Asia-Pacific solar supply chain trouble to ease this year, according to analyst
Wood Mackenzie has predicted solar equipment cost increases will ease back after last year saw the average cost of solar electricity rise for the first time in the Asia-Pacific region.
Enphase acquires ClipperCreek to enter the EV charging market
The completed acquisition of ClipperCreek launches Enphase Energy into the fast-growing market for electric vehicle charging systems.
Farmers go off-grid as 19 solar-based standalone systems installed on WA’s southern coast
Western Australia’s state-owned electricity company Horizon Power has installed 19 solar + battery standalone power systems for farmers in Esperance on the state’s southern coast.
520 MW agrisolar + battery project proposed for the Hunter progresses
Lightsource bp, the solar arm of oil major BP, is proposing to build an ‘agrisolar’ project in the Upper Hunter region big enough to provide 4% of New South Wales’ (NSW) electricity demand.
‘Ultra low-cost solar’ gets a $40 million R&D boost from ARENA
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has announced $40 million in research and development funding is up for grabs across two streams. Stream 1 consists of cells and modules, and Stream 2 is focused on balance of system along with operations and maintenance. It is hoped the additional funding will spur Australia’s pioneering solar research to push for the federal government’s “ultra low-cost solar” target of $15/MWh.
Korea Zinc invests in gravity storage developer Energy Vault
Korea Zinc, non-ferrous metal smelting company, has agreed to invest $50 million in Energy Vault, a Switzerland-based gravity storage specialist, in order to use its tech to decarbonise its refining and smelting operations in Australia.
‘Don’t Look Up’: Hollywood’s primer on climate denial illustrates 5 myths that fuel rejection of science
Every disaster movie seems to open with a scientist being ignored. ‘Don’t Look Up’ is no exception – in fact, people ignoring or flat out denying scientific evidence is the point.
Weekend read: BIPV no refuge
Deployment in the building integrated PV segment is accelerating, and so too are the number of solar products available to architects and developers. And while BIPV had long been the segment in which an array of thin-film technologies could shine, they are now in increasingly stiff competition with crystalline silicon rivals.
Weekend read: Solar-plus-storage for aquaculture aeration
Recent research from Thailand has shown that solar-plus-storage on floating platforms could be the cheapest option to power energy-intensive aeration systems in aquaculture projects. The battery accounts for around 54% of the capital costs, which is why system sizing would be key for economic viability.
Philippines’ San Miguel Corp to start operation of 690MW of batteries
Filipino conglomerate San Miguel Corp aims to complete 1GW of battery storage projects this year to make way for the integration of some 3GW of intermittent renewable energy generation.
