Researchers study coal-fired power plant emission effects on solar panels
An international research team studied the solar PV impact of emissions from a coal-fired power plant in the Atacama Desert, Chile finding that after five months of exposure, the deposited dust on co-located PV panels reached a maximum of 1.63 mg/cm2 with a 23 % reduction in photocurrent. The accumulation at the co-located plant was 3 times greater than nearby PV sites with similar coastal climate conditions.
GoodWe powers Victorian wildlife rescuers with donated solar system
Solar energy solutions companies, GoodWe and Six Star Plus, have teamed up with electrical wholesaler AWM Greentech Clayton to install an 8.4 kW solar system in support of a Victorian wildlife rescue operation.
Battery subsidy schemes proposed to cut bills and boost manufacturing
Battery subsidies are absent from the 2025-26 Federal Budget, but industry organisations are committed to pushing government forward to support the rollout of household batteries backed by local manufacturing.
Energy bill relief better served by behind-the-meter solutions education
Energy retailers are called upon to educate housholds about the benefits of behind-the-meter energy solutions after the Federal Budget’s short-term energy bill relief falls short of savings already delivered to households through rooftop solar, electric vehicles (EVs), and automated orchestration.
$2 billion CEFC commitment banks on future clean energy investments: Budget
The 2025-26 Federal Budget has committed $2 billion to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in solar and other renewable power, storage, energy efficiency, and low emissions technology, saying it will unlock a further $8 billion in investments.
Meridian to proceed with $206 million Ruakākā Solar Farm
Construction of New Zealand-headquartered Meridian Energy’s 120 MW Ruakākā Solar Farm is set to begin in August 2025, following the project reaching a final $206 million investment decision.
Early engagement with stakeholders key to enhance acceptance of agrivoltaics
An new report on agrivoltaic systems highlights early communications with local stakeholders goes a long way to enhance the societal acceptance of agrivoltaic projects, predicted to play roles in food production resilience and climate change mitigation.
Solar’s exponential growth disrupts global energy markets in 2024
Australian think tank Climate Energy Finance (CEF) says global energy markets are being reshaped by solar’s disruption, which is happening at speed, turbocharged by battery energy storage system firming.
Sydney basketball association scores interest-free solar and battery loan
The City of Sydney Basketball Association has a new donor-enabled 39.78 kW solar and 25.6 kWh battery system, funded via an interest-free loan from the national climate action charity CORENA.
New passive solar module cooling tech based on lightweight hydrogel
Researchers at Thailand’s Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology demonstrated a novel hydrogel that has high cooling effect on silicon PV panels.
