Since reaching the 23 million populace mark in April, Australia has hit another milestone – there are now over one million homes with rooftop solar panels. According to Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator this number equates to 10 per cent of the country experiencing the benefits of home solar systems. More than 1,011,478 systems are generating 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar and saving households over $500 million in energy costs. These figures are remarkable considering there …
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Tuggeranong will soon be home to a new solar farm after a proposal was submitted to the ACT Planning and Land Authority earlier this year. The 2 megawatt, $5 million project will sit on 19 hectares of land off Mugga Lane south of Canberra and built by Zhefna Solar Power. Block 1677 could also to be the home of a new cemetery and crematorium, however there will be a significant distance between the two juxtaposed …
Tindo Solar has announced it will begin developing panels for Australia’s commercial and government markets. The country’s only solar panel manufacturer will launch two companies, Tindo Commercial and Tindo Asset Management, with plans to offer business and government customers power purchase agreements. Since officially opening in October last year, the Adelaide company has grown rapidly and managing director, Adrian Ferraretto says the time is right for expansion into the commercial realm. “An increase in electricity …
Engineers from the University of New South Wales have created an innovative method to reduce the price of low-grade silicon, ultimately improving electrical efficiency and lower the cost of solar panels. Silicon is usually the most expensive component in solar cell production, but the UNSW team has developed a mechanism so as to easily correct deficiencies in the silicon. Professor Stuart Wenham from UNSW’s School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering says the technology will …
German residents could soon receive a subsidy for the excess energy they store through a renewable energy battery system. A spokesperson for KfW, a bank involved in financing the scheme, told PV Magazine that terms of the subsidy are due for release on May 1st. Germany’s Federal Environment Ministry will fund the 30 per cent subsidy at an expected cost of $65 million, however this is yet to be finalised. The storage system is to …
An American scientist has developed a fabric capable of converting heat, wind and body movement into electricity. David Carroll, a nanotechnologist from Wake Forest University in North Carolina has used carbon nano-tubes to make solar energy more efficient, cheaper and greener. “The fabric could be sewn into the cases of smart phones, as a wrapping on appliances or worn in clothing,” said Professor Carroll to Business Insider. “The fabrics versatility and cheapness mean it is a great …
Chinese solar company LDK Solar Co Ltd has this week defaulted on a $24 million dollar bond. This comes just a month after rival company Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd defaulted on $540 million in US bonds, sparking fears about other Chinese companies being unable to repay debt. Shares in LDK Solar have fallen internationally; as of Tuesday morning German listings in the company fell 26 per cent and the New York Stock Exchange opened …
Two Brisbane solar companies have struck a deal to develop a 250 megawatt solar station in Indonesia. Solar Guys International and Mitabu Australia are working with the Indonesian Ministry of Energy on the $550 million project. In a statement released by a representative for the joint companies, SGI-Mutabu will be participating in an Australian first. “Funding for the first 50MW of the project will be obtained using local Indonesian and Islamic financing known as a …
A solar power station south of Mildura has begun operation months ahead of schedule. Since construction began in October last year, 10 dishes have been installed and are already providing power to the local grid network. Developed by Solar Systems, chief executive Michael Goldsworthy says the facility will be fully operational once installation of the final 30 dishes is completed next month. “The 1.5 megawatt pilot demonstration facility is enough to power about 500 homes …
The Federal Government has decided to maintain Australia’s Renewable Energy Target, ensuring a minimum of 20 per cent of the nation’s electricity comes from renewable sources. A recent review of the Renewable Energy Target by the Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Authority has encouraged the Federal Government to maintain the scheme. The RET will ensure that at least 20 per cent of the country’s electricity is supplied by renewable sources such as solar and wind …
