Rooftop solar’s success results in “struggling” large-scale segment
As Australia’s rooftop solar wracks up records, price cannibalisation has resulted in a “struggling” large scale market segment. Victoria University’s Energy Policy Centre head Bruce Mountain says that increasingly depressed wholesale electricity prices during the day is squeezing out big PV.
Local council approves Akaysha Energy’s Tasmania BESS
Akaysha Energy has received planning approval for its proposed 100 MW/200 MWh Palmerston battery energy storage system (BESS) in Tasmania. The battery is located close to the TasRex Northern Midlands solar farm development.
CEFC backs Neoen 238.5 MW Blyth Battery
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is one of five institutions confirmed to back Neoen’s South Australian 238.5 MW / 477 MWh Blyth Battery, further securing its 70 MW green power contract with BHP to supply the Olympic Dam mine site.
Entering the renewables era
Following strong global solar installation figures in 2023, Alexa Capital co-founder and partner Gerard Reid sees enormous potential for a renewables revolution.
Australian EV fast charging sites set to double in 2024
Data analysis and clean technology research company, Next System reports 2024 is set to see a further doubling of public fast charging sites. Next System has found that the number electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Australia almost doubled in 2023.
Research finds climate, degradation rethink on inverter lifespans required
New research from Belgium shows the importance of assessing inverter reliability by including climate-based PV panel degradation rates. The scientists found that, especially in hot and arid climates, PV inverters should be designed with parameters above the standard value.
More than 2,500 low-income homeowners in NSW take up rebate swap for solar offer
The NSW state government’s Rebate Swap for Solar program has attracted 2,700 households to the scheme, which it says will take $600 a year off energy bills. The energy, environment and climate change ministry announced the scheme’s progress this week.
PV manufacturing should start immediately, viability study finds
The Silicon to Solar (Roadmap) study has found Australian PV supply chain manufacturing is viable and calls for immediate action to establish it as a strategic priority industry and set up a solar manufacturing taskforce.
Communities rally to say ‘yes to renewables’
Renewable energy supporters and unions were activated last weekend to attend simultaneous family events in Wollongong and Newcastle, NSW, Gippsland and Portland, Victoria, and Gladstone, Queensland in support of solar, wind, and large scale energy storage. The events stood in contrast to growing community resistance to renewables and electricity transmission projects.
UNSW research finds solar can act as early bushfire warning system
While investigating on the effects of wildfire smoke on rooftop PV installations, University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers have found that solar arrays, due to their sensitivity to smoke, could serve as an early warning detection of wildfires by providing temporal and spatial information on the presence and approximate concentrations of smoke.
