| Australia has the lot when it comes to generating solar | | | | Japan in solar PV and solar water heating, it is in solar |
| thermal energy. It has the climate, the research | | | | thermal energy where the leaders see a bright future. |
| expertise and the finance to carry out these projects. | | | | Solar thermal energy is quite different to solar hot |
| Australia is a hot country with plenty of sunshine all | | | | water and photovoltaics. But it's cheap and operates |
| year round. It used to be a world leader in solar | | | | on a far larger scale. Huge solar thermal plants use |
| energy. But in recent times it has lost that position due | | | | heat from the sun to create steam, which drives giant |
| to a lack of investment and general apathy. But now it | | | | turbines which in turn generate electricity. |
| has a chance to shine again with solar thermal energy. | | | | And in Australia it's shaping up to be a serious |
| Despite a lack of investment, Australia still has some | | | | contender in the race to compete with traditional fuels |
| of the best solar experts in the world and there's still | | | | such as coal. In fact, some experts claim that solar |
| cutting-edge research being done in this country. | | | | thermal energy could be Australia's main energy |
| Solar thermal energy is often left out of the solar | | | | source by 2050. |
| power equation. But in Australia it holds tremendous | | | | And there is no reason to not to believe this. With |
| promise. | | | | cutting-edge technology, no shortage of finance and |
| Internationally, the solar industry is growing quickly by | | | | lots of hot sunny days, Australia is perfectly primed to |
| around 30% per year. And although domestically, | | | | take advantage of the developing solar thermal boom. |
| Australia has slipped behind the likes of Germany and | | | | |