Solar Down Under

I’m in Australia at the moment (on way home) and can’t help but comment on how progressive the “off grid” uses of solar PV are in this country. Given its tremendous amount of annual sunshine, the use of solar has proliferated in the “off grid” market in the recreational spheres as much or more than in any “grid supported” markets worldwide. I am sure that on a “per capita” basis, the Aussies take the prize for use of solar.
One prime example is the RV industry. Whereas we can quote low single digits for OEM RV makers vehicles that roll off the production line with a solar panel, here in Australia, 85% of vehicles come off the line with a built-in solar charger. That is how progressive dry-camping use of solar energy already is. Now of course that means that much of the aftermarket for RV solar panels is retrofit to units which never had a panel, it also points to how progressive RV owners in Australia are. You can bet that makers would not be putting panels (they don’t usually spend a single penny they don’t have to) on vehicles if the demand was not there.
I’d go as far to say that in Australia today, it’s an EXPECTATION to have a panel with your RV. Hopefully that expectation begins to be “exported” to other countries so that OEM’s can begin to use solar PV as well. In the context of a challenging environment for RV use (high gas prices), I believe that progressive makers should begin to offer PV solutions as a way to show consumers that they don’t have to break the bank to live life off the grid in their RV.
Sass in OZ…