The combined capacity of rooftop solar arrays in south-east Queensland, the area managed by the energy distributor Energex, has now surpassed 800MW, making it the sixth biggest generator in the […]
The costs, power output & ROI of 250kW solar panels for your business
Solar power has become one of the most popular ways for Australian businesses to cut their power bills and reduce their carbon emissions. This article takes a look at pricing, power output, […]
Hybrid solar solutions promise affordable energy: First the outback, next the grid
Solar hybrid plants are tipped as the next big thing in large-scale solar in Australia. With utilities unlikely to commission major solar farms on the main grid – mostly due […]
Zero Export Device ZED 1 approved for grid-connect solar systems
Queensland-based GNT Engineering Pty Ltd has developed a device that will enable solar system owners & operators to limit the amount of solar power that their systems export to the […]
Solar Council’s ‘Save Solar’ campaign goes full bore in WA
The Australian Solar Council‘s campaign to keep the country’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) and its incentives for small-scale solar intact is now in full swing in Western Australia, with a […]
NSW’s Wallerawang the latest coal plant to close amid falling electricity demand & wholesale prices
The solar industry – and the changing dynamics of the Australian electricity market – has claimed its biggest victim yet, with the formal closure of the 1,000MW Wallerawang coal-fired power […]
Panasonic announces stand-alone PV-storage product for remote islands
Panasonic Corporation recently announced that it has developed a 3kW/13kWh stand-alone photovoltaic power package. The product is being targeted towards remote and non-electrified areas and has been selected for use in […]
New Perovskite material from NTU turns solar cells into display panels
If new research from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) holds true, a new solar cell material could one day turn your mobile or tablet display into a solar cell, letting […]
Net metering for solar scores another win in Vermont, faces battles elsewhere
American solar advocacy group The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC) celebrates yet another victory for ‘net metering’ policy in the United States, this time in Vermont. The small, northeastern state’s […]
Are Australian solar homes getting a fair deal? QLD & NSW vs Minnesota
Australian solar households are beginning to ask themselves if they are getting a good deal for the excess solar electricity that they export back to the grid during day time […]
German startup Qinous aims to bring energy storage to remote areas
German startup Qinous has devised with a ‘plug-and-play’ energy storage solution that aims to bring access to cleaner, more reliable electricity to the world, beginning with a focus on remote […]
Solar & wind competitive with natural gas plants in US despite fracking boom: Citi
Analysts at investment bank Citi say solar PV and wind energy are becoming competitive with natural gas peaking and baseload plants in the US, despite the continuing fracking boom in […]
Morgan Stanley: US solar PV and solar-with-storage installs to skyrocket
Investment bank Morgan Stanley says the addressable market for solar PV in the US is way bigger than anyone had previously imagined; and battery storage costs could fall way quicker […]
Solar power in Penrith, NSW: Compare systems & prices
Penrith residents have access to some of the most affordable solar power systems in all of Australia, thanks to its proximity to the population center of Sydney. This article investigates […]
Solar Mapper: Visualising your roof–and your savings–with solar
Anyone who has considered installing a rooftop solar system has wondered to themselves how many panels their roof could handle and what sort of power a system of that size […]
Solar power for businesses in Sydney & surrounds: Compare prices & components
More and more businesses are making an investment in solar power—in Australia and around the globe. This article takes a look at solar power for businesses in and around Sydney, […]
Western Sydney solar power: Why get a system?
Sydney is home to some of the lowest solar power system prices in all of Australia. This article takes a look at why solar power is a good investment for […]
BIPV glass likely to see dramatic growth between now and 2019
A report by market analysts NanoMarkets predicts that the market for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glass will surge in the coming 5 years—growing from $823 million in 2014 to 2.7 billion […]
Online solar mapping tools that help you unleash your inner solar potential
You’ve heard the good news stories from your neighbours. You’ve seen solar popping up on rooftops in your suburb. It must make sense, you say to your-self. But what’s your […]
Wind & solar dominate in Germany, while coal, gas & nuclear fall back
New data released in Germany shows that wind and solar production has increased dramatically in Germany and, contrary to what detractors say, it has reduced the amount of fossil fuel […]
Queensland solar feed-in tariff rates set at 6.3¢/kWh-8.7¢/kWh
Households in Queensland regional areas will receive a feed in tariff of between 6.3c/kWh and 8.7c/kWh for electricity exported back into the grid. The price has been announced by Queensland […]
IHS: n-type silicon, other new technologies to come in 2014
A recent report published by IHS research suggests that next-generation PV technologies will enter the mainstream in 2014 now that the punishing downturn in PV manufacturing is behind us and […]
The good and the bad of solar in Australia: One solar homeowner’s story
Like any other industry, the solar power industry in Australia is not perfect. Sometimes companies do a fantastic job of providing equipment and servicing consumers and sometimes they don’t. Recently, […]
US Department of Energy invests $2.2 million in new solar start-ups
Solar success stories come not only from big, established companies but also nimble and innovative start-ups. The US Department of Energy (DoE) has recently announced its support for 3 such […]
ATMs to power Australian homes?
Here’s an amazing fact; the 30,000 ATM’s around Australia use as much energy each year as around 5,300 average Australian homes! ATMs are a classic example of low hanging fruit; […]
Prediction: Some utilities will adapt, many will perish
We have a lot to thank the electricity industry for, let’s be clear about that. Energy has transformed our life and brought wealth and health to billions of people. But […]
Texan start-up offers plug-in DIY solar kit for the US market
Nothing says self-reliance and (energy) independence quite like a do-it-yourself (DIY) solar system. And, as a US start-up, Plugged Solar, would like to convince you, nothing says easy DIY better […]
Yingli Green Energy will return to profitability in third quarter of 2014
Chinese solar giant Yingli Green Energy has announced that it doesn’t expect to return to profitability until the third quarter of 2014 – a year later than some of its […]
Energy storage: are we there yet?
As a solar industry analyst, technologist and electric motorcycle owner, you would expect me to be optimistic about where storage is up to. The reality is, every time I turn […]
Could Palmer United Party support for renewables save the RET?
Update: Clive Palmer has contradicted his WA PUP senate candidate Dio Wang, saying the RET should not be mandatory. It is unclear what his party’s official stance on renewables is. […]
Toshiba’s SCiB batteries to be deployed in Japan’s remote islands
Toshiba Corporation recently announced an order for its innovative SCiB batteries for a large-scale renewables/storage project on remote islands in Japan. The systems were installed by Kyushu Electric Power Co. […]
