Courier Mail
Monday 8/11/2010 Page: 12
AUSTRALIA will inject $50 million into a joint research project with the US aimed at slashing solar power costs. The announcement was made in Melbourne yesterday to coincide with the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has also insisted the US Government's decision to ditch its emissions trading scheme following a Republican resurgence in the midterm elections would not affect her plans. "I believe it's in Australia's interest to tackle climate change, and it's in Australia's interest to make sure we transform our economy to a low pollution, low carbon economy", Ms Gillard told the Nine Network. "The world is moving in that direction, it will require it of other economies, it will impact competition, how people trade, what they buy".
Ms Gillard and Ms Clinton made the solar announcement in a joint press conference, saying the project would make solar power as cheap, or cheaper, than conventional power. Ms Gillard, who announced that Australia would commit $50 million to the project, said one of the greatest barriers to a broader commercial take up of solar power was its cost. It will concentrate on advanced solar technologies such as dual-junction photovoltaic devices, hot-carrier solar cells and high temperature receivers.
Ms Gillard said the US had a strong solar power research program and the new project would build on existing expertise from both countries. "The project is part of an aggressive effort to bring the sales price of solar technology down by two to four times". Ms Clinton said the program aimed to make solar power competitive with conventional energy sources by 2015.
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