The Price of Uncertainty

Today China, the worlds largest manufacturer of solar panels announced a new feed in tariff, projected to increase solar capacity 10x in five years. Just another reminder that, contrary to the missinformation supplied by shock jock radio stations, nations around the world are investing heavily in clean technology. So it seems that after years of inaction and lost opportunities as investment moves overseas, at last there is a bright future for our renewables industry. At least thats the plan, with the threat of the yet unlegislated ETS being shredded by Tonny Abbott should he become our next PM, Australia is still an uncertain market. 


So what have we lost? 

This week the Australian company Enviromission announced it had signed a contract with the Southern California Public Power Authority to supply it with enough electricity to power 150 000 homes from a solar tower to be built in the Arizona Desert. This innovative new technology was once planned for Northern Victoria. 

Surprise! Another Australian corporation is forced overseas to less hostile markets.In China, the largest beneficiary of the new feed in tariff will be it's largest solar manufacturer Suntech Power. Suntech has made its founder  Shi Zhengrong the worlds first solar billionaire. Zhengrong, trained at the University of NSW, is yet another example of Australian technology and Australian entrepreneurialship lost to overseas markets. 


I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains.....


Ironic that Germany, a land of fog and rain has installed a solar capacity 54x that of Australia. But then Europe's ETS has operated since 2005.