‘No one has attempted this’: Proving a new model to bring solar to low-income Australians through Sydney pilot
A pilot program across Sydney’s suburbs is seeking to prove a model its proponents hope will afford low income Australians access to solar at no upfront cost. The soon to be energised systems have been fitted on 64 disability homes and 90 community houses and will operate using a PPA model. “The poor don’t have the opportunity to put solar on their homes,” BlueCHP CEO, Charles Northcote tells pv magazine Australia. “They lose out because they have to pay all the grid charges… and this has not been addressed by the governments at all at this stage.”
How to get to 100% emissions-free electricity
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is exploring different paths to 100% emissions-free electricity in the United States.
Solid-state hydrogen storage techniques at a glance
Scientists compared hydrogen storage techniques and found that physical methods are closer to commercial feasibility, while materials-based techniques have strong potential.
Zinc8 to manufacture its first zinc-air batteries in US market
Canadian battery developer Zinc8 Energy Solutions has announced plans to begin battery production in the United States, incentivised by manufacturing production credits in the US Inflation Reduction Act.
BMW starts in-house production of fuel cells for iX5 Hydrogen
BMW Group said it is targeting the premium segment with its iX5 Hydrogen car, Topsoe revealed that it will invest US$267 million (AU$392m) to build the world’s largest SOEC electrolyzer plant in Denmark, and Bosch announced plans to invest US$200 million (AU$292m) in US fuel cell production.
Pumped heat energy storage seeks to demonstrate commercial readiness
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has commissioned a first-of-its-kind pilot plant pumped heat energy storage demonstration facility with tech from US startup Malta. Its 10-150+ hour energy storage technology is said to be applicable in a range of grid-scale applications.
Countrywide teams with Wirsol on solar-to-hydrogen opportunities
Aspiring green hydrogen manufacturer Countrywide Hydrogen will explore solar-to-hydrogen co-development opportunities in the island state of Tasmania after inking a deal with large-scale solar PV and battery energy storage specialist Wirsol Energy, which already operates a portfolio of Australian projects with a combined capacity of more than 720 MW.
SunDrive achieves 26.41% efficiency with copper-based solar cell technology
Australian solar technology company SunDrive continues to impress with its copper-based solar cell technology, achieving 26.41% efficiency for a full-size silicon cell using mass-production compatible heterojunction technology.
Enphase partners with Home Connect to manage home appliances from single app
Integrated clean home energy and smart appliances platform lets users run appliances on battery-stored solar energy in pre-determined time frames.
Hydrogen bromide flow battery for large-scale renewables storage
Dutch startup Elestor has secured funds to bring its hydrogen bromide (HBr) flow battery technology closer to commercial production. It said the system could achieve a levelised cost of storage below US$0.05/kW.
