Weekend read: Solar needs aluminium, but it has a carbon problem
Few doubt that aluminium frames will be a part of the solar module for some time to come. And with PV manufacturing continuing to scale, the carbon footprint of this versatile metal may prove a sustainability challenge.
IEA report rubbishes Morrison’s gas-led energy plan
An International Energy Agency report led up by Rolf Frischknecht from Treeze in Switzerland and under the joint project management of the University of New South Wales’ José Bilbao has measured the lifecycle emissions of both residential solar PV with battery storage and gas-generated grid electricity. The results are not particularly surprising, only the Morrison Government’s ongoing obduracy is.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Australia’s largest poultry farm switches on solar plus energy storage system
Australia’s largest free-range chicken farm switched on one of the biggest solar plus energy storage system’s of any commercial farm in the country this week. With 1.4 MW of rooftop solar combining with 2.28 MWh of energy storage via 5 Tesla lithium-ion batteries, the farm is excited to save enormous amounts on its energy bill and its emissions. Winner, winner!
‘China must put EV battery reuse at heart of net-zero ambition’
The centralised nature of policymaking in Beijing would enable component standardisation to ease the transition from EV to stationary energy storage use, according to Greenpeace East Asia.
Despite public sentiment, Morrison government goes it alone on gas
Australia is increasingly at risk of becoming “internationally isolated” with Prime Minister Scott Morrison declaring his government will not be dictated to by other countries on energy and climate policies.
Long-read: Finance hopping the fence to the greener grass
As Green Finance begins to be seen more and more as global best practice the energy transition can only accelerate. This week, two stories attest to the growing acceptance of green finance by major financial institutions – ANZ Bank has pledged to extricate itself from thermal coal by 2030 and pursue more sustainable policies and Mike Cannon-Brookes supported startup Brighte announces Australia’s first 100% green asset-backed securitisation, $190 million in debt financing for Australians looking to uptake solar and battery storage in their home.
Major economies should divert fossil fuel Covid-recovery cash to clean energy before it’s too late
A report by Finnish company Wärtsilä has estimated the potential impact if every dollar committed to a non-renewables energy sector recovery was instead funnelled to clean power.
PM’s Prize for Science awarded to UNSW’s Xiaojing Hao for her pioneering work thin-film PV
The 2020 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science took place virtually this year, but that won’t quash the recognition of Xiaojing Hao, UNSW’s solar pioneer who took home (or rather, received at home) the prize for Physical Scientist of the Year. Hao’s work in thin-film photovoltaics is leading the world in fashioning new and sustainable applications for solar PV.
South Korea follows Japan with net-zero 2050 pledge
Re-elected South Korean president Moon Jae-in today declared he will follow-up on a campaign trail promise to eliminate carbon emissions by mid century. The announcement comes just two days after Japan’s new prime minister said he would accelerate his nation’s emissions target.
BHP targets ‘sustainable nickel’ through green PPA including 18.5 MW solar farm
BHP Nickel West has extended its PPA with Southern Cross Energy to 2038 as the mining giant looks to integrate renewable energy into its processes toward the goal of meeting its emissions reductions goals and producing ‘sustainable nickel’, a necessary requirement for potential client Tesla. The extended deal begins at Nickel West’s Leinster and Mount Keith operations with the development of an 18.5 MW solar farm and battery storage system.
