SOLAR ENERGY CAN HELP SOLVE AUSTRALIA’S WATER CRISIS SAYS NEW REPORT

Australia can help solve its water crisis by optimizing use of water-friendly solar energy, a new report concludes. Because solar power generation consumes minimal to zero water, it beats waterhungry coal-fired power production in terms of conserving an increasingly precious natural resource.

That’s the verdict of the World Resources Institute (WRI). Its new report points out that solar energy is therefore not only clean, but critically important in water conservation.

And because energy production accounts for around 10% of the world’s water consumption, solar power can play a crucial role in tackling the world’s growing water shortage.

Australia is ranked 17 in the world for solar energy potential according to the WRI report. In scientific terms, it reaches 232.5 in global horizontal irradiance wattage per metre squared. This is a measure of the strength and concentration of the solar power hitting a solar panel. Australia should be aiming for 100% renewable energy according to global clean energy pioneer Yosef Abramowitz. However, opposition from the fossil fuel industry is holding it back. With solar energy accounting for just over 5% of Australia’s power, it is failing to meet its full potential.

Source: www.energymatters.com.au