The record high temperatures that parts of Australia has witnessed since the arrival of the new year have been a hot topic in the news, with temperatures coming close to […]
Australia nears its 2 millionth rooftop solar system, total SGUs surpass 2 million
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has released data indicating that the number of rooftop solar systems in Australia is now approximately 170,000 short of 2 million when both solar photovoltaic […]
Solar Choice develops & brokers installation of solar panels for 6 ACT McDonald’s restaurants
Rooftop solar power systems are now generating electricity for 6 McDonald’s restaurants in the ACT. The installations, whose tenders were exclusively developed and managed by Solar Choice Commercial, will save each […]
2014 bodes well for solar PV globally
Solar photovoltaic (PV) uptake appears ready to surge globally in the year 2014. Investment house Deutsche Bank and market research firm NPD Solarbuzz have offered growth forecasts of 46 gigawatts (GW) and […]
What is your feed-in tariff eligibility in Western Australia? (Horizon customers)
If you live anywhere in regional Western Australia (essentially anywhere outside of Perth & surrounds) and you have grid electricity, your power is probably delivered by Horizon Power, whose […]
Versol Solar: Mounting & tracking solutions for all PV applications
Versol Solar is a manufacturer of ground and roof mounting products, tracking systems and building-integrated solutions for solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays. The company provides comprehensive technical support for solar projects […]
2013: The Australian year in solar
2013 was a huge year full of ups and downs for the solar industry globally and in Australia. What were some of the most important milestones, events and trends of […]
Government intentions to dilute the RET becoming clearer
The government’s intention to dilute the strength of the country’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) has become clearer, with Prime Minister Abbott accusing the scheme of ‘causing pretty significant price pressures’ […]
Among the upcoming wave of utility-scale solar farms, Silex Systems plans projects in Victoria, Queensland and beyond
Australia’s Silex Systems, known in solar PV circles mainly for its solar panel manufacturing wing Silex Solar, has in recent years been focusing its efforts on the development of solar […]
The impact of rising wholesale fuel costs on Queensland’s electricity prices (and the rest of Australia)
Regulated electricity prices will rise in Queensland next year, and the carbon tax and other renewable energy support schemes have been widely blamed as the main reason for these increases. […]
Lessons learned from the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme: An academic view
While last year’s debacle with WA’s feed-in tariff is already resolved, was still a reminder of the history that this policy mechanism has had elsewhere in Australia. The WA feed-in tariff, after […]
Queensland electricity prices set to rise again from 2014: QCA draft decision released
The Queensland Competition Authority has released its draft decision for regulated electricity prices from July 2014. Although the decision is still in draft form, precedent dictates that the final version […]
Green Homes Australia: Building clean, energy-efficient homes at affordable prices
The buildings best-suited for installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system are those buildings that have been designed & constructed to use energy in the most efficient way possible–from an environmental […]
Renewable Energy Target (RET) review will soon be underway: What are the implications for solar PV?
The Renewable Energy Target (RET) is one of the most important policy mechanisms for renewable energy in Australia, and it is arguably the only one that affects every player in […]
QBotix: Robot-controlled tracking systems for ground-mounted solar systems
QBotix is a company offering a revolutionary approach to ground-mounted solar systems through its solar tracking technology. The QBotix Robotic Tracking System (RTS) employs intelligent, self-charging, track-mounted robots (“SolBots”) which adjust […]
How does your LGA fare for rooftop solar? Check out the APVI’s solar map
The Australian Photovoltaic Institute (APVI, formerly APVA) has debuted an interactive solar PV status map on its recently re-launched website. The map, which uses data from the Clean Energy Regulator […]
Solar PV Price Index–Dec 2013
Nationwide, average system prices across all solar system sizes (1.5kW-5kW) increased slightly between November and December, although this trend was not as noticeable with 3kW–5kW systems as with 1.5kW and 2kW system. […]
What will Australia’s electricity grid look like in 2050? CSIRO makes some informed guesses
How will electricity be generated, stored, and distributed in the future? This question is one of the most pressing of our time, and countless organisations have had a shot at […]
Solar power Western Australia: Are solar panels worth the investment in WA?
The number of solar power system installation continues to grow across Australia in spite of the withdrawal or reduction of government incentives across the board–and WA is no exception. This […]
Australia achieves its next solar milestone: 3 gigawatts of rooftop solar installed
The solar panel odometer has ticked over yet again for Australia, with the country reaching 3 gigawatts (GW) of installed rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, according to figures from the […]
PVz: Analysing energy bills for sizing solar PV systems
PVz is a tool designed by solar PV industry professionals to facilitate the process of analysing electricity usage in order to choose a solar system size most appropriate for the […]
Latronic Sunpower: Australian-made grid-connect and stand-alone inverters
Latronic Sunpower is a Queensland, Australia-based inverter manufacturer that operates globally. The company has been in business for over 27 years. The company makes inverters for residential, commercial and industrial […]
Eco Whisper Turbine: Australian-made, small-scale wind power
Solar Choice, as Australia’s solar photovoltaic (PV) installation brokering service, does not ordinarily work with wind turbine installers or manufacturers, but both technologies are similar in spirit and offer many […]
Magellan Power’s ‘smoothing’ devices for grid-connect solar
When northwestern WA‘s electricity utility Horizon mandated that solar photovoltaic (PV) systems must regulate their power output, one of the first companies with the capacity to offer a viable technological […]
IHS research revises global solar PV industry forecast upwards for 2014
Improving market conditions have led market research firm IHS to upwardly revise its forecasts for global expenditure on solar PV equipment for the year 2014. IHS had originally projected that […]
Solar PV Price Index–Nov 2013
Solar PV system prices held steady in Adelaide for November, while ACT prices saw an increase. Average system installation prices for Brisbane and Melbourne fell, while Perth and Sydney remain […]
How about a home energy efficiency audit (to complement your solar)? Introduction to Big Switch at Home
The rising cost of electricity across Australia has driven many households to seek refuge in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Solar PV systems, now cheaper than they’ve ever been, allow homes […]
Magellan Power’s DCSS: Australian-made, small-scale energy storage for solar power systems
Power equipment developer & manufacturer Magellan Power (creators of the Solar Smoother) have introduced a small-scale energy storage system (the DCSS) for residential solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. With a 22-year […]
Federal government moves to slash ARENA funding
Renewable energy advocates have spoken out agains the Coalition’s previously foreshadowed move to reduce funding to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), introduced as a provision in the government’s draft […]
Solar power in Busselton, WA: Compare prices & installers
Should you consider solar power for your home or business in Busselton, WA? The popularity of solar panels has soared across Australia in recent years, and Busselton has seen its share […]
South Australia’s solar feed-in tariff closed: What’s next for 2013, 2014 and beyond?
South Australia’s transitional feed-in tariff incentive for solar power closed to new applicants on 30 September 2013. Many of those who are considering going solar but have not yet made the […]
