The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory

This paper examines the early phases of a 21st century energy transition that involves distributed generation technologies employing low or zero carbon emission power sources and their take-up within Australia, with particular reference to the major cities and solar photovoltaics (PV). This transiti...

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Main Authors: Newton, P., Newman, Peter
Format: Journal Article
Published: Adver, SUSTDE 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30991
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author Newton, P.
Newman, Peter
author_facet Newton, P.
Newman, Peter
author_sort Newton, P.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper examines the early phases of a 21st century energy transition that involves distributed generation technologies employing low or zero carbon emission power sources and their take-up within Australia, with particular reference to the major cities and solar photovoltaics (PV). This transition is occurring in a nation with significant path dependency to overcome in relation to fossil fuel use. Tracking the diffusion of solar PV technology within Australia over the past decade provides a basis for assessing those factors underpinning its exponential growth and its associated geography of diffusion. Positive evidence that there are pathways for cities to decarbonise is apparent but there appear to be different pathways for different city forms with lower density suburban are as showing the biggest take-up of household-based energy technologies. This suggests a model for the low carbon urban transition involving combinations of simple technological changes and harder structural changes, depending upon which parts of the urban fabric are in focus. This is being called a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-309912017-09-13T15:10:08Z The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory Newton, P. Newman, Peter decarbonising cities distributed energy generation solar photovoltaics renewable energy urban energy transitions green technologyfor suburbs This paper examines the early phases of a 21st century energy transition that involves distributed generation technologies employing low or zero carbon emission power sources and their take-up within Australia, with particular reference to the major cities and solar photovoltaics (PV). This transition is occurring in a nation with significant path dependency to overcome in relation to fossil fuel use. Tracking the diffusion of solar PV technology within Australia over the past decade provides a basis for assessing those factors underpinning its exponential growth and its associated geography of diffusion. Positive evidence that there are pathways for cities to decarbonise is apparent but there appear to be different pathways for different city forms with lower density suburban are as showing the biggest take-up of household-based energy technologies. This suggests a model for the low carbon urban transition involving combinations of simple technological changes and harder structural changes, depending upon which parts of the urban fabric are in focus. This is being called a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30991 10.3390/su5062537 Adver, SUSTDE fulltext
spellingShingle decarbonising cities
distributed energy generation
solar photovoltaics
renewable energy
urban energy transitions
green technologyfor suburbs
Newton, P.
Newman, Peter
The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory
title The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory
title_full The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory
title_fullStr The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory
title_full_unstemmed The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory
title_short The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory
title_sort geography of solar photovoltaics (pv) and a new low carbon urban transition theory
topic decarbonising cities
distributed energy generation
solar photovoltaics
renewable energy
urban energy transitions
green technologyfor suburbs
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30991