Commercial & Industrial PV

Forget the beer goggles, settle into the spectacles of a sunny disposition and thank whatever gods may be for beer, solar panels and sunshine. That’s what Melbourne’s Moon Dog Brewing has done with the installation of a near 100 kW solar system atop their brewpub. Inspired by the savings made on emissions and electricity bills, the brewers have released a limited edition solar-powered IPA.

Unlike other nations with more limited land and faster growing populations, Australia has not yet understood the symbiotic benefits which accrue when solar PV and agriculture are combined. This week, the Victorian Government announced its Horticulture Solar Energy program and $5 million in funding for the Tatura SmartFarm to experiment with solar atop a pear orchard.

The Western Australian state government has awarded $2.6 million in grants to install solar power at two Goldfields mining projects.

The Hills International College and Golf Academy in Jimboomba, Queensland (QLD), which boasts former World Number 1 Jason Day as an alumnus, is partnering with Sydney-based renewable energy outfit Energy Estate to develop the Jimboomba Renewable Hydrogen Plant. 

Peel Renewable Energy is about to energise its 1.2 MW solar farm, which forms the heart of a fresh, phased microgrid approach to industrial-estate development. That is, grid infrastructure remains small, while the renewably powered microgrid grows to meet the needs of incoming businesses.

Electricity retailer Microgrid Power is starting from scratch but plans to have a “substantial” portfolio of embedded solar PV networks, ranging in capacity from 100-300 kW each, established across Australia by the end of 2021.

Western Australia-based solar glass developer ClearVue has commenced installation of its transparent solar PV glazing panels at what will be the world’s first clear solar glass greenhouse.

The Australian Capital Territory’s latest Feed-in Tarrif report found that Canberrans are increasingly contributing to their territory’s 100% renewable energy supply thanks to the increasing uptake of rooftop solar.

Carnegie Clean Energy’s Garden Island Microgid, which supplies energy to the HMAS Stirling Navy Base, has successfully recommenced operations after a brief disconnection period to allow for Navy upgrades to its electricity system.

The latest in Cleantech Solar’s 500+ MW portfolio of solar projects rolling out on manufacturing-facility rooftops across Asia is a major Indonesian tyre producer set to green the supply chain for future vehicles.