BHP begins shift to solar to power WA mining operation
International mining giant BHP has pushed forward with its first large-scale off-grid renewable energy project, installing the first solar PV panels at a 10.7 MW solar farm that will help power the company’s estimated $1 billion Nickel West mining operation in regional Western Australia.
Solar power target eclipsed in Queensland schools program
The Queensland government has exceeded its own expectations with 200,000 PV panels installed at more than 900 schools across the state as part of a $168 million solar installation program designed to help slash electricity costs and cut carbon emissions.
Maxeon partners with Reclaim PV to save panels from landfill
Solar manufacturer Maxeon Solar Technologies has teamed with Adelaide-headquartered solar panel collection and recycling company Reclaim PV Recycling to recover and recycle SunPower branded solar panels in Australia.
Start-up unveils solar thermal panel for large-scale applications
The panel has an absorption area of 1.96 m2 and a weight of 27 kg per square metre. According to the manufacturer – Swiss start-up TVP Solar – it may be a real booster for thermal output, by combining it with photovoltaics and heat pumps to provide enhanced output per square meter, in particular for low-temperature applications such as district heating.
Five things to consider in designing and commissioning high performance solar-plus-storage projects
No two projects are alike, and sharing the lessons learned from working on these highly complex systems can help accelerate the deployment of energy storage with essential clean energy assets.
Homes with solar sell for $125,000 more on average
Energy efficient homes, like those with solar panels, fetch, on average, a premium of over 17% in Australia – though that figure grows to 28.9% in Queensland and 24% in Victoria, according to a report from real estate company Domain.
Can renewables curtailment be rethought as a good thing?
While curtailing solar and wind energy production can be viewed as a lost opportunity, NREL argues that it may be an important feature in the future energy grid dominated by low-cost renewable energy.
Canyon Solar unveils scalable shade solution for commercial applications
Australian renewable energy start-up Canyon Solar has unveiled a prefabricated solar PV shade structure for commercial carpark applications that it claims can be installed at least three times faster than traditional systems and outcompetes rooftop solar PV on a dollar-per-watt basis.
Heat wave sparks fire at solar park in the Netherlands
The fire affected an area of around 5,000 square meters but did not damage the solar panels. The local fire brigade was able to control the fire in around two hours.
Turnbull backs US solar energy company’s technology to decarbonise heavy industry
Former Australian prime minister Malcom Turnbull has joined the advisory board of resurrected American concentrated solar thermal energy company GlassPoint as it looks to target mining and manufacturing companies with its clean energy technology.
