Federal government budget cuts hit solar research

By Shelly Simonds

Solar energy research at the ANU has been threatened by the elimination of the Energy Research and Development Corporation (ERDC) in the recent Federal budget.

Dr Andrew Blakers, head of the ANU's 18-member Photovoltaic Research Group, estimates the cuts will cost the group about 25 per cent of its funding - at least $200,000 to $300,000.

Dr Blakers predicts the funding cuts will cost around 2000 jobs in solar related fields across Australia over the next few years.

"Our competitors overseas, who enjoy government support, will rejoice at the news that the Australian government has kicked the bottom out of this vigorous, labour intensive and environmentally sound industry," he said.

"The cuts could not have come at a worse time diplomatically," Dr Blakers said. At the forthcoming UN Kyoto Climate Convention in December, the Howard government is expected to argue Australia should be exempt from meeting international reduction targets because it does "all it can" to reduce emissions.

By cutting funding to renewable energy research only months before the meeting, this argument will sound ridiculous, Dr Blakers said.

"The budget decision undermines the Australian position at Kyoto and groups like Greenpeace will loudly draw attention to this fact and accuse the Australian delegation of hypocrisy," said Dr Blakers.

In their recent visits, President Clinton, Prime Minister Hashimoto and Chancellor Kohl have put pressure on the Howard Government to make reductions in Greenhouse gases a priority, Dr Blakers said.

"Germany, Japan and the US each spend about $1 per citizen per year on renewable energy research. In contrast, Australia no longer has a dedicated federal government body for energy and energy research," Dr Blakers said.

The ANU hosts some the world's leading research programs in photovoltaic, solar thermal and geo- thermal electric technology.

Dr Blakers and his co-researchers form one of the biggest externally financed research groups at ANU, receiving funding from corporations and government agencies like the ERDC.

The group has filed two patents in the last year on innovations which could significantly reduce the cost of solar energy. Both patents are for projects which are supported by ERDC and are close to being ready for commercial development.

Elimination of funding contradicts the Coalition's pre-election energy policy statement which assured ERDC "continued funding at current levels".

The recent budget also halved funding for the National Energy Efficiency Program.

Australia has strong commercial companies in the solar industry. For instance, Solahart is the biggest exporter of solar water heaters in the world and Solarex and BP Solar have recently landed major contracts in Asia.

"The irony is that solar energy is bringing in money for Australia," said Dr Blakers.