Originally published December 7 2005
Professor believes photovoltaic solar panels will compete in the marketplace by 2030
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Professor Andrew Blakers from The Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems at the Australian National University believes that photovoltaic solar panels will be competitive with traditional forms of electricity by 2030.
His paper describes how extrapolation of the huge economic and technical gains made by photovoltaics over the last 15 years gives confidence that a dramatic shift in electricity generation technology over the next quarter-century is possible.
Government research & market support for photovoltaics of around $400 billion spread over the next 25 years can deliver the technology required to eliminate electricity production as a contributor to climate change.
This is a large sum of money - similar to the cost of the Iraq war -- but it is dwarfed by the $23 trillion expected investment in oil exploration out to 2030 or the $24 trillion investment in PV systems required to generate half of the world's electricity by 2040.
Professor Blakers will also describe Sliver solar cell technology, which was invented at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland, by Dr Klaus Weber and Professor Blakers in 2000 while attending a conference.
Origin Energy, one of the sponsors of the Greenhouse 2000 Conference, is commercialising Sliver technology in Adelaide.
Work at ANU shows that Sliver solar cell technology can achieve electricity costs below retail electricity costs within five years, with the right investment.
Explosive growth in sales in the commercial and residential sector will then follow.
Solar Power Supplies Great new indie guide to solar panels, products, PV.
"It's not difficult to envisage Sliver based technology delivering electricity at a cost that matches wind energy, zero-emission coal and other clean energy technologies.
Dr Weber added that it is essential to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel based electricity generation in order to limit climate change.
"The key to a clean energy future is the setting of clear and challenging targets and the provision of reliable, long-term support to the solar industry.
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