CEFC urged to pick up pace with household energy upgrades fund
The federal government has been urged to pick up the pace after the Clean Energy Finance Corporation opened the purse strings on a $1 billion fund that is to support cheaper finance for rooftop solar, home batteries and other energy efficiency upgrades for Australian homes.
REC launches 640 W heterojunction solar module with 22.5% efficiency
REC has developed a new series of heterojunction solar panels with efficiencies up to 22.5% and an operating temperature coefficient of -0.24% per degree Celsius.
Digital exchange aims to change game for residential solar and batteries
The Australian Energy Market Operator has begun consultations with industry to develop a common digital platform in a bid to make the orchestration of rooftop solar, batteries, grid-connected electric vehicles and other consumer energy resources easier.
Sharp unveils new TOPCon solar modules
The Japanese electronics manufacturer has launched the NU-JC440 and NU-JC430B panels with efficiencies of 22.53% and 22.02%, respectively. Both products are IEC/EN61215 and IEC/EN61730-certified and rely on M10 wafers.
Report lists strategic recommendations to boost BIPV rollout
A new report from the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme presents a suite of strategic recommendations aimed at taking building integrated photovoltaics from niche market to mainstream.
Victorian networks open tender for flexible demand solutions
Distributed network service providers CitiPower and Powercor’s first flexible electricity competitions in Victoria are now open with the operators seeking third-party options to help solve constraints and deliver flexible capacity across their networks.
Renewable energy projects predicted to drive $20 billion construction boom
Spending on building renewable energy infrastructure is forecast to peak at $20 billion in 2026, stimulated by the Australian government’s target of 82% electricity from renewables by 2030, but caution remains over workforce capability.
Research shows repaired PV modules can perform with acceptable losses
A research group in Spain has demonstrated the technical feasibility of using repaired solar modules with satisfying results. However it warned that there is an urgent need to define a protocol for evaluating the features of a “viable” repaired panel.
Bowen targets 20% market share with Solar Sunshot
Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen believes the federal government’s $1 billion Solar Sunshot initiative could result in domestic manufacturing providing 20% of the nation’s PV panel needs by the end of the decade.
Ausgrid backs community battery to boost network stability
New South Wales distributed network provider Ausgrid has powered up its third battery energy storage system under the federal government’s $200 million Community Batteries for Household Solar program.
