Technology

German-headquartered project developer juwi Renewable Energy has inked an agreement with the University of Queensland to deliver a solar+storage hybrid power solution at its research station located in the Great Barrier Reef.

Renewable energy sources, notably solar and wind, are reaching price and performance parity on and off the grid, shows a new Deloitte Global report, highlighting seven trends that are driving this transformation.

Australia’s policy maker for the energy markets has approved the establishment a national register of small-scale distributed energy resources, which will give AEMO and distribution network businesses more data to help in planning and operating the power system as it transforms.

Although initially expected to deliver around 650 MW, Victoria’s first renewable energy auction has smashed the goal, delivering 928 MW of renewable capacity. Six projects will be developed in total, three wind and three solar, under the state’s renewable energy target. In a separate announcement, the Andrews government promised to provide half price solar batteries for 10,000 Victorian households, if re-elected.

By keeping up the current rate of solar PV and wind deployment, Australia is forecast to comfortably exceed the 2020 RET of 33,000 GWh, achieve 26% emissions reduction by 2020/21 and meet its Paris greenhouse emissions target in 2024/25, shows new analysis by the Australian National University (ANU). In 2018 and 2019 combined, over 10 GW of renewable energy could be installed.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has offered funding to nine Australian universities and research organizations to propel innovation in green hydrogen export.

WA-based solar glass developer has signed an MoU with smart street sign and ‘furniture’ producer yStop to integrate its thin film solar glass into bus shelters and illuminated street signs. The MoU, signed with yStop parent Global Smart Cities, is for an exclusive distribution agreement in WA for the integration of ClearVue’s solar glass in bus shelters, and nationally in its LED-illuminated street signs.

Australia’s first commercial installation of printed solar cells, made using specialised semiconducting inks and printed using a conventional reel-to-reel printer, has been installed on a factory roof in Newcastle.

Speculations that delayed financial results spelled troubles have proved remarkably accurate – one of Australia’s leading EPC contractors has taken a huge write-down on two Queensland solar projects, and reported $16 million net loss.

As part of its state-wide microgrid funding promise, the Labor Government has allocated a total of $980,000 for the Ovida Community Energy Hub project, which will install shared solar PV and battery systems in three multi-tenanted buildings in Melbourne.