Southern Hemisphere’s first electric commuter ferry
Wellington Harbour, NZ, will see the Southern Hemisphere’s first zero-emissions electric commuter ferry.
Australia poised for record large-scale PV rollout in 2020
Australia’s utility-scale renewable energy sector is set for a record year with 3.6 GW of projects expected to complete commissioning in 2020, Rystad Energy finds. This comprises 1.96 GW in utility PV projects and 1.57 GW in wind developments, with the remaining 0.1 GW coming from batteries.
Investment in Australian renewables sank in 2019
Investment in Australian renewable energy capacity fell 40% in 2019 down from record-breaking levels seen in the year before, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). Spending on large-scale renewables dropped dramatically due to network woes and long-term policy uncertainty but was ameliorated by the rooftop solar segment’s record growth.
New government office to develop large-scale critical minerals industry
The Australian government has opened the Critical Minerals Facilitation Office as it looks to develop a large-scale critical mineral industry to stably supply the world the critical minerals needed for batteries, solar panels, and smartphones.
A clean energy world would support millions of new jobs
A study from Finland’s Lappeenranta University of Technology has predicted solar and other renewables can provide a global energy jobs revolution – just as four European operations revealed recent struggles.
Longi claims 22.38% efficiency world record for PERC mono panel
The Chinese manufacturer said the result was confirmed by Germany’s TÜV Rheinland. The achievement beats the company’s previous record of 21.65%, set last month.
Australia’s carbon emissions drop for the first time as renewables weigh in
Australia has seen the first decline in annual emissions since 2015 thanks to record levels of renewable energy but if continued at the present rate the 2030 Paris target would be met some 68 years after the deadline, according to Ndevr Environmental.
All-inorganic perovskite solar cell hits 16.1% efficiency
Researchers from the City University of Hong Kong have developed an all-inorganic perovskite cell with an electron-pair donor which offers a pair of non-bonding electrons. The cell was developed by applying that ‘Lewis base’ small molecule to passivate the inorganic perovskite film.
Where there’s smoke, there’s reduced PV output
It’s a minor concern compared to the tragic loss of life, livelihoods and biodiversity caused by the bushfires still ravaging parts of Australia, but reduced output by PV systems due to smoke haze is an unwelcome bi-product of blazes that have burned at a scale and ferocity never seen before.
Why Australia’s long term energy policy rests on battery storage
Australia has made great strides in terms of investment into renewables, yet despite the spend, we are still faced with an ageing grid and a growing number of coal power plant closures, that lack clear and sustainable replacements.
