South Australia’s Tesla virtual power plant powers ahead, delivering cheaper energy
South Australia’s virtual power plant is nearing the potential Phase 3, which could see 50,000 homes connected becoming the equivalent of a 250 MW network of decentralized power generating units.
New renewable energy planning policies for South Australia proposed
As it transitions from a wind-dominated renewable energy mix to include a wider range of energy options such as large-scale PV, pumped hydro and battery storage projects, South Australia is considering new planning policies.
NSW waves through hotly contested 110 MW solar farm near Gunnedah
The Independent Planning Commission has approved a $94 million solar project near Gunnedah in New South Wales, under some added conditions.
Victorian solar rebate causes mayhem in the solar industry
The Victorian Labor Government announced in August last year a $1.3 billion “Solar Homes” package to assist homeowners in installing solar PV systems. The scheme will be offered to 770,000 Victorian households for the next 10 years and is in addition to the Federal STC ‘rebate’.
Tesla results: U.S. solar installations down, batteries up
Elon Musk’s EV and energy company is becoming increasingly irrelevant in the U.S. rooftop solar market, but battery sales are booming.
Vietnam’s 2019 commissioning rush
Vietnam had already successfully commissioned 1.5 GW of utility-scale PV at the end of May this year, and there is no sign of this slowing down, with another 2 GW teed up for June 2019. The breakneck speed in development is making Vietnam a powerhouse in the region in installed capacity, even nipping at the heels of Australia. Rystad Energy’s Minh Koi Le looks at the state of play in the Vietnamese solar market.
Global PV market: 114 GW to be installed in 2019, with continued growth onwards
According to the latest market forecast published by Wood Mackenzie, it seems that global PV installation figures will rise to 125 GW per year from 2020. Continued global capacity expansion will come in through a growing gigawatts-club.
Yackandandah’s community solar demonstrates the power of regional prosumers
With an electricity sector policy vacuum on a federal level, and grid constraints facing large scale PV project developers, there are ample reasons to be pessimistic about Australia’s solar-fueled energy transition. Indigo Power Co-founder Cam Klose says that many promising developments are rather taking place on the ‘distributed’ level and beyond the big cities – with Yackandandah leading the way.
Clean Energy Regulator tips Australia to exceed 2020 RET by a “substantial margin”
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) released its 2018 Administrative Report on Thursday, and not only does it predict that Australia will easily meet its 2020 Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (RET), but that the target will be exceeded substantially. Moreover, in the last year commercial factors overtook government incentives as the main driver of renewable investment – a watershed moment and one in which commercial and industrial solar arrays is playing no small role.
SA government looking to expand Home Battery Scheme
The South Australian government is looking to extend its Home Battery Scheme subsidy of up to $6000 and low interest loans to rental properties, property developers and aged care facilities.
