Solar Panel Validation initiative rolls out
Developed in partnership between the Clean Energy Regulator and the solar industry, the initiative is looking to ensure genuine solar panels are mounted across Australia, against the backdrop of booming rooftop installation rates and mounting pressure on installers. Michelle Crosbie, Managing Director, Clean Energy Regulator, will be at pv magazine’s Quality Roundtable at the All Energy Australia show tomorrow in Melbourne to deliver further details on the scheme.
The least wrong – rapid change in the energy station difficult to predict
While much has been made of the ‘trilemma’ facing the Australia electricity network, Ray Wills from Future Smart Strategies argues that rapid change of energy technology, business models and social changes is resulting in rapid and difficult-to-predict changes.
Carnegie reports CEO’s resignation, IBA raises stake in Northam farm
WA-based renewable energy developer Carnegie Clean Energy has announced the departure of its long-serving managing director Michael Ottaviano and reveled major updates on its projects, including the 10 MW Northam Solar Farm and its solar/battery microgrid projects.
Charles Sturt University adds 2.5 MW of rooftop solar
NSW’s Charles Sturt University has begun its next major solar power installation project, which will see over 2.5 MW of rooftop solar deployed across its campuses. The installation adds to its existing landmark 1.77 MW array.
SMA to launch Sunny Tripower inverter in Australia
Despite lowering its 2018 sales and earning guidance, the German solar PV inverter manufacturer is moving forward with solutions, and is now looking to introduce a new three-phase string inverter to the Australian market. SMA says Australia has become one of its key PV markets.
AGL indicates no strategic shift despite CEO change
Despite the change in its leadership, AGL Energy has restated its commitment to moving away from coal, describing it as a decision driven by economics and safety, rather than ideology.
Dodgy solar systems could lead to “political intervention to curb uptake”
Rooftop solar is popular in the Australian community. But it may not always be the case. If solar and, in particular, battery storage systems are sold with inflated claims, or are non-code compliant, public support could be undermined – delivering momentum to politicians keen to scrap the SRES. An important message from BayWa r.e. Solar Solutions Managing Director Durmus Yildiz.
innogy breaks ground on 349 MWp Limondale solar farm
Germany’s innogy is all set to deliver its first utility-scale solar PV project in Australia. Preparation works and pre-pilling tests are currently underway, and main works are expected to commence this October.
Ensuring quality or ‘how to avoid the race-to-the-bottom’
What problems are being encountered and how to avoid them by learning from past mistakes? With booming installation rates across all segments of the Australian solar market, quality issues have been pushed into the forefront, and quality assurance has become instrumental in shaping further uptake.
Tesla battery installed at UNSW campus
The University of New South Wales has unveiled a 500 kWh Tesla Powerpack battery at its campus as part of a ten-year energy research trial in partnership with NSW’s electricity transmission network operator TransGrid.
