Weekend read: Time to talk curtailment
It’s time to assess curtailment, as rising amounts of excess generation are being wasted in several markets. This can be problematic for the solar industry but Toby Couture and David Jacobs, coordinators of think tank Global Solar PV Brain Trust, argue that curtailment is not always bad.
U.S. startup claims doubled energy output with terrain-following solar array
United States-headquartered startup Planted Solar uses construction robots and high-density arrays to deliver what the company says are higher energy outputs per hectare and lower balance of system costs.
Batteries on wheels trial gets $3.2 million boost
Over the next three years energy retailer and tech company Amber Electric will trial a software solution for electric vehicle smart charging and bi-directional vehicle-to-grid services to enable consumers using their cars can buy and sell energy to the grid.
New South Wales Budget opens a $3.5 billion purse to climate change and energy
Climate change and energy received a $3.5 billion commitment in the New South Wales Budget on 18 June, plus $3.1 billon to deliver renewable energy zones, which got an extra $128 million boost to upgrade roads between them and the Port of Newcastle.
European Energy seeks green light for 1.1 GW Queensland solar plant
Danish renewables giant European Energy is seeking federal environmental approval for its plans to build a 1.1 GW solar farm near the industrial city of Gladstone in central Queensland.
Aiko presents ABC solar module with world record efficiency of 25.2%
The Chinese back-contact module maker said its new products rely on the company’s all-back-contact cell technology and feature a temperature coefficient of -0.26% per C.
Virtual power plant connects to community housing
South Australia’s virtual power plant has partnered with community housing provider, Unity Housing, to supply low cost energy to disadvantaged tenants, as part of its fourth phase to connect more than 7,500 households with clean energy.
New $100 million challenge targets 50 GW per year
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has dangled a $100 million carrot in front of the world’s best and brightest solar industry proponents to help lower solar and electricity costs to scale up annual installation in Australia from 5 GW per year to 50 GW.
Sunshine Coast to host Australian first local renewable energy zone
A “nation first” local renewable energy zone will be established on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast as part of a pilot program designed to boost rooftop solar generation, store it and share it locally across the poles and wires infrastructure that already exists.
Pacific adds 700 MW NSW solar farm to growing pipeline
Australian infrastructure developer Pacific Partnerships has added one of the largest proposed solar farms in Australia to its growing portfolio, purchasing the development rights for the 700 MW Cobbora Solar Farm and co-located battery energy storage project planned for western New South Wales.
