Woodmac predicts APAC renewables growth but coal resilience in 2021
Wood Mackenzie’s Asia Pacific predictions for the energy market in 2021 are in. The firms analysts see wind and solar continuing to grow throughout the region driven by China, but notes that gas and coal aren’t going anywhere fast.
Anti-soiling nanocoating for large-scale PV
Dutch company Rads Global Business has developed an anti-soiling coating for solar PV modules that is claimed to reduce cleaning cost by around 60%. The anti-reflective and anti-corrosive coating is also said to mitigate potential-induced degradation (PID).
New mounting system to integrate small PV into wind farms
Switzerland’s Smartvolt has developed a special mounting system that facilitates the quick deployment of small ground-mounted PV systems at the base of wind turbines.
Australian Step Change could see over 40,000 jobs created in Queensland alone
Community group Solar Citizens has released a report using modelling from the Australian Energy Market Operator to show that 43,500 clean energy job years would be created in Queensland under its Step Change scenario.
Blossoming West Australian carbon footprint app launches business edition
A Western Australia app which allows schools, households and, from February, businesses to track and improve their carbon footprint is gaining both attention and prominent partners. The company’s founder and CEO, Vanessa Rauland, spoke to pv magazine about its rise.
Australia’s green hydrogen certification scheme to be developed with German peak body
The Australian Smart Energy Council and the German Energy Agency, dena, will work together to develop a scheme to certify renewable hydrogen and carbon neutral powerfuels.
Origin to build Australia’s largest battery at its largest coal-fired power station
Origin Energy has announced the progression of plans for a 700 MW megabattey with a dispatch duration of four hours at the site of its Eraring coal generator in the NSW Hunter region. The ageing Eraring Power Station is Australia’s largest, supplying approximately a quarter of NSW’s energy needs, and set to retire in 2032.
Interview: Utility scale, battery storage in Sungrow’s sights for 2021
Having supplied more than 450 MW of residential solar systems in 2020, Chinese inverter giant Sungrow is confident that 2021 will be the year it cracks the utility scale segment. It is also set to introduce a new battery for the distributed market segment, says Sungrow Australia country manager Joe Zhou.
South Australia’s road to 100% renewables is paved with infrastructure challenges
South Australia rounded out 2020 with a record-setting day, in which solar and wind supplied 99.6% of demand on the state’s electricity network on Dec. 27. But as solar veteran and Amrock MD Pierre Verlinden explains, there is some serious infrastructure needed if the state is to realise its 100% renewable ambition.
Renewable energy loans on the up
Fintech and green loan lender Plenti has recorded a 19% increase in renewable energy loans from its previous corresponding period.
