Major solar installer leaves Australian market
Against the backdrop of a mature rooftop solar market and a booming commercial and industrial solar sector, Australia has a competitive but vibrant solar retailer and installation market. However, not all have prospered and a prominent player has exited the market.
Trina introduces rooftop kit, aims at direct sales – interview
Chinese module manufacturer Trina Solar has launched its “all-in-one“ kit in Australia targeting the rooftop solar segment. Its expectations of the Aussie market are high, as the company continues to pursue overseas expansion to ride out the China government policy shake-up.
Asian-Pacific market to see 355 GW of solar over five years, despite policy challenges
Despite political hurdles in key markets including China, India and Japan, Asia-Pacific remains highly active. This year, 59 GW of solar is expected to be installed and due to further system price declines, a phase-out of subsidy schemes can be offset.
Decentralized energy exchange opens for business
Melbourne-based energy tech startup GreenSync has officially launched the Decentralized Energy Exchange (deX), a digital marketplace for grid services provided by rooftop solar arrays, battery storage and EVs owned by Australian homes and businesses.
Taylor rules out scrapping SRES
Energy Minister Angus Taylor has said there are no plans to change the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), despite the ACCC recommendations to wind it down nine years early.
Free solar for NSW low-income households
The NSW government has announced a $15 million solar scheme, which will put free solar PV systems on up to 3,400 low-income households provided they forgo their energy rebate.
Big crowds as All Energy kicks off with major announcements
The All-Energy Australia 2018 exhibition & conference kicked off in Melbourne today. Safety of products and quality assurance was prominent in discussions at the country’s largest PV conference and trade show in its early hours. Big funding announcements at the opening plenary made headlines.
Victoria overtakes Queensland in renewables jobs boom
Owing to its state-based renewable energy initiatives, Victoria is in the box seat to create more than 6,000 jobs annually, shows a new analysis released by Green Energy Markets. Overall, renewable energy generation managed to exceed 25% of power supply for the first time across Australia’s main grids.
Solar Panel Validation initiative rolls out
Developed in partnership between the Clean Energy Regulator and the solar industry, the initiative is looking to ensure genuine solar panels are mounted across Australia, against the backdrop of booming rooftop installation rates and mounting pressure on installers. Michelle Crosbie, Managing Director, Clean Energy Regulator, will be at pv magazine’s Quality Roundtable at the All Energy Australia show tomorrow in Melbourne to deliver further details on the scheme.
Dodgy solar systems could lead to “political intervention to curb uptake”
Rooftop solar is popular in the Australian community. But it may not always be the case. If solar and, in particular, battery storage systems are sold with inflated claims, or are non-code compliant, public support could be undermined – delivering momentum to politicians keen to scrap the SRES. An important message from BayWa r.e. Solar Solutions Managing Director Durmus Yildiz.
