Residential PV

Rooftop solar systems are cheaper then centralised ground mounted systems for remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, a new report funded by ARENA and APVI has found. The report, however, did not examine the question of community benefit in its scope – something Alan Langworthy, who has long worked in energy in the NT, told pv magazine Australia is absolutely vital.

With the spike in global energy prices sparking increased interest in renewable technologies, the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia has expanded its solar PV and battery energy storage offerings through the acquisition of Adelaide-based installer Living Energy and Lovell Electrical.

Australian software company OpenSolar has expanded its partnership with fintech lender Plenti Group to give Australian solar installers the option to offer customers access to zero-interest payment plans in a bid “to make solar accessible to more people as quickly as possible”.

The quickening exit of coal-fired generation from Australia’s energy mix – with 60% of capacity expected to be withdrawn from the National Electricity Market by 2030 – has emphasised the need for significant investment in renewable energy generation, storage, transmission, and system services.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has declared approximately $12.7 billion of investment in new transmission lines should begin “as urgently as possible” to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and energy storage, replace exiting coal-fired power plants, and deliver a more efficient and effective grid in eastern and south-eastern Australia.

The Clean Energy Regulator has outlined the second round of changes coming to Australia’s solar rebate program, the small-scale renewable energy scheme (SRES). They primarily involve changing which body will manage solar designer and installer accreditations and who will publish approved solar panel and inverter equipment lists – both of which have formerly been the remit of the Clean Energy Council.

Australia’s small-scale solar and battery energy storage installation rate has remained robust in the face of a number of challenges. By virtue of this resilience, it is adding jobs and contributing the country’s decarbonisation, reports Nikhil Jayaraj, the Managing Director of Regen Power.  

India’s Natural Battery Technologies has developed lithium-based battery inverters that can be charged with solar power. The batteries are designed for residential and commercial use, with storage capacities typically ranging from 1.5 kWh to 20 kWh.

New small-capacity solar power plants are being developed in Ukraine to avoid blackouts, which is helping businesses to stay afloat amid dire economic conditions.

New research from Lappeenranta University of Technology shows that there is no single correct orientation for a PV installation.