News

The electric carmaker has signed 12-month credit agreements with three of China’s ‘Big Four’ lenders as well as the development bank for Shanghai as it aims to get its lower-priced Model 3s rolling off the production line by the end of the year.

17 liable entities have failed to meet more or equal to 10% of their renewable energy target obligations, including major electricity retailers – Alinta, Lumo Energy, Simply Energy and EnergyAustralia. This has pushed the surrender rate to a record shortfall of 13.9% of total liability. Tristan Edis, Director Analysis and Advisory at Green Energy Markets, explains why retailers decide to carry obligations forward, and how the precipitous fall in the LGC value reflects on customer electricity bills and merchant projects.

Up to 1000 landlords and their tenants have the chance to team up and cut power bills and emissions under a trial scheme in Bundaberg, Townsville and Gladstone. To participate in the $4 million program, both property owners and tenants need to be on board, as installing a PV system would entail a rent increase only to be offset by power bill savings.

As the business case grows for corporates to take out power purchase agreements for renewable energy, and Australia’s renewable-projects pipeline expands, the country’s first ever marketplace has opened for buyers and developers to form perfect power couples.

The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy has awarded $50,000 to 20 teams that advanced to the semifinal stage of the American Made Solar Prize. The teams will now have 90 days to design a proof of concept.

According to new figures released by SolarPower Europe, last year saw 1.4 GW more new solar generation capacity than trade body had expected. Lower demand in China was compensated for by stronger developments in emerging markets.

Energy is in the news as elections in NSW and at a Federal level edge closer. Today six Queensland National MPs called for the return of Angus Taylor’s Big Stick policy to scare down energy prices, three NSW independents wrote to the state’s Premier and Opposition leader demanding action on climate change, and a curious proposal for a new coal-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley emerged from Hong Kong.

Western Australia’s government-owned regional utility Horizon Power is readying to roll out 13 solar and battery technology units at 14 far-flung farms in the Esperance region.

U.S.-based high efficiency module maker SunPower is introducing its new Maxeon 3 module series to the Australian marketplace. At 370W, 390 and 400 W, the modules lead the field for power output. U.S. customers will, however, be the first to see the company’s larger format A-Series modules.

The Korean solar manufacturer has lodged a patent infringement lawsuit against Jinko and REC in Germany, and two more against the same companies plus Longi in the U.S. Hanwha Q Cells claims its three rivals have used its patented solar cell passivation technology to increase the performance of their products.