REC Group’s innovative Alpha 72 set for production
The REC Group’s novel Alpha 72 module has tested through the roof and is looking to come in on the roof of the market, literally. pv magazine Australia sat down with REC’s Paul Scerri to lay the module out.
ARENA boosts funding for RayGen’s “solar hydro” power plant
The Australian Government and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) are set to fund RayGen Resources Pty Ltd (RayGen) to the tune of $3 million toward a feasibility study for a 4 MW “solar hydro” power plant in north-western Victoria.
Two solar and one wind farm in north Queensland could be curtailed to zero
Three renewable energy generators in northern Queensland are facing major constraints due to system strength issues.
Canadian Solar to release HiKu Mono in Australia
Chinese-Canadian PV heavyweight, Canadian Solar, is looking to harness the power of poetry with the release of its HiKu Mono in Australia. The innovative monocrystalline module enters the market near the top of the range.
AEMC heeds renewable energy industry criticism on new transmission access rules
In welcome news for solar and wind developers in Australia, the network rule maker has decided to not to rush through changes to transmission access rules under the much-criticized Coordination of Generation and Transmission Investment (CoGATI) plan.
Trina Solar doubles down on PV 5.0
Trina Solar’s two new bifacial solar modules are touted as a “game changer,” not only for utility-scale projects, but for commercial and industrial developments as well. PV innovation continues to reduce costs and improve performance, but Australia’s outdated infrastructure is doing its best to slow the transition down.
QUT to drive green hydrogen export through LNG-focused research center
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers say they will play a key part in developing the green hydrogen export industry by driving production, storage and transport projects under the auspices of the newly established Future Energy Exports (FEnEx) Cooperative Research Centre.
Coal developers risk half a trillion dollars down nonrenewable drain
A new report from financial think-tank Carbon Tracker has found that coal developers risk wasting more than $600 billion due to stubborn resistance to the already cheaper electricity resources provided by renewable energies worldwide. The report finds, in short, that a new coal plant is about as prudent an investment today as a Clydesdale and cart.
ACT virtual power plant trial to help optimize DER network integration
An ARENA-backed trial run by ACT network operator Evoenergy in partnership with French power electronics specialist Schneider Electric and Melbourne-based energy tech company GreenSync will research and test the effect that the integration of distributed energy resources is having on Canberra’s increasingly decentralized energy grid.
Is green hydrogen necessary to balance a renewables grid?
A report by Norwegian energy consultant DNV GL has considered the opportunity for long-term energy storage to play a role in balancing annual supply and demand fluctuations in a renewables-led grid. Using 58 years of Dutch weather and energy consumption data, the study found long-term solutions such as green hydrogen could make a valuable contribution – but perhaps not as much as some analysts believe.
