New community consultation guidelines for large scale solar projects provide a very interesting revelation about residential rooftop solar power in Australia – and of coal-fired generation.
A study commissioned by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) designed to inform industry understanding of public perceptions of the role of solar energy and drivers and barriers to the acceptability of utility-scale solar installations shows how popular solar panels are.
1,197 adults living across Australia participated in an online survey as part of the study. Results of the survey show 87% were somewhat or strongly in favour of home solar power, followed by 78% approving large scale solar facilities. Wind energy came next at 72%. At the bottom of the list is coal – with just 23% somewhat or strongly in favour.
While the results concerning small scale solar power systems were very interesting, the focus of the report is on large scale.
77% of those surveyed believed large-scale solar facilities can be a significant source of energy and 60% agreed that funding for large-scale solar facilities should be prioritised over funding for non-renewable energy sources.
For every individual opposed to large scale solar facilities in Australia, more than 15 people are in favour – but utility scale solar is still very much in its infancy here due in part to wobbly policy and also a lack of knowledge of large scale solar energy within the community.
Only 12% of survey participants indicated they know ‘a fair amount’ about utility scale solar power and just three percent said they know ‘a great deal’. 28% said they had heard of large scale solar but knew nothing about it and 39% knew “just a little”.
For utility scale solar to realise its full potential in Australia, an important aspect for companies will be the need to gain a ‘social licence’ – which is just a fancy way of saying the ongoing approval within the local community and other stakeholders to operate. Gaining that approval means providing education.
The Guidelines are designed to help the solar industry more effectively communicate the economic, environmental and social benefits of solar projects to nearby communities says ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht.
“As large-scale solar becomes more common in Australia, companies can draw on these reports and the lessons learned during the construction of the ARENA-supported Nyngan, Broken Hill and Moree solar farms to enable more successful project development.”
Further information
Establishing the social licence to operate large scale solar facilities in Australia: insights from social research for industry:
