Friday 31 July, 2009

 

• Hunt's ATRAA Address: Vision For A Solar Continent
  Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, Greg Hunt MP, addressed the Appropriate Technology Retailers Association of Australia (ATRAA) conference yesterday, outlining what he calls his "vision for a solar continent".

Thursday 30 July, 2009

 

• Energy Matters Launches 'SolarGate' Initiative.
  The Australian solar industry and households wanting to install solar power systems have been left hanging in recent weeks in relation to government rebates, resulting in many providers having excess stock of solar panels. Australian solar power solutions provider Energy Matters has decided to clear some of their surplus stock by extending an offer to senior politicians - an initiative they call 'SolarGate'.


• India's 200,000 Megawatt Solar Power Goal
  India has an incredible solar power resources, with the country receiving around 5,000 trillion kilowatt hours of energy and most areas receiving 4 - 7 kilowatt hours per square meter per day. The Government of India intends to make good use of this potential.

Wednesday 29 July, 2009

 

• Solar Powered Super-Yacht
  Soliloquy is a new super-yacht that pushes the boundaries of yacht design convention and points to the future of clean, luxury yachting with a little help from solar power.


• ACF Warns Of Olympic Dam Emissions, Demands Renewable Energy
  The Australian Conservation Foundation has expressed serious concern over BHP Billiton’s planned expansion of the Olympic Dam mine, saying it will see South Australia’s greenhouse emissions soar by 12 per cent. The ACF says the government should only allow the expansion if it is powered by renewable energy.

Tuesday 28 July, 2009

 

• Suntech Powers On In China
  Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., has announced a string of major solar farm projects in China recently and as a result of the Chinese government's massive injection of funding for renewable energy, has also seen its stocks gains as much as 50% in value.


• UK Moving Towards Gross Solar Feed In Tariffs
  In a step closer to rolling out feed in tariffs for small scale renewables in the UK, the British Government has released a document (PDF) entitled "Consultation on Renewable Electricity Financial Incentives 2009" that outlines a generous gross feed in tariff program for solar power and other renewable energy sources.

Monday 27 July, 2009

 

• World's Largest Rooftop Solar Farm For Italy
  Italian solar panel manufacturer SOLON S.p.A, last week signed an agreement to construct the world's largest photovoltaic based roof-mounted solar farm in Padua, Italy.

Friday 24 July, 2009

 

• Power Generation - Big Coal Bids For Big Green
  Canada's largest coal fired power generator has launched an AU $1.7 billion hostile bid for the country's leading developer of clean and renewable energy,

Thursday 23 July, 2009

 

• Wong Rejects Nuclear Power, Backs Renewable Energy
  Mining company Rio Tinto has been lobbying the government on nuclear power, saying that it's the cleanest, safest and lowest cost alternative energy; but Penny Wong has rejected the push, stating Australia's focuc should be on developing renewable energy technologies.

Wednesday 22 July, 2009

 

• What Is A Smart Meter?
  The term 'smart grid' is increasingly popping up in the news and Australian homes are starting to have smart meters installed. So what's it all about and what makes this infrastructure and equipment smart?


• Renewable Energy Target Senate Inquiry Submissions Due Friday
  In June this year, Australia's Senate referred the provisions of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009 and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Amendment Bill 2009 to the Economics Legislation Committee. The Committee is inviting submissions, however, interested parties only have until 5pm, Friday 24 July 2009 - this Friday.

Tuesday 21 July, 2009

 

• Tuvalu Aims For 100% Renewable Energy By 2020
  Tuvalu recently set a national goal of being powered entirely by renewable energy sources by 2020. Tuvalu has a special interest in low carbon energy production - it's one of the nations directly threatened by sea level rise due to global warming.


• Australian Renewable Energy Use Increasing - But So Is Coal
  While electricity generation from renewable sources increased dramatically in Australia in 2008, up 10 per cent on the previous year, so did the use of coal.

Monday 20 July, 2009

 

• Apollo 11 And Solar Power On The Moon
  Probably the famous early application of solar power was the Apollo 11 moon mission in July 1969 that placed the first solar panel on our nearest celestial neighbour.


