Starting in 2016, the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) will provide cutting-edge training in renewable wind technologies through its Renewable Energy Skills Centre of Excellence. The Centre of Excellence, which […]
Panasonic to launch battery storage system for Australian market
Japanese electronics giant, Panasonic, is set to announce its battery storage rollout in the Australian market, along with its plans with “some of” Australia’s leading energy retailers.The product rollout, scheduled […]
RET deal’s passage will unlock billions in solar & wind investment
More than $10 billion in solar and wind investment would be unlocked if legislation to amend Australia’s renewable energy target achieved quick passage through parliament, the Clean Energy Council has […]
SA Power Networks could introduce $100 annual charge for solar homes
South Australia’s monopoly power network operator, SA Power Networks, has flagged the introduction of a $100 a year network surcharge on the state’s solar households. The proposal was revealed in […]
Commercial solar PV on Western Power’s network: Grid connection procedures & requirements
The procedures and requirements for connecting a commercial solar PV system to WA‘s Western Power network are some of the most stringent in Australia, especially when it comes to solar […]
ARENA-backed survey says Australia loves solar
A new survey has found that an overwhelming majority of Australians support the installation of solar on the nation’s rooftops and at a utility-scale, but that almost one-quarter of the […]
Half of Aussie solar homes could get batteries as economics improve: Morgan Stanley
Australia’s residential battery storage market could be worth $24 billion, with half of all households likely to install batteries to store the output from their solar panels, according to investment […]
Solar Choice brokers 30kW system for Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres
Solar Choice Commercial has brokered a 30kW solar system for the roof of Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres’ facilities in Mount Isa, Queensland. The system uses 115x 260W Trina Solar panels with 2x […]
Renewables sector employed 7.7 million people globally in 2014: IRENA
The global renewable energy industry employed 7.7 million people, directly or indirectly, in 2014, according to a report released on Tuesday night by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) – an 18 […]
Jordanian auction achieves record-low large-scale solar prices
The cost of large-scale solar has achieved a new low in the Middle East and north Africa region, after the latest round of solar auctions in Jordan confirmed the benchmark […]
Australia’s first road-legal solar sports car to hit streets this year
Imagine being able to drive yourself around town without having to pay for an ounce of petrol – but instead getting all the fuel that you need for free from the […]
Innovative German pilot hybrid project combines solar PV, CHP and battery storage
A German project that combines rooftop solar PV, combined heat and power technology, and battery storage could be adapted and scaled up elsewhere, according to General Electric, one of the […]
New residential energy storage pilot projects to showcase promise of energy independence
In a sign of the times and an indication of things to come, a total of 22 homes are to be fitted out with emergency backup energy storage systems in a pilot […]
Perth suburb sets sights on solar-powered future
Western Australia’s Wanneroo Council has called for expressions of interest to develop and operate a grid-connected solar farm on local government-owned land in the northern Perth suburb of Neerabup. The […]
Renewable Energy Target deal struck: 33,000GWh with no 2-yearly reviews
The Abbott government and federal Labor have finally struck a bipartisan agreement on Australia’s renewable energy target, with both parties agreeing to slash it from 41,000GWh to 33,000GWh by 2020. […]
Queensland to aim for 50% renewables, 1 million solar homes by 2030
Queensland’s Labor government has restated its commitment to generating 50 per cent of its electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030, and to ensure one million homes in state had […]
Big solar could make up 40% of new 2020 large-scale renewables target: BNEF
Big solar could take up as much as 40 per cent of Australia’s 2020 Renewable Energy Target, even with a much reduced target of 33,000GWh, according to Bloomberg New Energy […]
Clean Energy Finance Corp to invest $1b towards solar of all sizes
Australia’s solar industry looks set to receive an investment boost, after the Clean Energy Finance Corporation revealed plans to finance more than $1 billion of solar projects in the local […]
RET deal back on hold as Labor walks out over continuation of 2-yearly reviews
Even as an agreement appears to be close at hand, talks have again broken down between Labor and the Coalition about the future of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET). Labor […]
WA government backs off on plans for higher fixed charges for solar homes
The Western Australian government has reportedly shelved plans to introduce higher network fixed charges to recoup some of the revenue displaced by the state’s 175,000 solar households. As reported in […]
Tesla’s Elon Musk says Powerwall already economically viable in Australia
US electric vehicle and battery maker, Tesla, has declared energy storage already economically viable in Australia, as the upstart company’s founder and CEO Elon Musk provided more insight into why his new […]
CSIRO scientists commission solar-powered desalination plant for Cyprus
Scientists from Australia’s CSIRO have designed and installed a solar thermal power plant with molten salt storage on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The small, 150kW facility is being used […]
Tesla Energy launch shakes up the energy industry
The recent launch of Tesla Energy and the Powerwall lithium battery banks have triggered much excitement in the energy industry. The news has renewable energy supporters optimistic about a speedy […]
Coalition and Labor to compromise on Renewable Energy Target: 33,000GWh by 2020
A compromise deal may finally have been reached on Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET), according to reporting from the ABC and other sources. The Coalition government and Labor Party have […]
Commercial Solar PV Price Index: May 2015
With the exception of 10kW solar systems, prices for commercial-scale solar PV systems in Australia decreased slightly on average between April and May of 2015, according to data from the […]
ACT government seeks expressions of interest in development of 50MW solar-plus-storage facility
The government of the Australian Capital Territory has announced that it is seeking expressions of interest for the development of a 50-megawatt (MW) ‘next generation’ solar-plus-storage facility. The EOI process […]
Residential Solar PV Price Index: May 2015
Nationally, average solar energy system prices have risen for the second month in a row, according to data from the Solar Choice installer network database. Prices for 1.5kW, 2kW and […]
International Energy Agency report says renewables will be key in meeting climate goals
The International Energy Agency has named renewables as one of the key ingredients to meeting climate mitigation goals, and called on governments to set policies accordingly, in a new report […]
Aus states and territories vow to make up for federal foot-dragging on renewables
Australia’s states and territories have vowed to pick up the federal government’s slack on renewables, and work together to unlock the nation’s large-scale solar and wind energy markets. At a […]
Bifacial solar cells – the two sides of the story
Bifacial solar modules are making a comeback, of sorts, as the PV industry looks to squeeze more out of current solar cell technology. On the heels of Sunpreme revealing their […]
2015 International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics released
The 2015 International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV) was released last week and is now available for download on the ITRPV website. The report contains insights from leading PV industry […]
