Rooftop solar installation rates trending up as monthly volumes drop
Australia’s rooftop solar market has slowed with the latest monthly data from industry analyst SunWiz revealing that national installation volumes dropped off 7% in August compared to the previous month.
Victoria gives nod to 700 MWh battery project in nine weeks
The first battery energy storage project has been approved under the Victorian government’s streamlined renewable energy planning process, with the state signing off on a 350 MW / 700 MWh project being developed by ACEnergy in the Wimmera region.
Early retirement of coal-fired power plants good for bottom line: study
Multi-country research has found that retiring coal-fired power plants sooner rather than later can have financial benefits for investors, and free up capital for investing in renewables.
Fiji launches tender for ground-mounted solar
Government-backed Energy Fiji Limited has started accepting bids for the development, operation and maintenance of three ground-mounted solar plants in Fiji with a combined capacity of 21.93 MW.
Australian solar manufacturing scores $550 million Sunshot
The first $550 million of the federal government’s Solar Sunshot program has been launched to support the development of Australia’s solar manufacturing industry and help local businesses capture more of the global solar manufacturing supply chain.
Woodside halts two large-scale green hydrogen projects
Gas and oil heavyweight Woodside Energy has shelved two green hydrogen projects in Australia and New Zealand with a combined capacity of 2.3 GW, citing inadequate renewable energy generation capacity, revised environmental demands and challenging economics.
Sunshine state’s solar recycling plans power up circular economy
The Queensland government has launched a solar panel recycling scheme with the launch of the first of 15 sites collection sites that are to be established across the state. The program is expected to save 26 tonnes of broken or end-of-life solar panels from landfill annually and will inform the possible rollout of a nationwide scheme.
Solar module installations could hit 592 GW in 2024
BloombergNEF says the global solar industry will install 592 GW of modules this year, up 33% on 2023. The consultancy has also lowered its estimate for 2024 polysilicon production, as manufacturers are temporarily scaling back output.
Solar’s ten-year growth outshines all energy generation sources: new data
The Australian government’s Energy Update 2024 shows solar electricity generation grew 21% in the 2022-23 period and is 11 times higher than a decade ago, jumping 3% in each of the past two years.
Meyer Burger cancels US solar cell plant, announces restructuring
Swiss-German PV manufacturer Meyer Burger has announced company restructuring plans, put an end to a proposed United States solar cell plant and put on hold plans for capacity expansion at an existing module production plant in the US. Existing cell production site in Germany to remain part of Meyer Burger operations.
