Residential PV

As part of its $1.3 billion (USD 87 million) Solar Homes Program, the Victorian government has launched an initiative to upskill electricians, electrical engineers and licensed electrical inspectors to encourage them to take on more solar work.

Household’s rooftop solar supplied a record 14% of Australia’s electricity this summer – contributing more than brown coal, and more than large-scale wind or solar farms.

Global renewable capacity increased by 295 GW last year, bringing the world to a cumulative installed capacity of 3,372 GW, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Access to extremely detailed consumer energy data is becoming available in Australia part of the federal government’s Consumer Data Right scheme. Used imaginatively, the data has the potential to improve how investment decisions are made, and could even open up new approaches to energy retailing, Stuart Low, founder of Biza tells pv magazine Australia.

German startup 1Komma5 has started production on its own solar modules, which are expected to hit Australian shores “imminently,” Chris Williams, CEO of its APAC arm, told pv magazine Australia. The company has just signed a polysilicon contract with fellow German company Wacker, a step towards addressing issues around unethical labour and embedded emissions in solar’s supply chain.

Chinese module manufacturer DAS Solar has marked its entry into the Australian market with the release of an all-black n-type bifacial solar panel featuring an output of 410 W to 430 W and efficiencies of up to 22%.

Rooftop solar households in regional Queensland are set to receive almost 40% more for the PV-generated electricity they send back to the grid after the state’s pricing regulator proposed an increase to the feed-in tariff.

On the back of Covid-19 lockdowns, geopolitical energy crises, a cost-of-living crisis and evermore congested cities, some people are looking for alternate ways of living, while others are just looking for an cosy getaway that doesn’t come with a Sasquatch-sized carbon footprint. Enter Stella the Stargazer, a solar-powered holiday destination that makes living off-grid the lap of luxury.

South Australian electricity distributor SA Power Networks has announced it will work with retailers AGL and Simply Energy to explore opportunities to enable the orchestration of existing rooftop solar systems, an innovation that is expected to support the increased uptake of renewables and help the stability of the grid.

As the cost of living soars, many Australian households are turning to rooftop solar to cut their energy costs. A Pulse of the Nation survey last month showed about 29% of Australians have installed or are considering installing solar panels on their homes. The same survey shows one in five Australians can’t afford to adequately heat or cool their homes.