Rooftop solar surges to new high on back of battery boom
Australia’s rooftop solar market climbed by 31% in the past month with the latest data revealing that a record 442 MW of small-scale PV capacity was installed across the country in April 2026.
Pilbara mining operation plugs into renewable energy
Chinese miner Citic Pacific has flicked the switch on a new solar and battery microgrid that is now helping power its Fortescue River mining accommodation precinct in Western Australia’s northwest.
Elecnor confirms construction milestone for NZ’s biggest yet solar farm
The last of 330,000 PV panels has been installed at the Tauhei Solar Farm in New Zealand, marking a key milestone in the construction of what is set to be that country’s largest operational solar farm when it comes online later this year.
Premier Energies unveils 600-630 W all-black TOPCon solar modules
The Indian manufacturer said its new all-black panel series features a power conversion efficiency of up to 23.32% and a bifaciality factor of up to 85%.
Edenvale project tops Rystad’s utility PV performance table
The 204 MW Edenvale Solar Park in Queensland’s Western Downs region has been identified by energy consultancy Rystad Energy as the best performing large-scale PV asset in Australia last month.
Federal scheme supports 10 new generation and battery projects for WA
Western Australia’s shift from coal and gas to renewables has taken a major step forward with the federal government backing more than 2 GW of new renewable energy and battery storage projects set to be built across the state.
Field tests show tracker-based bifacial PV outperforms fixed-tilt counterparts with 13.5% higher ouput in desert enviroments
A Qatari research team found that utilising bifacial 2P horizontal single-axis tracking PV systems in desert conditions produced up to 13.5% more electricity than fixed-tilt systems over long-term field testing. The study also showed strong seasonal and technology-dependent performance, with tracker advantages varying with irradiance and weather conditions.
Risen Energy unveils new C&I energy storage system solution
China-headquartered solar panel and energy storage solutions manufacturer Risen Energy has announced its RisenStack Pro Modular ESS has passed Australia’s new C&I energy storage certification – covering electrical safety, EMC, and functional safety, and complies with Australian standards.
350,000 installations in 10 months under Cheaper Home Batteries Program
The federal government has reported that 350,000 households, small businesses and community organisations have installed battery energy storage systems in the past 10 months, under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
New irrigation tech helps reduce water use in agrivoltaics
Spanish researchers found that combining agrivoltaics with regulated deficit irrigation can cut tomato irrigation water use by about 50%, while improving land-use efficiency through simultaneous crop and solar energy production.
