Yes, South Australia’s battery is massive, but it can do much more besides
Last Friday, the “world’s largest” lithium-ion battery was officially opened in South Australia. Tesla’s much anticipated “mega-battery” made the 100 days or it’s free deadline, after a week of testing and commissioning.
Australian renewable energy sector lacks women on company boards
Last week the Clean Energy Council announced the winner of its 2018 Women in Renewables scholarship. Women in Renewables chair, Natalie Collard, reflects on why we need more women on boards.
Bali volcano threat prompts distribution of solar-powered TVs, kits
Not-for-profit Kopernic provides disaster relief in Bali with the distribution of solar-powered televisions and kits.
APAC remains Enphase Energy’s hotspot, makes Indian market entry
Enphase has entered the Indian PV market, supplying 2,858 of its microinverters to a 1 MW commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop project nearby to the city of Bangalore. The rooftop project sprawls over six roofs of an agriculture product processing facility.
Sun Brilliance signs grid connection contract with Western Power
What is being touted as Australia’s largest merchant PV power plant has signed grid connection and electricity transfer agreements with WA’s state-owned grid operator Western Power. Construction on the two-phase 128 MW(dc) project, to be located around 160km east of Perth, is set to get underway in early 2018.
US Senate approves tax bill with provision to hobble solar, wind tax credits
The bill will now be reconciled with the House version, which does not contain the BEAT provision. The Solar Energy Industry Association says that it has four Senators who support “fixes”, but was not able to get a modification to the Senate bill.
Elon Musk comes good on 100-day, 100 MW South Australia battery promise
The Tesla chief laid down the gauntlet earlier this year, confidently tweeting that his team could have the world’s largest battery online within 100 days of signing the contract. The lithium-ion South Australia project was actually completed in 60 days.
Australia’s carbon emissions target within reach at zero net cost
Given the current pace of installation of new wind and solar power facilities, Australia’s commitments to carbon reduction made at the COP21 climate conference in Paris can be met at zero net cost, shows a new study by Australian National University.
European PV market expected to grow by 35% in 2018 – GTM Research
European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain are all forecast to be gigawatt-scale markets in 2018. Globally, around 606 GW of new PV capacity is forecast to be installed between 2017 and 2022.
Australia, Indonesia propose joint 6 GW solar+wind hybrid plant
The proposed 6 GW wind+solar project would generate renewable energy from Australia’s wind and solar resources and supply it via subsea cables to Indonesia. Vestas has been confirmed for the wind energy side, while the search for a solar partner, which would deliver the required equipment for the project’s 2 GW solar PV capacity through establishing a manufacturing facility in Indonesia, will be conducted over the next two years.
