proving technical feasibility
Wave and tidal power prototypes under
development
Competing with proven least cost
technologies:
Wind
Hydro
Bio-energy
4
Renewable Energy Mix to 2020 5
Source: MMA/Australian Government, 2009.
Renewable Energy Costs (2015/2030) 6
Source: EPRI/ Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, 2010.
Advancements in PV technology 7
IEA forecasts for PV growth 8
Global solar resource 9
Large Scale Solar
Photovoltaic (PV)
Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV)
Solar PV Dish
Linear Fresnel PV
HCPV - Tower
Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST)
Central receiver or power tower
Parabolic trough
Parabolic dish
Linear Fresnel
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International Status
700MW of CSP in operation in the U.S. and
Spain
One-quarter of total grid-connected solar PV
capacity from utilityscale plants 200-kW +
India sets target of 20 GW solar by 2022
50+ countries and 25+ states/provinces with
feed-in tariffs
Crystalline module price declines by 5060%
percent ($3.50 /watt in 2008 to $2 /watt)
11
Australian Status
Technologies proven internationally
Excellent local research and deployment
expertise
Resource mapping
Costs declining rapidly
Significant off grid/export potential
Not yet competitive with wind
Requires additional policy support
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Key Challenges
Intellectual property
Understanding the resource
Network augmentation and access
On ground experience - in Australia
Capital intensive
Tight financial markets
Policy uncertainty and instability
Picking technology winners
Need long term and stable policy
incentives to support a pipeline of
projects
13
Large Scale Solar Support
Renewable Energy Target
Solar flagships $1.6 billion program
52 projects shortlisted
Develop experience in Australia
Skills development
Construction learnings
Grid connection and integration
Financing learnings and education
Feed-in tariffs and grants
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Todays Objectives
Goal:
Determine policy support to provide long
term incentives for large scale solar
beyond Solar Flagships
Explore:
Variety of policy support mechanisms
Feed in tariffs and their application
Development of Policy Roadmap for
Large Scale Solar in Australia
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Kane Thornton
Director of Strategy
kane@cleanenergycouncil.org.au