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Abstract This paper reviews opportunities for, and barriers to, increasing photovoltaic (PV) deployment on apartment buildings, with a particular focus on the Australian experience. As rapid urbanisation drives increasing housing density, PV penetration in multi-occupancy housing has been limited by comparison with stand-alone housing in many jurisdictions, including in Australia despite its world-leading residential PV penetration. Given the growing commercial attractiveness of residential PV, this also raises equity concerns for apartment households. PV can potentially be installed to supply electricity to common property, to serve individual apartments, or as a resource shared between multiple apartments through embedded networks, local energy trading or 'behind the meter' deployment models. Our study undertook a review of the academic literature in this space and of specific Australian regulatory arrangements, as well as conducting a series of semi-structured interviews with a range of relevant stakeholders. Barriers identified include the huge variety amongst existing apartment building stock, demographic factors and knowledge issues. However, the Australian regulatory context - including governance of apartment buildings, regulation of the energy market, and electricity tariff policies - also impacts on the options available to apartment residents. New business models for deploying PV on apartments are emerging, including initiatives from retailers, developers and community energy organisations. While some issues are specific to the Australian context, or to buildings governed under strata-type arrangements, broader lessons can be taken from the Australian experience, including to inform the design of the regulatory framework required to facilitate widespread PV deployment across all residential housing types. Highlights • Photovoltaic deployment on apartment buildings faces multiple barriers. • A range of technical and organisational models is emerging. • Changes to the regulatory framework could support greater deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Australia is a country with a vast amount of natural resources including sun and wind. Australia lies between latitude of 10–45°S and longitude of 112–152°E, with a daily solar exposure of between less than 3MJ/(m2 day) in winter and more than 30MJ/(m2 day) in summer. Global solar radiation in Australia varies between minimum of 3285MJ/(m2 year) in Hobart to 8760MJ/(m2 year) in Northern Territory. As a result of this wide range of radiation level there will be a big difference between costs of solar PV electricity in different locations. A study we have recently conducted on the solar PV electricity price in all states of Australia. For this purpose we have developed an economical model and a computer simulation to determine the accurate unit price of grid-connected roof-top solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity in A$/kWh for all state of Australia. The benefit of this computer simulation is that we can accurately determine the most appropriate feed-in tariff of grid-connected solar PV energy system. The main objective of this paper is to present the results of this study. A further objective of this paper is to present the details of the unit price of solar PV electricity in the state of Victoria in each month and then to compare with electricity price from conventional power systems, which is currently applied to this state. The state Victoria is located south of Australia and in terms of sun radiation is second lowest compared with the other Australian states. The computer simulation developed for this study makes it possible to determine the cost of grid-connected solar PV electricity at any location in any country based on availability of average daily solar exposure of each month as well as economical factors of the country. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Climate change due to greenhouse gases emission from fossil fuels has prompted several governments to channel resources in the commercial utilisation of renewable energy sources. Solar energy is one of the renewable energy sources that is highly untapped and underutilized. Australia has the highest average solar radiation per square metre of any continent in the world. This paper will focus on the need to improve solar energy utilisation in Australia, challenges facing it and the future benefits. This study shows successfully storing and transferring solar energy will ensure that this energy source will make a significant contribution to Australia''s electricity grid supply in the future and Australia will be well positioned to assist in meeting its growing clean energy demand. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Australia is one of those countries that are considered rich and abundant in fossil fuel energy resources. It is important for Australia to regulate the use of conventional energy and attempt replacing these conventional energies with renewable energy (RE) resources. Renewable energy resources in Australia are widely categorised as solar energy, biomass, wave energy and wind energy. By increasing the utilisation of renewable energy resources the national contribution to world wide green house gases (GHG) emissions would be reduced, at the moment approximately 50% of Australia''s GHG emissions are contributed from electricity generation [Dicks, AL, Diniz da Costa, JC, Simpson A, McLellan B. Fuel cells, hydrogen and energy supply in Australia. Journal of Power Sources 2004;1:1–12] with a large proportion of the remaining emissions coming from transport and vehicular sectors. As Australia''s population, as well as that of the world, continues to grow and live increasingly energy dependant lives, the future of energy supply will grow. This paper investigates the potential of renewable resources in Australia at present and the magnitude of their present and future contributions to the national energy consumption. Conclusions will be drawn from the results of this investigative scan and recommendations will be proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With some of the world''s best solar and wind resources, Australia is a prime market for solar and wind energy. The growing renewable energy industry can take advantage of Australia''s stable economy, good access to grid infrastructure and well organised financial and legal services. Although development has been slower than what was anticipated, but with the promises made by the new government, the renewable community hopes for a brighter future for solar and wind energy in Australia. The objective of this paper is to present an overview of the current status of solar and wind energy in Australia, then to take a closer look at solar and wind potential, current activities, and finally to discusses about Australian Government support and to predict the future outlook of solar and wind energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants can make a significant contribution to renewable energy supply in many regions of the world. Several bottom-up engineering performance models for CSP plants have been developed. However, they require the capacity of the plant to be known. In whole-of-grid optimization models, the capacity of the plants is an optimization variable and therefore not known in advance. In this case, researchers have taken a simplified modelling approach that overestimated CSP performance, especially for low-DNI conditions. In this paper, we offer a novel density-based engineering modelling approach in which CSP performance is determined independently of the capacity of the power plant, and which can be used in whole-of-grid optimization models. We investigate a case study of the site of the new Aurora CSP project in Port Augusta, South Australia, to be one of the world's largest solar thermal power plants by 2020. Using a Geographical Information System (GIS)-grid representation of Australia, we compare CSP performance resulting from a simplified model with our new approach. • A novel density-based engineering modelling approach for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants. • CSP performance is determined independently of the capacity of the power plant. • The approach can be used in whole-of-grid optimisation models. • We investigate the site of the new Aurora CSP project in Port Augusta, South Australia to be constructed by 2020. • The new approach is compared to the simplified description of CSP performance, using a GIS-grid representation of Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]