Markets & Policy

Australian energy utility AGL Energy is pushing ahead with plans to demerge, confirming its intention to split the company into two businesses as it looks to navigate the continuing transition to renewables.

Despite the growth, one-off exceptional events in the fourth quarter hit the solar EPC’s overall fiscal performance. These included a prime subcontractor going bankrupt in Australia, rising module prices, and increased freight costs.

Australia’s second ‘solar broker’ has entered the market, essentially aiming to link customers with reputable solar installers. With a keen focus on regional Australia, the Solar Saviour startup is looking to grow by engaging country communities and building after-care based referrals schemes, a method its Head of Partnerships, David Cobb, told pv magazine Australia Australia’s solar industry has under-utilised.

Smart energy software company Evergen will provide an energy management platform as part of a net-zero energy emission terrace homes pilot at Carseldine Village, north of Brisbane.

The promise of solar windows have captivated scientists and engineers for decades. Now, West Australian company ClearVue says it not only has a fully transparent, scalable, industry-ready solar window in production, but it’s just 18 months away from cracking 5% efficiency, thanks to a research partnership.

A bill introduced by independent MP Helen Haines seeking to ensure more money from renewable projects remains in regional Australia is now open for submissions as part of a parliamentary inquiry.

New reports and modelling has led TasNetworks to further push its largest of four possible Marinus Link versions. The largest, a 1,500 MW interconnector between Tasmania and the Australian mainland, is being shown to provide benefits across the entire NEM through grid stability and downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices. But there is still some discussion about who should pay for it.

Nobody wants their PV systems to catch fire, but little is known about how to actually prevent such incidents.

Conventional incentives such as renewable portfolio standards, feed-in tariffs or feed-in premium payments may lead to a price cannibalisation scenario for wind and solar, according to a new study from a German-Swedish research group. CO2 pricing is, however, considered an efficient tool to maintain their market value high enough to ensure new investments. A total system cost approach, rather than an LCOE perspective, is needed to understand the strong dependence of market value on policy choice though.

The economic benefits of rooftop solar PV have been reinforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, with a new report revealing solar customers in the National Electricity Market are paying about 30% less for their electricity than their non-solar counterparts.