Researchers at UK’s Loughborough University have developed a new multi-layer anti-reflection (AR) coating for solar panels that simultaneously reduces reflection and improves module efficiency. The AR coating developed at the […]
Category: Installation advice
Solar Choice blog articles about what to consider when installing your solar power system.
Solar solution for apartment owners
Australia has one of the highest per capita and rooftop penetration rates of solar power in the world. Our position at the top of the rankings is largely because we […]
Solar’s rise to dominance closer than we think
The use of solar power is increasing at a prodigious rate around the world and Australia is no exception. In fact solar’s growth may be have already reached an unforeseen […]
Panasonic breaks silicon efficiency record after 15 years with a 25.6% efficient HIT cell
After a run of nearly 15 years, the record efficiency for silicon solar cells was finally broken last week. Panasonic Corporation announced last Thursday (10 April 2014) that it has […]
Australia’s RayGen secures funds to manufacture concentrating PV technology
Australian solar technology start-up RayGen has signed a $60 million equity and manufacturing deal to help accelerate a technology that it believes will generate $1 billion in sales by 2020. […]
Sun MonitOZ: Solar system performance app (Currently seeking beta-testers)
The popularity of rooftop solar power systems has soared globally in recent years, and Australia remains one of the global leaders for home solar uptake. This is due in part […]
Ecoppia offers automated, robotic, water-free cleaning solution for large PV farms
Ecoppia, an Israeli solar startup, has introduced the Ecoppia E4, a new robot-based automatic panel cleaning system that it claims is water-free, making it one of the first such systems […]
Solar PV system prices for April 2014
Average 1.5kW solar system prices appear to have plateaued between March and April after steadily rising over the course of the last 8 months or so, while prices for 2kW […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
IMEC reaches record 8.4% cell efficiency for fullerene-free organic solar cells
Belgian research institute, Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), has achieved a record-breaking 8.4% efficiency for its new organic solar cell made without fullerenes, marking yet another step towards making organic solar […]
Rooftop solar power system prices in Sydney, NSW: How much does a system cost?
Sydney, NSW is home to some of the lowest solar power system prices in Australia. This article takes a look at solar PV prices and how to get the most […]
GTAT announces new bus-bar-free interconnection technology
GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) has announced a new metallization and interconnection technology for solar modules (trademarked ‘Merlin’) that is expected to significantly slash module manufacturing and installation costs. Terming the […]
Researchers create colourful solar cells using hybrid organic-inorganic PV technology
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new, eye-catching transparent photovoltaic cell using a novel mixture of organic and inorganic materials, thereby bringing colourful photovoltaics one step closer […]
Khosla-backed Stion delivers 20% module efficiency with novel tandem technology
If the recent trail of new innovations is any clue, the race to find a new champion to boost the fortunes of thin film solar has never been more intense. […]
Solar PV Price Index–March 2014
Between February and March, average 1.5kW and 2kW solar PV system prices continued their steady rise in all cities included in the PV Price Index except for Adelaide, while pricing […]
New JA Solar panels mark entry of black silicon technology
JA Solar has recently launched two new high-efficiency PV modules at the recent PV Expo in Japan: the 285W PERCIUM module and the 270W RIECIUM module. The announcement marks the […]
New pomegranate-like material boosts lithium-ion battery performance
In an interesting case of biomimicry, scientists at Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have designed a new electrode material for lithium-ion batteries using silicon nanoparticles clustered like […]
Germany to build world’s first modular, multi-technology battery storage system
Can’t decide on which battery technology to use for your next big energy storage project? Well, now you can use them all! A consortium consisting of researchers, an electric utility, […]
Gum-like electrolyte makes Li-ion batteries safer
An icky-sticky wad of chewing gum under your shoe is definitely annoying, but what makes gum sticky may soon keep your laptop or grid storage battery from exploding. Researchers at Washington […]
New silicone-based AR coating promises 7% higher PV energy output
Glass anti-reflection coatings have been the low-hanging fruit for improving PV module efficiencies, but reaching for it requires the right mix of low-cost approaches and smart science. Researchers at the […]
Solar Choice now offering 2nd commercial solar PV finance package
Commercial solar power is one of the fastest-growing sectors for the solar industry in Australia, with more and more businesses turning to solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to insulate themselves against rising electricity […]
Solar PV Price Index–February 2014
Average prices for systems of all common sizes included (1.5kW-10kW) in almost all cities have increased this month, with 1.5kW systems rising the most. Systems in Canberra appeared to undergo a decrease […]
Paper and PV: Wood pulp-based material boosts organic PV efficiency
Solar cells today are made from a wide cocktail of materials, from earth-abundant materials (Silicon and Carbon) to exotic rare earth metals (Indium, Gallium, etc), and from polymers to organic […]
Rooftop solar already less expensive than grid power–even in Europe
A report from the biggest solar research centre in Europe suggests that rooftop solar PV is clearly cheaper than electricity sourced from the grid – even in northern European countries […]
