"How do you think the unique fauna of the Daintree rainforest will fare against anthropogenic global warming?"
The inquiry was put to me last night at the conclusion of a nocturnal wildlife spotting tour and such questions are becoming more frequent.
I answered that I understood that the greatest losses suffered by the inhabitants of the ancient forests of Gondwana were brought about by global cooling and drying via circumpolar currents derived from the break-up of the super-continents; particularly the separation of Australia from Antarctica. A warmer, wetter climate should favour an expansion of tropical rainforest habitat.
Earlier in the day I was dealing with another concern that had previously compelled government intervention to purportedly protect the important ecological values of the Daintree from the adverse impacts of non-renewable electricity generation. On the 7th May 2000, the Queensland Government adopted an amended electricity policy for the area north of the Daintree River:
The extension of mains electricity supply was opposed and, as an alternative, the use of stand-alone power systems was to be supported. (Right of appeal: Not applicable).
The Daintree Futures Study 2000, states (p 99): Underlying this policy … is the belief that renewable energy generation is desirable in the Daintree as a demonstration of commitment to sustainable energy development and sensitivity to the special values of the area.
It had become apparent that our household reliance upon engine generators had increased significantly over the previous six months and solar contribution had declined through the impact of a lightning strike. I had dreaded this inevitability; large, prominent metallic structures strategically positioned to optimize unobstructed access to sunlight (and lightning). Tell-tale burns were revealed on the newer, more powerful 738 watt string of the four-string array.
The Daintree Futures Study 2000, states (p 99): Businesses in the Daintree Cape Tribulation area are currently not eligible for any subsidy programs for RAPS systems. This is despite a statement by the Minister for Mines and Energy in October, 1999 that, “A commercial rebate scheme is also to be introduced”. The lack of a subsidy has likely hampered economic development, as businesses have had to fund substantial capital to establish their generation plant, and higher operating and maintenance costs. The variable cost to generate power privately via diesel generators will be in the order of 25-35 cents/kWh compared to grid subsidised power costs of 10 cents/kWh. Businesses such as hotels and accommodation facilities will have annual power demand of between 50 000kWh and 1GWh per annum (any reasonable size business would have a power demand of 50 000kWh per annum or greater). The additional annual cost, adjusted for company tax, of self-generation versus grid will be in the range of $5 000 to $167 000.
The Queensland Remote Area Power Supplies (RAPS) Trials 1999 (Walden & Behrendorff), summarized data in the fastidiously maintained Daintree Cape Tribulation sites at 82-3% reliant upon engine generation.
Indeed, over the past seven years, not only have fuel prices skyrocketed, but residents and business-owners within the Daintree Cape Tribulation community have carried the cost of supply, maintenance and replacement of components, at as much as twenty-times the total cost per kilowatt-hour of other Queensland consumers.
It is incongruous, to say the least, that the excision from the distribution area was for the stated purpose of conforming with the government’s environmental policies, when its consequences include hundreds of concurrently running engine generators with their noise, fuel and oil spills. For a community with a regulated conservation management responsibility, generators simply do not make the grade.
Neil.....It occurred to me that someone else besides myself, might have taken photos of their solar panels after being struck by lightning.
I think it would be a good idea to compare notes and photos with anyone who has had a similar experience, particularly if Insurance companies are in the process of giving people a hard time when they begin claiming for the damage. There appears to be a lot of information about lightning protection for solar arrays but I don't seem to be able to find any other photographic evidence of damage created when lightning does strike, and with which I can compare.
I'm about to go through the process of trying to claim for lightning damage and I must confess, it's a bit of a concern to me.
Help! This doesn't look particularly good for solar power does it! Particularly for us anyway. The expense is slowly sending us broke.
We've only just recently got involved with solar power and it's my belief we've experienced the effects of lightning strikes on the array at least twice already over the four years it has been in operation. There doesn't seem to be any other explanation. Three panels out of a total of twenty.
Let me get this right.
Are we to assume that lightning damage to the panels can be detected by the observation of burn marks through the panels in a number of areas?
These marks consisting of blistering through to the underside and are black or brown in colour.
Our regulator and associated components also seem affected.
We won't know exactly what the extent of the damage is until it's checked by an expert.
Are we also to assume, that we are likely to be hampered by insurance companies, who are likely to be extremely reluctant to cover solar panels damaged in this fashion.
Nobody seems to make you aware of the lightning problems prior to installing solar panels do they? No mention what-so-ever in our case.
What's the damn point of even considering installing solar panels if they have a tendency to fail so easily in this regard?
So what now? Is the long term solution to dump solar panels and go on to a generator full time? Any suggestions anyone?
Looking back at Neil’s exposed array I could have written about plumbing at the interface, skin effects, ground loops, etc then gone on to battery banks, surge suppression in single line supplies, three phased grids and so on, however we need to look at boarder issues of self sufficiency and that’s more about budgets than engineering. We need a minimum of 20% in reserve to cover contingencies in any setup we depend on.
Which vital piece of hardware do we keep on the shelf for that rainy day? Group dynamics can come to play. Neil’s forest seems to be a great place to set up an independent electrical biz specializing in quick changeovers.