Rooftop solar power is becoming so cheap, and will become so abundant, that we will reach the situation where the kilowatt-hours of use (i.e. the production) are effectively free, the […]
Category: Solar Choice News
Solar Choice’s news service about local, national and global developments about solar photovoltaics and related technology.
Residential Solar PV Price Index – May 2017
Average solar system installation prices for May 2017 hover at the same level as April‘s – $1.57 per watt ($1.57/W). 5kW solar systems continue to offer the best value for money […]
Commercial Solar PV Price Index for May 2017
Average commercial solar system prices remain unchanged for the second month in a row, coming in at $1.23/W, according to pricing from the Solar Choice commercial installer network database. Average […]
RET very much in reach with record $7.5bn renewables spend
Australia is experiencing its biggest ever investment spree in large-scale renewable energy, according to two new sets of data, putting the 2020 renewable energy target well within reach. The Clean […]
NSW solar feed-in tariff to increase: Three things to keep in mind
In a bit of good news for NSW solar PV system owners, state regulatory body IPART has released a draft report recommending that the benchmark solar feed-in tariff rate be […]
Dropping solar and wind costs means renewable exports could replace gas and coal
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency set to announce that hydrogen projects will become one of its new investment priorities in the coming year, just as the country is being urged […]
Deutsche Bank predicts continued growth for global solar market
Global investment group Deutsche Bank has predicted continued growth for the global solar market, bumping up its 2017 estimate for total demand to 82GW, from a previous forecast of 74GW. […]
“Mobile solar” plants to challenge diesel for use in mines, construction sites
Australian developed “mobile solar” technology will be tested at the 1MW scale in New South Wales, after winning a new grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The modular, mobile […]
Coalition governments holding back renewable energy
New South Wales might be Australia’s only mainland state or territory with a Coalition government and energy minister, but that hasn’t stopped it from having high renewables and emissions reduction […]
Residential Solar PV Price Index – April 2017
Average residential solar system prices for April 2017 have crept to a fresh low of $1.57 per watt ($1.57/W) – slightly lower than March‘s average of $1.58/W but in keeping […]
Victoria beats South Australia tender with 100+ proposals
Victoria’s battery storage tender has attracted some 110 proposals, outstripping even the extraordinary response to the rival tender in South Australia. Officials confirmed the tender numbers last week, with more than […]
Solar Analytics to launch “game changing” energy management system
NSW energy technology company Solar Analytics is set to roll out a new and improved suite of smart home software and hardware aimed at helping consumers maxmise energy efficiency and […]
Victoria’s Hazelwood shuts down for good
Victoria’s Hazelwood brown coal power station shut down the last of its 8 units at 4pm on Wednesday, the latest and the most powerful symbol of the vast and rapid […]
Commercial Solar PV Price Index for March 2017
Average commercial solar system prices continue to decrease for the third month in a row, this month hitting a new all-time low of $1.21 per watt. Commercial solar system prices […]
Victoria’s pricing regulator sees network value in rooftop solar
Victoria’s pricing regulator has recognised there is network value in rooftop solar, but says it is difficult to measure it without the development of a grid services market. Since being […]
SA Government looks for one hour of battery storage to be built
The South Australian government is looking for only one hour of battery storage to be built from its up-coming tender, a stipulation that potentially rules out some technologies from applying. […]
Residential Solar PV Price Index – March 2017
Average residential solar PV system prices in Australia crept down to $1.58 per watt ($1.58/W) from $1.60 in February, according to data from Solar Choice’s installer network database. Although so […]
Whitsunday, Hamilton and Gannawarra Solar Farms move into construction
It’s been an epic journey! As three large-scale solar farms (totalling 198 MW (DC)) now progress into construction, it’s timely for all of us here at Solar Choice to take […]
Malcolm Turnbull announces $2 billion on 2GW pumped hydro scheme
Malcolm Turnbull has announced federal government plans to spend $2 billion on a 2GW pumped hydro scheme in New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains, in what could be the most significant […]
New smart meter from carbonTRACK to benefit households, bolster grid resilience
Australian home energy management system developer carbonTRACK has announced the launch of an ‘intelligent smart meter’ that promises to benefit households, electricity retailers and grid operators alike. For end users, the […]
Localvolts’ vision for a truly peer-to-peer electricity market
There are now well over 1.5 million households in Australia with solar PV systems on their roofs, altogether comprising over 6 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generation capacity – about the […]
SA to spend $500 million on Australia’s largest battery storage and gas power plant
South Australia has announced plans to install the nation’s biggest battery storage installation, as part of a state government response to the series of blackouts and what it says are […]
Australian Energy Market Operator warns of looming domestic gas supply crisis
The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned of a looming domestic gas supply crisis, and noted that shortages over the 2018/19 summer would present huge opportunities for new technologies such as […]
LG Chem: solar and battery storage beating grid power in most Australian states
South Korean battery storage maker LG Chem has claimed that solar and battery storage is already beating grid power in most Australian states. According to Jamie Allen, the marketing head […]
Coal, the biggest risk to grid security, not solar or wind
A new study has found that the biggest threat to network stability in Australia’s electricity grid comes not from an increase in renewables, but from the control settings on the […]
Aquion Energy files for chapter 11 bankruptcy
US ‘saltwater’ battery manufacturer Aquion Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to a press release issued by the company overnight. Chapter 11 bankruptcy, sometimes referred to as ‘reorganisation’ […]
Coalition’s “clean coal” plan to power heavyweights Gina and Clive in Galilee basin
A 2009 proposal from businessman Clive Palmer that would be used to help provide electricity to Galilee coal mines planned by Palmer himself, Gina Rinehart, and Indian group Adani, has […]
Neoen aims to reach 1GW wind and solar by 2020
French renewables company Neoen has revealed plans to install a total 1GW of large-scale wind and solar in Australia, after completing finance for the 109MW Hornsdale 3 wind farm in […]
Believe the Hype: Australia’s Battery Market set to skyrocket
For quite some time I’d dismissed the hype about the attractiveness of installing grid-connected batteries in Australia. Yes, everyone loves the idea of energy independence, and would love to give […]
Commercial Solar PV Price Index for February 2017
The average price of commercial-scale solar system installations in Australia dropped to a new all-time low of $1.23 per watt ($/W), according to data from the Solar Choice installer network […]
Global battery storage industry to fight Australia home bans
Some of the world’s biggest battery manufacturing brands have signalled they will fight new battery storage guidelines proposed for Australia, saying the restrictions are over the top and don’t conform […]
