Sun’s out, load’s gone: the evolution of NEM demand
Q4 2025 in South Australia saw grid-connected loads with spot price exposure actually being paid to use electricity about half the time (46%) – and that electricity was overwhelmingly (80%) supplied by renewables. This demonstrates a shift from managing demand to quietly needing it. Particularly in regions like South Australia, there is growing demand for demand.
The world added 605 GW of new PV capacity in 2025, says IEA
Latest report from the International Energy Agency says last year’s 600 TWh increase in solar PV was the largest-yet electricity generation increase by any source in one year, outside of periods of post-crisis recovery.
Insurance premiums trending down despite severe weather threat for solar
Insurance premiums for renewable energy projects in Australia are expected to decrease this year despite natural catastrophe and extreme weather exposures remaining a major concern, particularly for large-scale solar asset owners and investors.
UNSW turns to AI to accelerate semiconductor materials discovery
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed an AI-driven system aimed at accelerating the identification of two-dimensional semiconductor materials that can be used in solar cells.
JinkoSolar debuts rooftop PV module weighing 7 kg/m2
The Chinese manufacturer said its lightweight Light Diamond TOPCon module delivers 560 W at 24.94% efficiency.
Philippines announces 7th renewables auction with focus on solar
The country’s seventh green energy auction is set to procure rooftop, ground-mounted and floating solar projects across the Philippines, with increased allocation in Mindanao. The Department of Energy plans to release the auction’s terms of reference during the second quarter of this year.
Territory plans big batteries for Katherine and Alice Springs
Pacific Energy has been tapped by the Northern Territory government to deliver two large scale battery energy storage systems to support the Alice Springs and Darwin–Katherine power systems.
Alinta kicks off 1,000 MWh battery build in South Australia
Alinta Energy has commenced main construction works on the first 1,000 MWh stage of a 500 MW / 2,000 MWh battery energy storage system planned for South Australia.
Cyclones and unseasonal polar winds shape Australia’s solar resource in March
Solcast, a DNV company, reports that March in Australia was unusually wet and disrupted, with frequent tropical cyclones, polar air intrusions, and repeated low-pressure systems causing widespread cloud, storms, and record cold in the southeast. Solar irradiance was mixed: below average in the south due to persistent cloud and storms, but near or above average on some northern and coastal regions where breaks between systems allowed recovery.
Scientists identify new loss factor in tracker-based PV plants on slightly undulating terrain
Researchers have identified a new source of underperformance in utility-scale PV plants caused by “suboptimal backtracking” on slightly uneven terrain. The study shows that real tracker control systems deviate from ideal flat-terrain assumptions, reducing irradiance capture and causing measurable energy losses compared with simulations.
