SUNRAYSIA needs to lift its sights to take full advantage of the explosion in renewable energy.
This was the view of a solar industry leader who spoke to Sunraysia Daily this week on condition of anonymity.
“I’ve been following the stories about the city’s tour to the US and applaud your community for being pro-active about this opportunity,” the man, based in Victoria, said.
The solar expert said a “perfect storm” was about to invest Mildura with many large-scale solar opportunities.
“Those people who are thinking in terms of one or two solar PV (photovoltaic) farms in the district needed to think on a grander scale,” he said.
He said the forces against climate change would only grow stronger and stronger in years to come and give renewable energy victory over fossil fuels, particularly coal.
The man said Mildura could easily become the La Trobe Valley of the future and produce about 40 to 50 per cent of the state’s electrical power.
“With the world’s focus on renewables, your solar radiation, the location of Mildura on the borders of three states and access to the power grid and the rapid technology advances being made, this is the future you should be aiming at.
“If Victoria is going to be powered by the sun, where will that sun be harvested, Mildura of course.”
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily 07/11/2009.