posted todaySolar Matters: Silex solar leading the way in...

posted today

Solar Matters: Silex solar leading the way in australian made solar panels
Solar power never looked so bright






Written by: Nathan Douglas from Infinity Solar

Eighty-three percent of Australians believe new houses should have in-built solar power systems, according to new research.

In new research* released this month by SilexSolar, the only significant Australian-owned Australia-based manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and panels, and conducted by Galaxy Research, 83% of Australian homeowners indicated they believe all new houses should have in-built solar power systems by 2015.

The NSW Minister for State and Regional Development, Ian Macdonald, officially opened the SilexSolar solar panel manufacturing plant at Sydney Olympic Park on April 14, 2010. It is the biggest plant of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. "SilexSolar is not only leading NSWs solar development, but is demonstrating national leadership and commitment to the Australian solar industry," Minister Macdonald said.

The manufacturing plant was commissioned in 2000 and has undergone numerous expansions and upgrades to keep it in line with the latest solar production techniques. SilexSolar has taken over the operations of the site from BP Solar, ensuring the ongoing operation of an important Australian renewable energy manufacturing facility.

A significant benefit of the launch is that it provides a pipeline for Australian intellectual property (IP) to be commercialised locally, rather than it going overseas as has happened in the past. "Retention of Australian IP within Australia benefits the entire Australian economy and the development of the solar power industry, as well as providing a local career path for our scientists," said Dr Michael Goldsworthy, SilexSolar CEO.

"And whilst the cost of solar is projected to reach grid parity by around 2013 according to the Clean Energy Council, it is critical that governments close the financial gap for consumers and industry with best practice Feed-in Tariffs, similar to what the NSW Government is providing for consumers.

"One of the major attractions of Feed-in Tariffs is that they allow domestic consumers to make money by contributing power to the grid from their own solar power systems," said Dr Goldsworthy. "An average Sydney home can generate around $1,250 of revenue each year from a 1.5kW solar system. This makes the pay-back time for a typical domestic solar power system less than three years."

SilexSolar has a national distributor network and has already started shipping Australian-made solar panels through its network. Its products are listed as approved products by the Clean Energy Council and meet all local and International standards.

*A national study of Australian homeowners by Galaxy Research weighted to the latest ABS population figures, with a sample of 1,274, conducted in April 2010, determined that 83% said that they either definitely or probably believe that by 2015 all new Australian houses should have in-built solar power systems

http://www.businessmattersmagazine.com.au/_blog/Innovation_Blog/post/Solar_Matters_Silex_solar__leading_the_way_in_australian_made_solar_panels/