Weekend read: High time for solar
Cannabis prohibition drove a culture of clandestine production in the past and solar helped growers to cultivate it at remote, off-grid sites. Now, as a global commercial cannabis market emerges, solar has an even bigger role to play, reports Blake Matich.
Solar installer fined $32,000 after ignoring fall risk
A Victorian solar installer that ignored a seven-metre fall risk on a job site in Geelong has been convicted and ordered to pay almost $40,000 after pleading guilty to three charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
India surpasses 64 GW of installed solar capacity
The Indian states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka now account for more than 50% of the nation’s cumulative installed solar capacity.
WA government utility acquires 50% stake in local solar business
Western Australia’s regional utility, Horizon Power, has bought a 50% stake in local solar company West Australian Alternative Energy.
South Korea cuts capacity allocations from 4 GW to 2 GW in solar tenders
South Korea has cut its 2030 renewable energy target from 30.2% to just 21.6%, as it seeks to reduce support for solar and other clean energy sources, while preparing the ground for more nuclear power and liquefied natural gas. A lobby group is now challenging the plan in the Seoul Administrative Court.
Detailed customer energy data is becoming available, here’s what the government scheme could do for industry
Access to extremely detailed consumer energy data is becoming available in Australia part of the federal government’s Consumer Data Right scheme. Used imaginatively, the data has the potential to improve how investment decisions are made, and could even open up new approaches to energy retailing, Stuart Low, founder of Biza tells pv magazine Australia.
DAS Solar unveils n-type bifacial module for Australian market
Chinese module manufacturer DAS Solar has marked its entry into the Australian market with the release of an all-black n-type bifacial solar panel featuring an output of 410 W to 430 W and efficiencies of up to 22%.
New plug-and-play mobile PV system
The “Solar Box” mobile power plant is a container consisting of solar modules, a battery storage system, and a hydrogen storage system. According to Austria’s Alternative Energy Projects (AEP), the system starts at 94 kW and can be scaled up to more than 5 MW.
Sims announces plan to sell stake in LMS Energy
Metal recycling company Sims plans to offload its 50% stake in Queensland-headquartered renewable energy group LMS Energy which owns and operates six solar plants and 36 waste-to-energy facilities at landfill sites throughout Australia.
Shell Energy delivers battery-backed renewables solution for NSW
The Australian renewables and energy solutions arm of global energy Shell is finalising the installation of a solar-powered virtual power plant featuring battery energy storage systems deployed across 16 New South Wales government buildings.
