Australia - Smart Grid - Climate Change and Photovoltaics

Synopsis

The fundamental shift that has taken place in environmental policies since 2007 will have a huge effect on the utilities market. Energy policies that were developed prior to this now need to be considered in relation to the new climate change and environmental realities – and for the ICT and energy industries this will involve checking government initiatives such as smart meters and national fibre telecoms networks against the new directions. Australian state government incentives saw Australia’s uptake rate of PV systems increase from 1% to 5% of households. This was the fastest residential growth ever recorded in the world and Australia is now an international leader in this segment. However a lack of integrated energy and sustainability policies saw the scrapping of the incentive schemes that generated this growth.

Such on-and-off policies are, of course, not conducive to building sustainable economic models going forward. It is becoming increasingly clear that smart infrastructure is needed for a range of energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives and the government needs to start formulating a far more integrated policy – one that brings all of these separate developments together within one national blueprint.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Climate change requires smarter responses
• 3. Climate change policies
  • 3.1 Global warming – a new important political consideration
  • 3.2 Copenhagen Climate Council
    • 3.2.1 After Copenhagen all eyes should move to China (analysis)
  • 3.3 Reducing Carbon Pollution
  • 3.4 Australia endorses law on 20% renewable energy target
• 4. Beyond the ETS - Smart Energy
• 5. Renewable energy
  • 5.1 Renewable Energy Fund
    • 5.1.1 National plan for smart meter rollouts
  • 5.2 Australia lagging behind
  • 5.3 Renewable energy scheme
  • 5.4 Competition might come from different directions
  • 5.5 People-driven demand
  • 5.6 Renewable Energy Sources
    • 5.6.1 Hydro energy
    • 5.6.2 Wind energy
    • 5.6.3 Solar energy
• 6. Trans-sector approach to climate change
  • 6.1 CO2 and ETS are becoming too esoteric for most
  • 6.2 Home energy improvements
  • 6.3 Smart grids
  • 6.4 Smart communities and smart buildings
  • 6.5 Empowering people to develop their smart community
  • 6.6 Smart grid demo could be the catalyst
  • 6.7 Government information and education campaign
• 7. Smart grid driven by user-driven photovoltaics
  • 7.1 Good for the economy, the environment and saving energy
  • 7.2 Government still stuck with dumb meters policy
  • 7.3 Lack of trans-sector approach
  • 7.4 Current grid can’t handle renewable energy
  • 7.5 International examples of failing grids
  • 7.6 Customers want to be in charge
  • 7.7 Without smart grids 20% renewable target will not be reached
  • 7.8 Analysis of the situation in 2011
• 8. Smart grid market moving into 2012 (separate report)
• 9. Related reports

• Table 1 – Market share of energy generation in Australia by energy source – 2006 - 2008

• Exhibit 1 - Solar Cities
• Exhibit 2 – The results of climate change by 2050
• Exhibit 3 - Solar flagships program
• Exhibit 4 – Photovoltaics