Copper miner Oz Minerals has announced the launch of a new energy & mining collaboration (EMC), with six other companies, institutions and ministries, to seek out innovative ways to develop and incorporate renewable energy and demand management into mine sites.

AGL has completed a 2.12 MW ground-mounted solar PV system at Santos’ Port Bonython hydrocarbon processing plant in Whyalla, South Australia. The installation represents a step in the right direction for Santos’ emissions reduction program.

Some commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftops remain shut off to solar installers. Weight constraints and roofs that cannot be penetrated by mourning structures can make a building unsuitable for PV. However, the major constraint for many enterprise owners or tenants is that they may no be able to benefit from the full 25-30 year lifetime of the system. The good news: it’s a challenge that can be overcome, says James Larratt, the CEO at Australian PV startup Solpod.

As Australians seek to control rising energy costs and tackle the damaging impacts of climate change, rooftop solar has boomed. To manage the variability of rooftop solar – broadly, the “no power at night” problem – we will also see a rapid increase in battery storage.

Sydney headquartered MinterEllison has released a wide-ranging international survey that found that renewable energy investors stand ready to increase their activities in the next two years. Australian renewable greenfield projects are particularly attractive, with U.S. investors most likely to play an increasingly active role in the marketplace. 

The April shelving of a major solar thermal plant has done little to slow the pace of renewable energy projects being proposed in South Australia.

With 50 small utility scale arrays installed at South Australian farms, Yates Electrical Services is looking to continue its work in adding power-exporting PV arrays to rural properties. The next step: adding storage to trade during peak demand periods, and moving into solar power retailing, says Mark Yates.

With market penetration exceeding expectations in 2018, bifacial technology is set to account for one third of global solar module production by 2022, writes Edurne Zoco, Research Director at IHS Markit. Bifacial and half-cell technologies are rapidly gaining momentum due to their improvements in power output, along with their low implementation barriers and minimal capex requirements.

Matching solar supply and energy consumption within a household or business can deliver powerful energy savings. When extended over multi-dwelling properties, like apartment buildings or retirement communities, the benefits are multiple, says Cameron Knox co-founder and CEO of Allume Energy. 

Lithium ion battery technology continues to hog the limelight, powered by the growing demand for the battery chemistry from the EV sector. But long established lead acid batteries also have a future, argues Alistair Davidson, the Director of the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI).