Natural Solar, sonnen deploy blockchain in 12-home project
Installer Natural Solar is equipping 12 homes in Sydney with rooftop PV and sonnen batteries, and will utilize blockchain technology to facilitate P2P trading of electricity between households. The mini virtual power plant (VPP) project will allow the homes to reduce their electricity demand from the grid by 90%.
Two major projects in NSW ready to commence construction
Construction works are expected to start soon on two utility-scale solar PV project in New South Wales with a combined capacity of more than 460 MW, as confirmed by German-based Belectric, which will handle the EPC and O&M duties on both sites.
ACCC recommends abolishing SRES by 2021
In a wide ranging report released on Tuesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recommended scrapping the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) – which provides a sizeable capital subsidy to small scale rooftop PV. The Smart Energy Council has criticised the proposal and called for the Federal Government to “rule out abolishing the SRES.”
More than 200,000 sub-100kW systems set to be installed in 2018
This year, more than 200,000 small-scale solar systems are set to be installed in Australia. The extraordinary expansion in rooftop solar deployment has been revealed in the latest figures from Green Energy Markets, which points to more than 1.4 GW of sub-100kW PV being added throughout the year.
Solar and battery hydrogen innovation hub to be built in Western Australia
Canadian-owned gas network operator ATCO is developing a micro grid at its Jandakot facility, which will use solar power to produce hydrogen fuel. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has committed $1.5 million to the project.
CEFC commits $35 million to smart meter technology
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has completed its first smart meter technology financing, backing the expansion of intelliHUB, a joint venture between private equity investment firm Pacific Equity Partners and smart meter manufacturer Landis+Gyr.
Edge-of-grid farmers switch to solar and storage
Farms affected by power outages in the McKinlay Shire, north-western Queensland, can now go off grid – through a new solar+storage containerised solution from Germany’s Intech.
Solar projects in Latrobe Valley advancing Victoria’s PV plans
The Victorian state government is continuing to advance its solar agenda, with two programs in the Latrobe Valley targeting applications and job creation.
juwi on lookout to acquire utility-scale solar projects in Australia
The Australian arm of German project developer juwi is looking to acquire utility-scale solar PV projects in New South Wales and Victoria.
“Privately funded” 200 MW Solar River PV project gets development approval
A hugely-ambitious plan to develop a 200 MW PV array and 120 MWh battery system in South Australia has received development approval. The project developer, which is hosted by the University of Adelaide’s ThincLab accelerator, reports that the $450 million project is privately financed with a 60/40 merchant/PPA structure – a significant milestone for the market segment.
