Jonathan Gifford
CEFC to provide $90 million for new-home solar+storage program
Home builder Mirvac is partnering with the CEFC to provide rooftop PV and battery storage systems for more than 300 new family homes. The renewable energy systems will include 5.1 kW rooftop systems and 10 kWh batteries.
Report: Liberal Steven Marshall wrong on power price claim, ordered to print retraction
SA Liberal leader, and potential premier, Steven Marshall has been ordered to print a retraction for his campaign claim that the Liberal Energy Solution will save South Australians more than $300 per household.
Varta enters Australian residential storage market
German energy storage producer Varta Storage has entered the Australian market. It is introducing the pulse 3 and pulse 6 models, sized at 3.3 kWh and 6.5 kWh.
Tesvolt releases outdoor storage system, targets remote communities, offgrid applications
German energy storage system manufacturer Tesvolt has launched a new battery storage system designed to withstand testing outdoor applications. The TS HV 70 can be equipped with up to four battery racks and inverters, allowing it to scale from 67 kWh up to 307 kWh.
Younicos introduces industrial storage-as-a-service
German energy storage provider Younicos is introducing C&I battery storage systems on a rental basis. The company says service is ideal for offgrid industries such as the Australian mining sector.
Powershop and Reposit partner on VPP
Retailer Powershop Australia is partnering with Reposit Power to offer a customers with rooftop PV and battery storage a quarterly payment plan in exchange for access to customers’ batteries. The Virtual Power Plant program will be called Grid Impact and Powershop says it will help stabilise the electricity network.
SERA: Global oil and gas companies step into large-scale solar
Oil and gas giants Total and BP are entering the Australian large-scale solar segment. Rystad SERA made the observation in its latest report.
Report: Full retail contestability plans for WA on hold
Western Australian households and small businesses may have to continue to rely on Synergy for their electricity. Media reports indicate that the WA Labor Government is backing away from plans to introduce full retail contestability (FRC) for residential and small commercial electricity consumers.
Rooftop installations above 2017’s record-breaking year
February rooftop solar installations exceeded 115 MW, well above the less-than 80 MW installed in the same month 2017 – itself a record-breaking solar year in Australia. Green Energy Markets’ latest STC figures reveal the “extraordinary” installation rates.
Too much solar? Not now, not a problem
The Grattan Institute has warned that surging small-scale solar system installations are depressing midday wholesale electricity prices – giving reason for subsidies to be cut and putting downward pressure of residential PV FITs. Green Energy Markets’ Tristan Edis says the level of solar generation is not yet a problem, and that simple solutions to absorb solar energy during the day are at hand.
