So, if we were to locate our solar array in Melbourne then we would need 6,750 km2 of solar panels to generate enough energy to power all of Australia’s energy needs. This area is approximately 67% of the total area of metropolitan Melbourne, which according to Google Maps, is about 9,990 km2 (Figure 3).
Conclusions
In terms of cost and land area consumed, it is certainly possible to power Australia with solar panels alone, where the land area is less than the area of metropolitan Melbourne and the maximum cost is less than 1% GDP on an annual basis. However, the number of solar panels required is possibly too large to be installed in a realistic time frame. This may change with improvements in technology, e.g., polymer-based solar panels that can be rolled out very quickly. Indeed, there are silicon-based PV panels that can be rolled out in a similar fashion (Figure 6). However, for Australia to reach a goal of 100% power by renewable energy in a reasonable timeframe, it is wise to have a mix of technologies, such as wind, wave and hydroelectric power.
