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

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Newton

    (Swinburne University of Technology, and CRC for Low Carbon Living, Melbourne, 3122, Australia)

  • Peter Newman

    (Curtin University, the CUSP Institute, Perth, 6160, Australia)

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 areas 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Newton & Peter Newman, 2013. "The Geography of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and a New Low Carbon Urban Transition Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(6), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:5:y:2013:i:6:p:2537-2556:d:26298
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Garnaut,Ross, 2008. "The Garnaut Climate Change Review," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521744447.
    2. Peter Newton & Denny Meyer, 2013. "Exploring the Attitudes-Action Gap in Household Resource Consumption: Does “Environmental Lifestyle” Segmentation Align with Consumer Behaviour?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Kenneth Gillingham, Matthew Harding, and David Rapson, 2012. "Split Incentives in Residential Energy Consumption," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 2).
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcin Wójcik & Pamela Jeziorska-Biel, 2023. "Geographies of Energy: Key Issues and Challenges towards Spatial Justice Concepts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-9, January.
    2. Wu W, Wen & Quezada, George & Schleiger, Emma & Bratanova, Alexandra & Graham, Paul & Spak, B, 2019. "The future of peer-to-peer trading of distributed renewable energy," MPRA Paper 113821, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Trivess Moore & Andréanne Doyon, 2018. "The Uncommon Nightingale: Sustainable Housing Innovation in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Farrelly, M.A. & Tawfik, S., 2020. "Engaging in disruption: A review of emerging microgrids in Victoria, Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    5. Green, Jemma & Newman, Peter, 2017. "Citizen utilities: The emerging power paradigm," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 283-293.
    6. Deng, Gary & Newton, Peter, 2017. "Assessing the impact of solar PV on domestic electricity consumption: Exploring the prospect of rebound effects," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 313-324.
    7. Poruschi, Lavinia & Ambrey, Christopher L., 2018. "Densification, what does it mean for fuel poverty and energy justice? An empirical analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 208-217.
    8. Peter W. Newton & Briony C. Rogers, 2020. "Transforming Built Environments: Towards Carbon Neutral and Blue-Green Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-25, June.
    9. Collier, Samuel H.C. & House, Jo I. & Connor, Peter M. & Harris, Richard, 2023. "Distributed local energy: Assessing the determinants of domestic-scale solar photovoltaic uptake at the local level across England and Wales," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).

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