September
2009
What can be done to reduce the brain drain on Solar Power?
I was amazed to find out that business people and academics in the field of solar power are leaving Australia to go to places like the US where they receive proper funding and backing.. Given the bountiful sunshine and enterprizing Australian spirit, why has this situation come about and why is it still being put up with?
Yes, the University of New South Wales is the leading institution in the world on solar energy research. The present academic and research funding system in Australia makes it quite difficult to receive adequate funding. It is also worth pointing out that the current government has very strong ties to mining and oil interests that are not keen on seeing solar power developed.
The US is a much bigger market for those who do research. And at least under the Clinton administration, there was a government project to see a million homes powered by solar energy by 2010 (since killed by the Bush administration). California is also putting laws into effect that will require public buildings (at the state and local level) to be green–which includes solar energy for power.
So the question is, why shouldn’t these Aussies go to the States? What are the incentives for keeping them in their home country?
Cheers.
Money
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Be the ball. If you have an answer….. Use it
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You answered your own question. Put some money into it. The government doesn’t even have to fund research. Just buy solar and wind tech for their own facilities, then publicize the savings. Business will follow and the inventors and entrepreneurs will do the research to stay competitive.
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This is interesting - especially given that probably the biggest development in the scope of solar power recently came from University of New South Wales
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0827_040827_hydrogen_energy.html
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Yes, the University of New South Wales is the leading institution in the world on solar energy research. The present academic and research funding system in Australia makes it quite difficult to receive adequate funding. It is also worth pointing out that the current government has very strong ties to mining and oil interests that are not keen on seeing solar power developed.
The US is a much bigger market for those who do research. And at least under the Clinton administration, there was a government project to see a million homes powered by solar energy by 2010 (since killed by the Bush administration). California is also putting laws into effect that will require public buildings (at the state and local level) to be green–which includes solar energy for power.
So the question is, why shouldn’t these Aussies go to the States? What are the incentives for keeping them in their home country?
Cheers.
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To be a more independent person, buy your own home, dig your own well, and put up solar panels. We don’t need the electric car, lets go back to the horse and buggy. Dude! What a rad thought.
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