Installations

A 30 kW vertical array has powered up at Australia’s Casey research station in Antarctica. The project is one the largest solar installations on the southernmost, ice-covered continent.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place last Friday at the Chinese PV module maker’s utility-scale PV project in Western Australia’s wheatbelt region.

Canadian Solar has been acquiring utility scale projects and signing module supply and EPC deals at a rapid pace in recent months. For Shawn Qu, Canadian’s Founder and CEO, he would prefer the market to continue at a stable level, rather than boom and bust. And he argues that the dual role of module maker and developer delivers value insights into pricing and technology trades – giving the company an advantage over rivals. 

If re-elected on Saturday, the NSW Coalition will change strata laws to reduce the minimum votes needed to install solar panels, battery storage and electric vehicle charging points in strata buildings. The government has also pledged to give $20 million more funding to the Emerging Energy Program and $10 million in funding for a solar panel and battery recycling program.

Around $9.4 million has been allocated for 11 projects to trial short-term forecasting for large wind and solar farms under a funding initiative by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) in partnership with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). The trial aims to improve the accuracy of market outcomes.

Horizon Power, Western Australia’s regional power provider, has commenced the second stage of its Onslow microgrid project, which will provide local residents and businesses with access to low-cost solar and energy storage systems. German storage provider Senec has been chosen to supply batteries to the project.

Labor’s Sunday solar schools announcement may not be the last renewables pledge it makes to win the hearts and minds of the NSW electorate. It takes into account the voice of climate-striking students, and every disaffected-teenage contribution to conversations around the dinner table.

Too big, too fast: The solar industry is littered with graves of companies that flew too high and were burnt by the sun. There will be no second rising for Australian EPC RCR Tomlinson, which learned that fortunes can fade with frightening alacrity in the PV project business.

The latest statistics highlights Australia’s contribution to the global utility-scale solar PV installation figures.

The Independent Planning Commission has approved a hotly contested $200 million solar farm near Gunnedah in New South Wales, under some added conditions.