Energy platform connects small solar farms with buyers
An online platform to connect medium to small-scale solar energy producers with independent electricity buyers will launch in the coming months in South Australia.
Northern Territory rolls out 10 MW of PV to power remote communities
Construction has been completed on the Solar Energy Transformation Program (SETuP), which has been touted as Australia’s largest rollout of solar power to remote communities to date.
New billing method and PV+storage for all-day energy supply on Philippine island
From four to 24 hours: before solar and storage, the 160 households on a Philippine had electricity for only four hours each day. This had negative impacts on the economic development of the islands. With support from the ADB, the island inhabitants now have 24 hour supply of clean energy, and new billing methods that suit the economic realities of poorer households.
AEMO’s VPP integration trial, decentralized energy exchange secure funding
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will underpin two innovative distributed energy projects – a trial to integrate a virtual power plant into the National Energy Market and a digital marketplace for grid services provided by rooftop solar arrays, batteries and EVs owned by Australian homes and businesses.
Victoria to make smart inverters mandatory for Solar Homes
Following the decision to require retailers taking part in the Solar Homes program to be signatories to the Clean Energy Council’s Solar Retailer Code of Conduct, the Victorian government has set specific requirements for inverters that will be installed under the program.
Ausgrid, Reposit Power launch VPP trial in NSW
The solar households which choose to participate in the trial will receive direct cash payments of up to $135 per year, depending on the size of their battery system.
Government unveils $50 million pot to power remote communities
The Coalition government has announced funding to support up to 50 off-grid and fringe-of-grid feasibility studies investigating whether building a microgrid can be a cost-effective solution. The studies will also look at whether existing off-grid capabilities can be upgraded with more up-to-date technology.
“Over 10% less”: six solar farms slammed by proposed MLFs
Proposed marginal loss factors (MLFs) will result in six utility scale solar projects receiving a 10% or more reduction in revenues, at current prices and if imposed as proposed by AEMO. Worsening MLFs add to mounting pressures for large scale PV project developers in 2019.
Australia renewables supply reaches 21.2%, rooftops provide record solar contribution
While renewables continue to do their bit on decarbonizing the energy sector, national emissions, especially in the transport sector, continue to rise amid a lack of any federal or state government limits, The Australia Institute warns. Total renewable supply, including rooftop solar, is at 21.2% of generation from all sources across the NEM, eating into the share once firmly held by coal and gas.
Australia’s first solar farm in Antarctica opens at Casey research station
A 30 kW vertical array has powered up at Australia’s Casey research station in Antarctica. The project is one the largest solar installations on the southernmost, ice-covered continent.
