Environment: Content from Across the ABC


Date/Time 28 Aug 2015 10:43:24pm
Promotions of German solar energy successes are almost always from the same script. First bask in the glory of reaching 20% renewable energy then go on to say something about the miracle of the German FiT, and how it has increased the capacity of solar PV. What the authors never say, is that out of Germany's 20% renewable blend, solar contributed just 2% in 2010. What Germany is exporting to the rest of the world is blind faith in a concept that does them some good as an exporter of PV technology. Importers of PV get very little benefit. And by the way, South Australia is generating 20% of their electricity from renewables, but largely from wind turbines. Australia is pulling its weight and, like the Germans, will reach 20% , but also, like the Germans, very little will come from solar. So why do we bother with these high cost energy toys?