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In an extraordinary demonstration of the delays facing many Australian large scale PV power plant projects, the 50 MW Kidston Solar Project has achieved Practical Completion around 12 months after energisation.

The South Korean PV manufacturer saw sales increase slightly in the last quarter. Net losses, however, more than quadrupled compared to the previous period.

We owe a lot to John Howard. He may not have realised it in May 2007, but when he doubled the Photovoltaic Rebate Program value to $8000, our second longest serving prime minister set in motion a chain of events that would lead to Australia hosting 2 million rooftop solar power systems.

The number of Australian homes with solar PV systems installed on their rooftops has passed a two million milestone, show Clean Energy Regulator data. With an average of six panels installed a minute, the uptake shows no signs of subsiding.

That would mean a market increase of around 25% on this year. Demand is predicted to become particularly strong in the second half of the year. Australia is forecast to see lower demand than usual in the first quarter, but also be among 16 nations worldwide that will add over 1 GW of solar capacity in 2019.

Renewable generation in the National Energy Market has set the fifth consecutive monthly record high in November, due to eight new solar farms coming online over the last two months. The National Energy Emissions Audit released by The Australia Institute tallied the figures. Despite solar’s growth, evidence coming from the Federal Government reveals a continuing upward trend in emissions since 2013.

The University of Queensland has completed the purchase of the $125 Warwick Solar Farm in the Southern Downs region, making it the largest solar asset in ownership of an Australian university. Lendlease will act as developer on the project.

If maintained, Australia’s current rate of installs would deliver 78% renewables by 2030, find Green Energy Markets in its latest edition of RE Index. The 50% renewables target proposed by the the Federal Labor Party and several state Labor governments would thus deliver a sharp market decline, with installations falling to a third of recent rates and workforce shrinking by three quarters.

The Australia aged care specialist has embarked on an energy efficiency program, which will see over 10,600 solar panels and more than 28,000 LED lights installed at 54 of its properties.

The ASX-listed company which aspires to ‘close the loop’ on the energy-metal cycle has successfully produced lithium-ion batteries from tri-lithium phosphate sourced directly from a mine dump. It has also reported outstanding results in lithium recovery in excess of 90%, using its SiLeach process at the ANSTO Minerals pilot plant in New South Wales.