Grid-forming tech on centre stage as search for system resilience steps up
Maintaining grid stability becomes more challenging as the share of intermittent renewables grows in the electricity generation mix, but system resilience is essential to continued solar deployment. Grid-forming inverters offer a solution, and their capabilities are increasingly being tested and relied upon in key energy markets globally.
Federal Budget cuts almost $2 billion from clean energy programs
The Australian government has in its latest Federal Budget stripped almost $2 billion from programs designed to accelerate the rollout of new clean energy systems.
Voltavate plans Melbourne facility to transform battery manufacturing
Australian battery technology startup Voltavate will build a new base in Victoria to advance its novel approach to battery manufacturing and accelerate the transition from laboratory development to real-world production.
Chinese researchers achieve world-record efficiency of 27.17% for inverted perovskite solar cell
The proposed inverted perovskite solar cell design reduces band misalignment and electron accumulation, suppressing recombination losses and enabling high efficiency in both small-area devices and scalable modules.
Firm solar and storage costs fall to $75/MWh, says IRENA
A new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency finds that round‑the‑clock solar and wind paired with battery energy storage deliver power at lower cost than new fossil fuel generation in high‑quality resource regions.
Study finds PV plants reshape land surface conditions, reducing wind speed and increasing soil moisture
A China-based research team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 147 studies on how solar PV systems alter land surface processes, covering 609 installations worldwide and 11 key climate variables.
Rebate change triggers record 2.4 GWh home storage registrations in April 2026
Changes on May 1 to the federal government’s cheaper home battery rebate triggered a frenzy of registrations to the scheme across Australia in April 2026 as households dived in last minute to take advantage of subsidies, with registrations peaking at a record 2.4 GWh capacity.
UNE accelerates silicon wafer recycling using AI computations and robotics
Researchers from the University of New England’s Australian Institute for Strategic Artificial Intelligence are using artificial intelligence and powerful supercomputers to assess potential solvents to separate silicon wafers with minimal contamination.
Neoen’s second-largest solar farm globally begins operation in NSW
France-headquartered grid-scale solar and battery storage system developer Neoen Australia has begun operation of its 350 MW Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales, one of numerous assets adding to its goal of 10 GW capacity in Australia by 2030.
Premier Energies unveils 600-630 W all-black TOPCon solar modules
The Indian manufacturer said its new all-black panel series features a power conversion efficiency of up to 23.32% and a bifaciality factor of up to 85%.
