Reviewing the US solar panel value chain manufacturing capacity in light of IRA
From polysilicon to panels through recycling, how much domestic capacity does the US have?
Green loans spike as government supports new home loan program
The Bendigo Bank has reported a massive 600% spike in customers accessing green loans in the last year. The news comes just after the federal government’s green bank paired up with the Commonwealth Bank to begin offering builders and renovators working to high energy efficiency standards reduced rates on their home loans.
Next acquisitions for Octopus Australia’s new investment platforms revealed
The investment platforms from Octopus Investments Australia are set to acquire three new projects in the coming months in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. Launched in 2022, the OREO and OASIS platforms “allow wholesale investors and mums and dads to invest alongside big institutional investors and get access to big projects in Australia,” Managing Director Sam Reynolds told pv magazine Australia.
Locally built hydrogen tow trucks to be hauling in Victoria from this year
Hydrogen truck maker Hyzon has launched what is being hailed as Australia’s first locally designed and built hydrogen-powered truck at its regional headquarters in Melbourne. The 27-tonne truck is hitting Australian roads in a series of commercial trials this year, including as part of a longterm partnership with RACV, which has ordered three tow trucks.
Raptor Maps points to growing problem of PV system underperformance
Raptor Maps analysed 24.5 GW of large-scale solar assets and determined that power losses due to equipment anomalies nearly doubled from 1.61% in 2019 to 3.13% in 2022. At the module level, cell and diode anomalies were the most common issues, it said.
Five actions for effective renewables finance risk management
In some instances, the cost of insurance could exceed 25% of annual operating and maintenance expenses, said insurance broker Marsh. The firm offers five actions to properly evaluate risks and drive portfolio growth.
Australia singled out as key investment market for Asian majors
Executives from Gentari, the clean energy subsidiary of Malaysia’s state-owned oil company Petronas, and Japan’s biggest steelmaker, Nippon Steel, are eying Australia for future investments in renewables projects and green-steel manufacturing.
South Australian miner to lodge application for critical rare earth mine
Australian mining company Australian Rare Earths is moving forward with plans to apply for a licence to mine rare earths in South Australia’s southeast as part of its flagship Koppamurra project.
Utility-scale solar powered February, NSW crowned top renewable generator
Australia’s utility-scale solar sector had its third highest month on record in February, generating 1,463 GWh. New South Wales was the country’s top generator, showing the state’s colossal coal turnaround is well underway.
Queensland’s $5 billion CopperString purchase to unlock 6 GW of renewables
The Queensland government will acquire the $5 billion (USD 3.37 billion) CopperString transmission line project which is set to unlock 6 GW of renewable energy resources and connect Queensland’s North West Minerals Province to Australia’s national grid. The shovel-ready project, many years in the making, is hailed as the biggest expansion to Australia’s energy grid in decades.
