The 125 MW solar PV plant, which will supply the power-intensive zinc refinery near Townsville, is Australia’s largest operational industrial solar project.

At US$518.4 million, the quarterly turnover of the South Korean-German manufacturer was down 10.3% year-on-year, while its net result swung from a profit of $18.7 million in the second quarter of 2017, to a loss of $41.3 million in the latest quarter. Despite this, the outlook for full fiscal 2018 remains unchanged.

The driving force behind the innovative energy storage system installed at Amsterdam’s John Cruiff ArenA in the Netherlands, The Mobility House (TMH), talks to pv magazine about the death of the combustion engine, and how electric vehicles (EVs) are presenting both strong business cases, and unparalleled levels of flexibility via decentralized intelligence – blockchain technology – for electricity grids around the world.

SIMEC Zen Energy, the Australian energy arm of Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance, has officially launched its landmark US$1 billion (AU$1.38 billion) renewable energy initiative, announcing the details of its first project – the 280 MW Cultana Solar Farm.

South Australia readies to welcome another grid-scale Tesla battery – 25 MW / 52 MWh energy storage system to be installed at the Lake Bonney Wind Farm.

Green Investment Group, Macquarie Capital’s global green investment platform, has announced the acquisition of a significant solar development portfolio from German-headquartered EPC Conergy. The acquisition will see 88 solar experts join the GIG team.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has briefed the National Party MPs on its recommendation to prematurely wind down taxpayer-funded incentives for sub-100kW solar systems by 2021.

Yolk Property Group has partnered with Power Ledger to implement blockchain technology at their Evermore development – powered by solar PV and battery storage technology – allowing residents of the 24 apartments to buy and sell solar power amongst themselves, thus ensuring considerable saving on residents’ electricity bills.

A data center, which will be used for crypto and Bitcoin mining, will be powered by a combination of solar power generated at an adjacent 20 MW solar PV farm and coal-fired generator.

As pv magazine has learnt, the Saudi energy giant lowered its offer to $0.02752/kWh at the last minute, beating the bid lodged by Spain’s Fotowatio, which offered $0.02791 per kWh.

Arizona State University researchers have determined that a 32% efficient perovskite-silicon tandem cell could produce electricity at the same price as cutting-edge 22% efficient panels in the most cost-competitive of situations

When pioneering and award-winning solar researcher Stuart Wenham passed away suddenly shortly before Christmas last year, some in the PV industry may have wondered what would become of his research into the role of hydrogen in crystalline silicon cells. His daughter, Alison Ciesla is answering that question alongside Wenham’s former team at UNSW, advancing its work into the crucial role of hydrogen in the degradation of silicon cells.

An energy production and trading scheme designed for the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide will incorporate one of Australia’s largest rooftop solar arrays to provide energy to businesses and homes within the growing precinct.

In its annual reports, the Australian Energy Market Commission has proposed a number of changes to tighten Australia’s power system and improve reliability and regulation, reflecting on opportunities and challenges created by a significant increase in the uptake of distributed energy resources. The new recommendations are likely to encourage network development towards P2P energy trading, VPPs and electric vehicle charging.

Belgian research institute Imec has announced the achievement of 27.1% efficiency on a perovskite/silicon tandem cell, providing further evidence of the technology’s potential to provide a low cost efficiency boost to existing PV technology.

According to PV Info Link, the price for monocrystalline cells in China fell below that of the usually cheaper multicrystalline products. However analysts expect it to be a blip, with multi prices expected to fall and mono to be supported by the Top Runner Program, now China’s main source of demand for the rest of 2018.

The deal gives SunPower $25 million in cash and 7.5 million shares in Enphase. Enphase also gains access to SunPower microinverter IP, and rights to SunPower’s Equinox AC modules line.

The Chinese manufacturer has seen its revenue decline significantly in the second quarter of this year, despite quarterly shipments dropping just 3.1%. This performance, which confirms a trend that was already clear in fiscal year 2017, was mainly due to lower solar module ASPs. Quarterly net profit, however, has more than doubled. Despite recent developments in the Chinese PV market, the company maintains its shipment outlook for full fiscal year 2018, in which it hopes to ship between 11.5 GW and 12 GW.

Taiwanese cell producer, Neo Solar Power has posted a net loss of NT$390 million (US$12.75 million) for the second quarter of 2018. Though indicative of the difficult times currently facing Taiwan’s cell manufacturers, the figures represent a 39.3% reduction compared with the previous quarter’s loss.

Shanghai Electric says the Chinese government’s abrupt decision to rein in solar was a significant factor in the collapse of its planned US$3.64 billion acquisition of a controlling stake in the world’s biggest poly maker.

According to the latest statistics from the Clean Energy Council (CEC), there are 42 wind and solar projects totaling 6239 MW worth close to $10 billion currently in construction or due to start soon across Australia. The unprecedented large-scale renewables activity is, however, surrounded by growing uncertainty over future policy and regulatory change.

The Western Australia government has signaled scrapping or winding back subsidies for rooftop solar, while looking for ways to boost battery uptake.

Looking back on the 2017-18 financial year, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has confirmed it provided $1.1 billion towards renewable energy projects, including 10 large-scale solar projects.

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s wide-ranging and detailed Integrated System Plan prompted a flurry of media reactions that boil down to two conflicting interpretations of its purpose. Some interpreted the findings as a call to hold on tight to coal-fired power, while others a remarkable confirmation that renewables are the optimal electricity source of the future, and high penetrations are both practicable and cost effective.

The Tasmanian government is undertaking a review of the FiT support scheme, which it says will lower the cost of electricity for Tasmanian households and small businesses. With one of the state’s largest commercial solar PV projects commissioned yesterday, the government is edging towards its objective of making Tasmania’s electricity 100% renewable by 2022.