New data has revealed that South Australia’s more than 50 per cent renewable energy powered grid is now delivering cheaper power than either Victoria or New South Wales – for […]
Western Power taps Schneider for new ‘flexibility’ platform using solar and storage
Western Australia government-owned utility, Western Power, has tapped global energy technology firm Schneider Electric to pilot a new “flexible” energy management platform that will use solar and storage to help […]
States give clean energy sector big confidence boost in absence of federal policy
Australia’s state and territory governments have provided a much-needed boost to clean energy investor confidence, with strong and steady policies helping to defy global disruptions caused by Covid-19 and an […]
Solar Power in Launceston – An expert guide on what you need to know
According to datat from the Australian Photovoltaic Institute around 15% of the homes in the Launceston area have solar panels on their roofs already. There are many good reasons why […]
Snowy 2.0 clears last major hurdle as Morrison gives environmental approval
The federal government’s massive Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project has been given environmental approval, clearing its last regulatory hurdle just days before a key by-election in the local New […]
City of Sydney completes switch to 100 per cent renewable supply
The City of Sydney has officially switched to 100 per cent renewable electricity, with the council now sourcing the equivalent of all of its power needs both directly, from […]
Residential Solar PV Price Index – July 2020
Average residential solar system prices have slightly increased to $1.05 per watt ($/W) this month on the back of several factors, including changes to the composition of the Solar Choice […]
Australian solar and wind forecasting technology to be live tested on S.A. grid
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has thrown its funding weight behind a trial of Australian made solar and wind energy forecasting technology – a live test on the renewables-heavy […]
Smoke and high-temperature cut-outs hit solar and wind output in summer from hell
The complex task of keeping the lights on in Australia’s main grid over the 2019-2020 summer was further complicated by two unexpected new problems, according to the Australian Energy […]
Australian researchers claim new record for direct ‘solar-to-hydrogen’ solar cells
Australian researchers have claimed a new world record for solar panels that can directly split water using sunlight, by demonstrating an “unprecedented” 17.6 per cent solar to hydrogen efficiency using […]
New wind and storage projects unlocked as Marinus Link fast-tracked under ‘JobMaker’
Plans to add a second electricity transmission link between Tasmania and mainland Australia will be fast-tracked by the Morrison government as part of its JobMaker infrastructure stimulus plan. The Marinus […]
An Update On The Victorian Solar Rebate
In this article we examine the Victorian Solar Rebate Scheme, how it works, eligibility, initial problems that plagued the scheme, and an update for June 2020. A Brief Overview/History On […]
Residential Solar PV Price Index – June 2020
Average residential solar system prices have remained constant $1.04 per watt ($/W) this month on the back of several factors, including changes to the composition of the Solar Choice installer […]
Rule changes that could shift balance of power in clean energy transition
A rule change that will pave the way for the establishment of a new ‘wholesale demand response mechanism’ allowing large energy users to trade reductions in electricity use for […]
Microgrid feasibility funding awarded to 17 projects in first round of federal scheme
Seventeen microgrid projects scattered across five Australian states and territories have been named as the winners in the first round of the federal government’s $50.4 million Regional and Remote […]
Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
Note: Solar Choice is an independent expert in Solar PPAs with experience advising businesses across commercial solar projects and utility-scale solar farms. The difference between a Corporate Solar PPA and […]
AEMO pushes for minimum standards for solar, battery storage and EVs
The Australian Energy Market Operator is seeking to develop a minimum set of technical standards to tackle Australia’s still-booming rooftop solar uptake, and the challenges emerging in managing the […]
Australia’s biggest wind farm starts sending power to the grid
Australia’s largest wind farm to date, Goldwind Australia’s 530MW Stockyard Hill project in western Victoria, has begun sending power to the grid. The project’s developer, Goldwind Australia, said on […]
Renewables share overtakes gas generation for first time, as coal falls to record low in 2019
New data has revealed that more electricity was produced from renewable energy sources Australia-wide over the course of 2019 than from gas – a first for the nation’s grids as […]
Sun Cable plans Darwin big battery storage, precursor to world’s biggest solar and storage project
Plans to install a 100MW/200MWh big battery storage on the outskirts of Darwin have been put forward by Sun Cable as a precursor to much grander plans to build the […]
Covid Commission’s gas plans evoke outrage from environmental groups
A proposal to prioritise the gas industry in Australia’s post-Covid 19 economic recovery plan has provoked outrage from environmental groups, amid accusations the government-appointed group behind the proposal has clear […]
Massive 1000MW “baseload” wind, solar and hydrogen plant pitched for NSW
One-thousand megawatts (1000MW) of combined wind, solar and hydrogen fuel cell generation plant has been proposed for New South Wales in a $3.5 billion renewable “baseload” power plan from Infinite […]
Solar Panels Bendigo: Compare costs & installers
Data from the Australian Photovoltaic Institute finds that 15.3% of dwellings in Bendigo already have solar panels installed, with the majority of those being residential installs under 10kW in capacity. […]
Battery Storage Price Index – May 2020
Solar Choice has previously been publishing average solar PV system prices on a monthly basis since August 2012 in our Solar PV Price Index, which focused on household solar prices […]
Experts warn of growing fossil fuel influence in Morrison’s Covid-19 response
Australian environmental groups have issued fresh warnings over the level of influence the nation’s fossil industry continues to exert over policy and regulation in Australia, including over tax cuts and […]
Commercial Solar PV Price Index for May 2020
With heavy activity in Victoria and shifts in solar technology to half cut solar modules, price updates from several companies have resulted in a slight upwards shift in average dollar […]
Switching to renewables could cut industry energy costs by almost a quarter
A wide-scale shift to wind and solar by Australia’s major industrual energy users could cut their collective energy costs by as much as $1.6 billion per year, a new report […]
Flow Batteries: Explanation and Comparison
Flow batteries are the promise to play a key role in the future as they are a more environmentally sustainable alternative to the current lead acid and lithium ion technologies. […]
Massive Pilbara wind and solar export hub gets environmental green light
Western Australia’s environmental watchdog has given its blessing to plans for a massive renewable energy generation and export hub based in the state’s Pilbara region. Environmental approval for […]
Major contractor quits Australia solar market after huge losses on projects
Greek-based contracting group and renewables developer Ellaktor has become the latest to quit the Australian solar market after posting huge losses from its construction portfolio of projects in […]
Residential Solar PV Price Index – May 2020
Average residential solar system prices have slightly decreased to $1.04 per watt ($/W) this month on the back of several factors, including changes to the composition of the Solar Choice […]
