September 2023

Should the industry be alarmed at the potential degradation susceptibility of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells? Or are the problems easily addressed and more a reflection of rushed-to-market products? pv magazine contributor and consultant Götz Fischbeck reports.

EnergyAustralia’s plans to install a 500 MW/2,000 MWh big battery energy storage system adjacent to its Mt Piper coal-fired power station in New South Wales are gathering momentum with the Hong Kong-owned generator and retailer receiving approval to conduct site investigation works.

Queensland Pacific Metals has upgraded the focus of its finance strategy as it works towards a final investment decision for the $2.1 billion (USD 1.35 billion) fully approved battery materials project being developed near Townsville in northern Queensland.

Australia’s first coordinated renewable energy zone is a step closer to realisation with the environmental impact statement for the transmission infrastructure required to connect at least 3 GW of new clean energy generation capacity to the national grid now open for public scrutiny.

Origin Energy has secured a $45 million (USD 28.7 million) commitment from the New South Wales government to advance the development of a commercial-scale green hydrogen manufacturing hub on Kooragang Island near Newcastle.

Solar industry veteran Jigar Shah, the director of the US Department of Energy’s (DoE) Loan Programs Office, says that virtual power plants are the path to success, as solar net metering now faces an uncertain future.

Researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE developed new techniques to reduce silver consumption in tandem perovskite silicon solar cells and heterojunction silicon PV devices. The new processes relate to cell metallisation and module interconnection.

Australian communications giant Telstra has signed a power purchase agreement that will support the development of the 120 MW Munna Solar Farm being built near Gympie in southeast Queensland.

Queensland network operator Powerlink has released 40 works packages for suppliers to express their interest in working on the CopperString transmission link that is to stretch across the state’s north, helping to unlock large-scale solar and wind investment along with large deposits of minerals key to the energy transition.

La Trobe University plans to build what it says will be the largest urban solar farm in Victoria, with about 4,300 solar panels to be installed at its Bundoora campus in Melbourne’s north as part of the university’s goal to achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2029.