Commercial & Industrial PV

Melbourne University’s Energy Transition Hub has released an update on its popular OpenNEM data tool, adding historical data to the searchable stream of information on where Australia’s energy is coming from, how we use it and what it costs.

Australia’s solar PV capacity additions tripled in 2018, as its rooftop solar fleet continued to set new records high and big PV experienced an unprecedented growth. While stabilization in electricity prices could lead to a slowdown in the rooftop solar segment in all states except Victoria, it is unlikely to result in a noticeable decline in sales in 2019. Large-scale solar PV is in line for over 3 GW this coming year, while small power stations up to 5 MW will also get their time to shine.

According to Rocky Mountain Institute corporations have signed contracts for 2.8 GW of solar in the United States this year, a gigawatt more than the deals signed in all previous years combined.

In what is being billed as Australia’s first off-grid, 100% renewable energy project in the oil and gas sector, Santos will power 56 crude oil pumps into solar and battery storage. The project has won a grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

A new report by the Climate Council celebrates thousands of Australian food and beverage producers switching to solar PV and wind energy to power their businesses.

NSW’s University of Newcastle has signed a seven-year contract to cover 100% of its electricity needs across its Newcastle and Central Coast campuses with renewable energy, specifically a mix of solar, wind and hydro power.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing $1 million to Ausgrid to boost its innovative grant program for rooftop solar and energy efficient lighting. The program aims to reduce participating customer’s bills, as well as avoid costly network upgrades, in parts of Sydney with low renewables uptake.

As part of its Roadmap to Renewables Plan and transition to 50% renewable energy by 2030, the NT government is set to roll out rooftop solar on up to 25 schools across the state over the next three years.

The 2018 NSW Smart Energy Summit was crowded with attendees eager to hear former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, unfettered by party politics, address the state’s solar and renewables sector.

After around 1200 applications were lodged for the original 1500 packages in as little as two weeks, the Queensland government has introduced an additional 1000 battery grant packages to help households and small businesses cut their energy bills with the help of solar and storage.