Markets & Policy

Researchers in Australia have provided a series of recommendations to set up regulatory frameworks for PV module recycling and reuse. They said that, as a rule of thumb, landfill bans, tracking of the panels’ serial numbers, and a clear definition of ownership should always be included in the legislation for end-of-life solar products.

Australian thermal storage company, Graphite Energy, has received development approval for a $29 million (USD 18.6 million) sustainable energy precinct in Lake Cargelligo, in the mid-west of New South Wales.

A short report explaining upcoming challenges and solutions to electricity security has been published by the Australian Academy of Technology Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). The report calls for more investment to meet government targets and to keep consumer prices down.

Western Australian company Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) seems to be fairly delayed in realising its vanadium mine and processing plant vision in Western Australia. Nonetheless, the company has signed a new option agreement to purchase land for its processing plant near Geraldton.

Philippines-based AC Energy Corporation (ACEN) has confirmed plans to up its investment in Australia over the next three years to $6 billion (USD 3.86 billion). The company has been highly active in the Australian market this year, and with its increased investment is seeking to bring a further 3 GW of new renewable capacity online.

Shell, which acquired Sonnen four years ago, is now actively seeking a majority shareholder for the Germany storage system specialist.

Dutch company Photon Energy is developing a project with 200 MW of solar coupled with 115 MW and up to 24 hours of thermal storage in Yadnarie using RayGen technology. Photon Energy hopes to reach a final investment decision (FID) on the Yadnarie project on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula by about the middle of next year. 

The first of 400 planned community batteries has now come online in the Sydney district of Reid as per a promise Labor made while in opposition. The 412 kWh battery is sorting power from 50 households with rooftop solar and sharing electricity with approximately 150 households.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

Australian residential power prices have surged up to 25% this year. With solar rooftops booming as a result, Nikhil Jayaraj, managing director of Regen Power, looks at whether home batteries will keep pace.