Residential PV

Without droning on too much, the uses of drones in the solar industry are many, and this is why DroneDeploy has had such success in U.S. Now the company has opened a Sydney office and is planning rapid expansion with a focus on taking advantage of Australia’s widespread solar uptake. DroneDeploy’s Adam Savage sat down with pv magazine Australia to discuss.

An ARENA-backed project will focus on addressing barriers to further renewable energy penetration in the Alice Springs local electricity network.

Rooftop PV is a potent force in the race to rein in global warming. Read how a phenomenally successful Australian-developed aerial mapping technology is being deployed to speed PV uptake here and in the United States.

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is calling for submissions on proposed rule changes that would address the integration of distributed energy resources, including enabling export charges as a pricing tool.

Trials of large-scale battery capabilities in Australia are showing great promise; behind the meter, households are buying into state-based battery programs and subsidies. Here, ANU’s Dr Lachlan Blackhall talks about the exciting potential for mid-scale community battery storage, future EV storage capacity, and more.

The Kimberley Recovery Plan spells out in regional focus the renewable energy investments heading to the Kimberley from the Western Australian Government’s $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan. The Kimberley region is set for an injection of funds to help fortify a sustainable renewable energy sector, particularly for the uptake of residential rooftop solar and energy storage systems.

If it was designed with a focus on reliability, security and the lowest cost for consumers, Australia’s main electricity grid would see periods in which nearly 90% of demand is met by renewable generation. A diverse portfolio of distributed energy resources and large-scale solar and wind generation supported mainly by pumped hydro and batteries would ensure the least-cost transition as the nation’s coal plants retire. Adequate investment in transmission infrastructure will be instrumental in making this a reality.

Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council has installed its largest solar array to date, a 265 kW rooftop system atop the Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre in Manly. Council is revving up its solar capacity on its way to a goal of having renewable energy power all suitable Council sites by 2030, an ambition it hopes will inspire more local residents to take up solar too.

The Victorian government has boosted its solar rental scheme with interest-free loans in addition to two rebates per financial year landlords were already able to access.

The new deal with one of the leading solar wholesalers in Australia will make Sungrow’s suite of products available to a greater number of residential and commercial customers.