Australians install record 3 million small-scale renewable energy systems – CER
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has released figures showing that the number of small-scale renewable energy installs has passed the 3 million milestone, with rooftop solar accounting for 63% of the total.
Long read: Hybrid, low cost
Hybridization of power supply, through the inclusion of renewables, offers Australian mining companies the opportunity to score a significant “triple win” in the form of reduced cash operating costs, reduced fuel prices and reduced exposure to carbon risk.
CEC: Clean energy industry sees banner year in 2017, major breakthrough to come in next two years
With an unprecedented rollout of rooftop solar reaching 1.1 GW and around 700 MW of large-scale renewable energy projects completed and connected to the grid, last year was an important turning point for Australia’s clean energy industry, shows the Clean Energy Council in its latest report. However, seven times bigger capacity of utility-scale projects with financial support or under construction at the year’s end is poised to eclipse 2017.
Interview: “We played a huge role in large scale solar becoming commercially viable”
The booming large scale and rooftop PV market in 2018 is providing many reasons to be optimistic about the future of solar under the Australian sun. In reflecting on his six-year tenure as CEO at ARENA, ahead of his departure in August, Ivor Frischknecht points to the role the agency has placed in bringing down the costs of large scale solar in Australia as ARENA’s greatest achievement.
Report: Business not waiting for lower power prices, 46,000 have installed PV
Australian businesses are not waiting for lower power prices to fall. Instead, they are turning to roofop PV in record numbers, with a new report illustrating how C&I solar installations increased 60% from 2016 to 2017.
100 MW months emerge as new normal for small-scale PV installs
Green Energy Markets’ small-scale solar figures for April reveal that above 100 MW is emerging as the new normal for the segment in 2018. While the month was below the record-setting 127 MW in March, April’s 109 MW indicates that installations north of 100 MW can be expected from the residential and small commercial sector for some time into the future.
Image Resources to power mineral sands operation with 3-4 MW PV
Image Resources has signed a deal with Perth-based Sunrise Energy Group to purchase the power from a 3-4 MW solar PV array, to power 25% of its mineral sands mining operations.
Walmart to host solar power on 130 more sites
The world’s largest retailer has slipped in recent rankings, but is planning to pursue more solar, both at its facilities and through third-party purchases of power.
UQ rooftop project demonstrates power optimizer value at C&I scale
In August 2017, Solar Hybrids completed a 226 kW array at the UQ’s Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence (PACE) in Brisbane. The system, across two rooftops presented a significant challenge in that both roofs were partially shaded. By utilizing SolarEdge, an additional 60 kW could be added to the array.
Solar to top 104 GW of new installations this year, finds GTM Research
Latest Global Solar Demand Monitor from GTM Research forecasts 6% annual increase in PV installation growth although current largest markets will register 7% contraction while geographic diversification poised to grow.
