News

A new report from the Clean Energy Council confirms 2018 shattered all records in terms of investment in renewables and capacity additions. The CEC finds that more than 2.3 GW of new renewable energy projects were completed in 2018. Both large-scale and rooftop solar experienced their best ever year.

The California-based energy technology company has released its updated Enphase AC Battery (ACB) with a new battery cell supplier and improved Time-Of-Use (TOU) software for customers in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

Sharp has released three new high-efficiency mono-PERC solar panels. Ranging from 300 W to 370 W, the five-busbar modules are designed for use in a range of applications, from residential PV projects to large commercial installations.

The Dutch banking group will serve as sole mandated lead arranger for the S$50 million loan. A unit of Singapore-based developer Sunseap will use the funds to build a 50 MW portfolio of rooftop PV projects.

One of the main pillars of the Coalition government’s climate policy, the $2 billion Climate Solutions Fund, has undergone unexpected changes in the final 2019 budget. While the government previously pledged to spend $2 billion over the next 10 years to help ensure Australia meets its emissions target under the Paris Agreement, the budget has revealed that the funding will be spread over 15 years, cutting the amount spent annually by more than 30%.

Bank of Australia has committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2020. It has become the second major Australian business to sign up to the global initiative RE100 following in the footsteps of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Maximilian Schurade, Director of Technical Marketing Support at Hanwha Q Cells shares his thoughts on the solar industries current trends and challenges ahead of speaking at this year’s Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition in Sydney.

New global PV additions reached 94.2 GW in 2018, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Asia is the region with the largest share of cumulative PV capacity, with around 274.6 GW, followed by Europe and North America with 119.3 GW and 55.3 GW, respectively.

In a briefing looking into the renewable energy investment boom, BIS Oxford Economics estimates solar and wind will attract $20 billion of private investment in FY18 and FY19, spread over more than 70 projects. The consultants warn investment will slow beyond 2020 pointing to the upcoming Federal election as critically important for the future of Australia’s renewables pipeline.

Following the decision to require retailers taking part in the Solar Homes program to be signatories to the Clean Energy Council’s Solar Retailer Code of Conduct, the Victorian government has set specific requirements for inverters that will be installed under the program.