5 things to watch in Australian solar sector in 2020
Despite a massive drop in renewable energy investment seen last year, 2020 promises to bring both good and bad news for the Australian solar sector. While network conditions will continue to deteriorate, the low-carbon policy will become more supportive but also more chaotic.
Government extends electricity price control to solar households
The federal government has extended the default market offer coverage to more than a million households with rooftop solar across three states.
QUT: A titanium solar cell with 24% efficiency
The Australian research team which developed the device said the higher efficiency was achieved through a nanowire design which eliminates the interface inside the titanium dioxide band.
Jinko Solar the world’s biggest module provider again in 2019
The solar giant shipped 14.2 GW of modules last year, up 33% on 2018 for the high-water mark of another year dominated by Chinese manufacturers.
Wagga Wagga goes solar solar
As part of its $1.7 million investment in a greener future, the City of Wagga Wagga is set to install a series of solar PV arrays across its sites. Meanwhile, construction continues on the nearby 120 MW Bomen Solar Farm.
Northern Territory schools set for solar savings
Northern Territory Labor’s $5 million Rooftop Solar Program to Reduce School Electricity Costs has finalised the schools chosen for the three-year program. The program forms part of the Territory’s Roadmap to Renewables Plan.
Coronavirus could cause PV module, battery cell shortages in Australia
As the outbreak takes its toll on solar panel and battery manufacturing in China, Australia is bracing for disruptions in the supply chains.
Downer exits Australian solar sector as risks pile up
As the survival of the fittest continues in Australia’s notoriously competitive EPC market, the Sydney-based diversified infrastructure company has signaled that it will no longer bid fixed prices to build solar.
Coronavirus could cost Chinese battery makers 26 GWh of output
WoodMac analysts say the amount of new battery manufacturing capacity added in the nation this year could fall by as much as 10% because of the outbreak. With Tesla’s Shanghai gigafactory affected by the extended new-year-holiday shutdown, the analyst warned of potential supply shortages for Australia and the U.S. and U.K.
Solar and wind set new output record even as curtailment continues to bite
Grid-scale wind and solar output reached new highs in Q4 last year pushing power prices to a three-year low despite a number of coal-fired generator outages. As Australia’s big PV fleet continues to expand, the National Electricity Market saw the highest output of big PV on record, but also record curtailment.
