ACT residents who install solar power systems for the 2011-2012 financial year can expect the same generous feed-in tariff rate for systems classified as ‘small’ (read: residential) that was offered […]
BIPV: Building-integrated Photovoltaics, the future of PV
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is exactly what the name indicates: solar power generation modules that are integrated directly into a building in the place of ordinary building materials. BIPV differs in […]
Renewable Energy: Charging Electric Vehicles
How will the transportation of the future reduce its reliance on fossil fuels? Despite all its advantages, one of the biggest disadvantages of photovoltaics (PV or solar power), and most […]
Purchasing Green Energy vs Feed-in Tariffs for Solar Power
If you are environmentally-minded, you may have asked yourself at some point whether it is a better idea to install solar power on your roof (referred to as ‘micro-generation’) or […]
Stand-alone solar power to be set-up in Japan refugee centres
As part of the relief effort for the 11 March 2011 Northeastern Japan earthquake and tsunami, Sharp and Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery are planning to assemble and provide 250 solar power […]
Troubleshooting your grid-connected solar power system
On our blog we often receive comments from people who have installed solar power systems but, for some reason or other, are not seeing the optimal or anticipated performance from […]
Ever-improving PV technology dilemma: Should I wait to buy my solar array?
You are thinking about getting a solar PV system for your home, and in your research have come to understand what the major considerations are: your electricity demand and how […]
Ground-screws for ground-mounted solar power systems
Ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are ideal for those who have space to spare on their property. The are becoming increasingly common. In fact, there is a movement to recruit […]
Solar Credit (REC) Multiplier to reduce from 5x to 4x from 1 July 2011
(Update: The information in this article is now out of date: according to an announcement by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the REC multiplier is set to […]
How will a carbon price affect the solar power market?
As you may have heard, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has recently proclaimed her government’s intention to put a price on carbon dioxide pollution by July 2012. Although at this point […]
Asbestos in my roof! Can I install solar panels?
You are now mentally and financially prepared and willing to go ahead with a solar panel (photovoltaic) installation on the roof of your home. The only problem is, after having […]
19-year-old demonstrates true Solar Power: The Solar Death Ray
In Indiana, USA a pioneering teenager has demonstrated the formidable power of the sun with a simple, hand-made device composed of 5800 tiny mirrors and an old satellite dish. The […]
PV and solar hot water – Can I get rebates for both?
Jarrah Harburn wrote this excellent piece a while back summarising the benefits of solar hot water systems, and the different types of systems that are available in the market. We […]
Own and Run a Solar Farm
The image of a rural plot with a wind turbine producing electricity to be fed into the electricity grid with cattle milling about underneath grazing the grass has become a […]
Making an informed decision-Questions to ask yourself when considering solar power
We here at Solar Choice are regularly asked about not only technical issues related to solar power, but also about which Installers are the most reputable and dependable. Even before […]
Western Australia’s Commercial-scale Solar Farms
Two significantly large solar farm projects are underway in Western Australia: the Greenough River Solar Farm near Ellendale in the Mid West, and a hybrid solar-diesel plant in the Pilbara region, […]
Queensland floods and solar power arrays: safety and precautions
The cataclysmic flooding in Queensland has devastated individuals and communities, taking and ruining lives, and leaving large sections of cities and towns underwater. As the flood waters recede and people […]
Solar PV in Australia: The Land of Beauty and Terror
(Contact a Solar Choice Broker for free, impartial advice on the solar PV installer and system options available in your area of Australia.) It is unfortunate that the growth of […]
New record for largest rooftop solar array in Australia
Previously we wrote about Australia’s two largest rooftop solar power arrays–The Adelaide Fairgrounds installation and the Sydney Theatre Company, 1MW and 340kW, respectively. This title has once again changed hands, […]
World Land Speed Record for Solar Powered Car
An Australian Solar Powered Car, Sunswift IV, or “IVy”, designed, built and driven solely by University of New South Wales students, has broken the land speed record for the world’s […]
State Government Approval Granted to NSW’s First Solar Farm
Infigen Energy has been granted the Keneally government’s approval for NSW’s first commercial solar farm. The farm, to be located about 2km south of Nyngan, a small town in the […]
Feeding Solar Power Back To The Grid
Feeding Solar Power back into the electricity network is the job of your inverter. We have talked about sizing your inverter and how the location of your solar power panels […]
Enhanced Renewable Energy Target: changes for 2011 now in effect
Previously in our blog we wrote briefly about two major slated changes for 2011 to Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET), now known as the Enhanced Renewable Energy Target (eRET), the […]
2010: an extraordinary year for Aussie solar power
The year 2010, just come to a close, treated the Australian solar power industry remarkably well, with more than 100,000 installations nationwide. To put this number in context, it is […]
Australia’s Largest Rooftop Solar Installations
Do you know where Australia’s two largest rooftop solar power installations are located? This blog entry is an overview of what Australia’s two largest roof-mounted solar power installations–the Goyder Pavillion […]
Can I get more Solar Credits for a second solar system for my home?
A great number of people throughout Australia are taking advantage of the federal government’s Solar Credit scheme, which offers financial incentives for solar power installations on their homes. Many people […]
Batteries for Stand Alone Solar Power Systems: Maintenance
This is the third instalment in a series about batteries for stand-alone or off-grid power systems. Our first blog in the series provided a rundown on how to size a […]
Amendments to Solar Credits Discount Scheme for 2011
(There is a new, up-to-date as of January 2011 blog entry regarding the Enhanced Renewable Energy Target here. If you have any comments or questions please see that article first!) […]
Update on Solar Feed In Tariff incentives – State by State
2010 is coming to an end. However, that only means that it is going to get warmer and that the days are going to get longer. Which means that there […]
ACT solar feed in tariff overview
The ACT feed-in tariff scheme has concluded, but a 1:1 net feed-in tariff (where you are paid the retail electricity rate for electricity you feed into the grid) is still […]
Solar Powered Stand Alone Power Systems: Ways to minimize cost!
There are several components to designing a Solar Powered stand alone power system and thus there are several ways to minimize the cost of the system! This article will talk […]
