The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory
Access Status
Authors
Date
2013Type
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Source Title
ISSN
School
Remarks
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Collection
Abstract
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.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Izadpanahi, Parisa ; Tiwari, Reena ; Hayward, Declan (2021)The new age of the modernity has brought about many changes to the urban fabric of our cities. Fossil fuels have drastically contributed to the problems of climate change, pollution, excessive carbon emissions, and countless ...
-
Colombier, M.; Li, Jun (2012)What are relevant urban development investment strategies for improving building energy efficiency (BEE) and decarbonizing the urban district heating supply in rapidly urbanizing China? Different trajectories of BEE and ...
-
Conley, Daniel; Hargroves, Charlie ; Lambert, Martin; Newman, Peter (2017)The cities of the world are growing at a rapid pace and as hubs of economic development, production, and consumption, cities must effectively navigate lowcarbon transitions if the world is to mitigate the effects of climate ...