ACCC recommends abolishing SRES by 2021
In a wide ranging report released on Tuesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recommended scrapping the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) – which provides a sizeable capital subsidy to small scale rooftop PV. The Smart Energy Council has criticised the proposal and called for the Federal Government to “rule out abolishing the SRES.”
More than 200,000 sub-100kW systems set to be installed in 2018
This year, more than 200,000 small-scale solar systems are set to be installed in Australia. The extraordinary expansion in rooftop solar deployment has been revealed in the latest figures from Green Energy Markets, which points to more than 1.4 GW of sub-100kW PV being added throughout the year.
Distributed energy storage standards project launched
DNV GL, Deakin University, the CSIRO, and the Smart Energy Council have come together to collaborate on a two-year project to develop a new performance standard for distributed energy storage systems. The work behind the proposed Australian Battery Performance Standard is being funded $1.9 million from ARENA and the Victoria state government.
SMA teams with Wilson Transformer Company, launches Australian central inverter solution
German inverter giant SMA has partnered with Melbourne’s Wilson Transformer Company (WTC) to develop a central inverter solution specifically for Australian utility scale projects. The new Power Skid will be assembled in Australia, with WTC providing the medium and low voltage switchgear – among other componentry.
UK’s largest solar investor sets up shop in Victoria
Octopus, the largest investor in utility scale solar in the UK has established an office in Melbourne, saying the “fundamental shift from fossil fuels to renewables” in the “rapidly evolving [Australian] market is already underway.
Solar and battery hydrogen innovation hub to be built in Western Australia
Canadian-owned gas network operator ATCO is developing a micro grid at its Jandakot facility, which will use solar power to produce hydrogen fuel. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has committed $1.5 million to the project.
CEFC commits $35 million to smart meter technology
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has completed its first smart meter technology financing, backing the expansion of intelliHUB, a joint venture between private equity investment firm Pacific Equity Partners and smart meter manufacturer Landis+Gyr.
Edge-of-grid farmers switch to solar and storage
Farms affected by power outages in the McKinlay Shire, north-western Queensland, can now go off grid – through a new solar+storage containerised solution from Germany’s Intech.
Solar projects in Latrobe Valley advancing Victoria’s PV plans
The Victorian state government is continuing to advance its solar agenda, with two programs in the Latrobe Valley targeting applications and job creation.
juwi on lookout to acquire utility-scale solar projects in Australia
The Australian arm of German project developer juwi is looking to acquire utility-scale solar PV projects in New South Wales and Victoria.
