In the wake of the announcement last Monday, 3 September 2012, that the Victoria feed-in tariff was to be slashed from 25¢ per KWh to 8¢ per KWh many questions […]
Solar Choice Price Index – September 2012
At the beginning of September 2012, the average price per watt of an installed solar system in Australia was around $2.30 after subtracting the Federal Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) ‘rebate’, […]
Is Spinach the key to solar’s future?
Researchers from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee have discovered what Popeye knew all along–spinach gives you more energy. Although more traditionally associated with giving an extra energy boost to the […]
Australia’s first solar desalination plant approved
The clean energy applications of solar PV, powering everything from our homes and schools to large sports stadiums, are well-documented but less well known is thier potential to provide us […]
Is Chinese firm Suntech about to be bought out?
Despite publicly denying a takeover a few weeks ago, multiple industry insiders are reporting that a buy-out of one of the world’s largest solar companies, Suntech is “imminent”. […]
Spanish firm FRV to build 20MW solar farm near Canberra
Spanish firm Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) have become the first company to win work from the ACT Government as a result the ground breaking reverse auction. FRV will be installing a […]
New Victoria Feed in tariff – a fair price?
On Monday 3 September 2012 the Victorian Government announced the end of its previous 25¢ per kwh feed-in tariff. This move brings Victoria in line with state level solar PV […]
Victoria Feed-in Tariffs: Apply and install by 30 September 2012, new rate will be 8c/kWh
The Victorian government has announced the impending closure of the state’s Transitional and Standard Feed-in Tariffs. According to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), solar systems must be installed and […]
The advantages and disadvantages of solar energy
There are many benefits of solar energy at both residential and commercial levels. At Solar Choice we provide free impartial advice about going solar and can give our customers a […]
Fossil fuel electricity generation as ‘back-up’ for renewables?
In another success story from OECD renewable energy leader Germany, the country’s two largest electricity utilities have stated that they will not need to build any new fossil fuel power […]
Townsville RSL Stadium opens its $2 million solar project
Townsville RSL Stadium officially opened it’s AUS$2 million solar panel project today. The panels, located across the roof, will generate two-thirds of the stadium’s energy requirements. […]
The changing cost of solar power
The steady withdrawal of solar PV incentives, at both state and federal level, have lead to concerns by some consumers that the cost of solar power is set to soar. However, […]
Myth Busting: Victorians prove solar power isn’t just for the wealthy
It may come as no surprise to the vast majority of people that the more money you have the more likely you are to have an energy-saving LCD TV and front-loader […]
Take a tour of the Solar Choice Commercial Tender Management Platform
In order to streamline handling of the growing number of commercial enquiries, Solar Choice Commercial has developed a unique, interactive, web-based Tender Management Platform for its large-scale and commercial solar power […]
Korea’s Hanwha to rescue Q-Cells from insolvency
Korea’s Hanwha Group will take over Germany’s ailing Q-Cells, which entered into insolvency proceedings last April. Hanwha will retain most of the workforce at Q-Cells Thalheim research and production site […]
Crowdfunding could open doors to renewable energy for communities
In the wake of the global economic collapse in 2010 securing funding for community renewable energy projects was almost impossible. Fast forward to 2012 and the picture is a lot brighter with […]
SunStation – the fuel station of the future?
New Jersey based Princeton Satellite Systems have unveiled their solar-powered electric vehicle charger, the SunStation. […]
Creating LGCs from large-scale solar power generators
Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) are created every time an accredited renewable energy generation system over 100 kilowatts (kW) produces 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity. Power utilities are required under the […]
Minute by minute: new solar data tool to assist solar projects
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has developed the One Minute Solar Data interface providing a range of solar statistics, including global, diffuse, direct and terrestrial irradiance and sunshine-seconds for 20 locations round Australia. […]
Electricity generation by distributed renewable projects to triple by 2017
Global installations of renewable distributed electricity generation, including solar photovoltaics (PV), small-scale wind, and stationary fuel cells, are set to triple in the next 5 years, reports Pike Research. The news comes on the heels of […]
ACT Reverse-Auction Feed-in Tariff ‘winners’ to be announced in coming weeks
The winning applicants of the Australian Capital Territory’s Reverse-Auction Feed-in Tariff, whose first round for 20 megawatts (MW) of capacity received 49 proposals in April this year, will be announced in […]
Australia was the world’s residential solar PV leader in 2011
Australia led the world in residential rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations for the year 2011, according to data from Australia’s own Clean Energy Regulator and the International Energy Agency (IEA). […]
SafetyinSolar – Solar panel isolation system
As with any industry, there are certain minimum standards that a solar system and its comprising components must meet in order to be installed to be considered safe. SafetyinSolar’s Solar […]
Australian Solar Energy Society (AUSES) changes name to Australian Solar Energy Council
The Australian Solar Energy Society (AUSES) has changed its name to the Australian Solar Energy Council (AUSEC) to reflect its changing role in Australia’s solar power industry as well as […]
SolarBridge Technologies: Microinverters for AC solar panels
SolarBridge Technologies is a US-based company whose mission is to facilitate uptake of rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) by reducing its complexity and improving its cost-efficiency, developing and manufacturing reliable, high-quality […]
Suntech CEO steps down to focus on operations
Suntech founder Dr Zhengrong Shi has stepped down from his role as CEO of the company. Dr Shi will remain involved in the company as executive chairman and chief strategy […]
30MW solar farm approved for Kerang, central Victoria
A 30 megawatt (MW) solar farm has been granted planning permission in the town of Kerang, along the NSW-Victoria border. […]
Commercial-scale solar power farming in South Australia: 10kW, 30kW, 50kW, 100kW and beyond
Commercial-scale solar systems and farming are becoming increasingly popular investment options in South Australia. Large-scale solar installations and solar farms in SA offer owners and operators either an additional, low-input […]
Solmetric’s Suneye 210: An on-site tool for estimating solar PV system performance
Solmetric’s Suneye 210 is a comprehensive site evaluation tool for solar PV system design and installation. The Suneye 210 allows installers and designers to accurately predict a solar PV system’s […]
NSW Solar Feed-in Tariff rates temporarily removed from MyEnergyOffers website
Solar Feed-in Tariff rates have been removed from MyEnergyOffers, the website associated with NSW’s Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), which sets retail electricity prices for the state. The MyEnergyOffers […]
Electricity market reform comes to the forefront of the clean energy debate
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has brought electricity market reform to the forefront of the clean energy debate, publicly calling on state governments to rein in rampant electricity prices. The crux […]