• World's Largest Solar Powered Water Pumping Array
  6,400 ground-mounted Mitsubishi solar panels will generate up to 1 megawatt of electricity for a California orchard for the purposes of bore water irrigation.

Friday 17 July, 2009

 

• WA Desalination Plant To Be Powered By Renewable Energy
  Late last month, Western Australia's Minister for Water, Graham Jacobs, signed a $955 million contract for the construction of a new desalination plant outside Binningup, which is to be powered by renewable energy.

Thursday 16 July, 2009

 

• 32,000 Solar Schools In Japan By 2020
  The Japanese government recently announced it will install solar power systems of all its 32,000 public elementary and middle schools by 2020.


• Renewable Energy Costs And FUD
  There's a lot at stake in the current energy status quo and for parties wishing to discredit renewable energy, the most effective way to do so during these tough financial times is to exaggerate the costs to be borne by consumers.

Wednesday 15 July, 2009

 

• Canberra Solar Farm Generates Strong Interest
  ACT Minister for Energy, Simon Corbell, announced yesterday there had been a strong response from the solar industry to the Government's proposed solar farm, with 18 expressions of interest submitted by the end of last week.


• Solar Power For Europe - From Africa
  Not so long ago, it seemed a pipe dream - to supply Europe with clean energy from solar farms in Africa. That dream inched closer t reality a couple of days ago when 12 major companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Munich to establish the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (DII).

Tuesday 14 July, 2009

 

• Off Grid Australians Feeling The Solar Pinch
  For many Australians living in the bush away from the mains power grid, off grid solar power is a necessity rather than a luxury. The axing of the RRPGP rebate recently is forcing many to decrease their standard of living energy-wise; far below people in the city.


• Solar Powered Advertising - Solar Cell IIM
  LCD advertising displays in stores are becoming more commonplace - it's yet another energy sucking aspect of an already electricity intensive modern way of life. However, a Korean company is working towards a solution to lessen the impact of these displays with a development called Solar Cell Ink In Motion (IIM).

Monday 13 July, 2009

 

• Suntech Pluto Solar Panels To Power Sydney Theatre Company
  Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. announced yesterday that the company's new Suntech Pluto solar panels will help power Sydney Theatre Company (STC) as part of the STC's "Greening the Wharf" project.


• Solar Panel Coating Boosts Module Efficiency
  XeroCoat, founded in Australia and with headquarters in California, is a company that's been busy developing a special coating for solar panels to improve their efficiency.

Friday 10 July, 2009

 

• SMA Opens Carbon Neutral Solar Power Inverter Plant
  SMA Solar Technology AG (stock: ETR:S92) has announced the opening of its 18,000 square meter solar power inverter manufacturing facility in Kassel, Germany; the largest in the world - and carbon neutral

Thursday 09 July, 2009

 

• ATRAA 2009 - Australia's Largest Solar Industry Event
  ATRAA 2009, Australia's largest solar industry event, will be held in Canberra at the National Convention Centre over four days – Wednesday 29 July to Saturday 1 August.


• Renewable Energy Bonds Could Finance Climate Change Battle
  Throughout many conflicts in recent history, war bonds have been used by governments to help finance military operations. Renewable energy bonds could be used to help wage war against climate change.

Wednesday 08 July, 2009

 

• Australia's National Partnership Agreement On Energy Efficiency
  Australian Governments attending a COAG meeting last week agreed to a comprehensive 10-year strategy to accelerate energy efficiency improvements, which includes the phaseout of inefficient electric hot water systems.


• Solar Power And Heating Hybrid Systems
  Solar power and solar hot water are usually two separate systems, but some companies are looking at combining the two to make more effective use of the sun.

Tuesday 07 July, 2009

 

• Nanopillar Solar Panels
  Compatible with a wide range of semiconductor materials, nanopillar technology could see the development of very economical, efficient and light weight solar panels.


• China Boosts Solar Power Goals
  China is aiming for an installed solar power capacity of 2 gigawatts by 2011, nearly 15 times the 140 megawatt capacity it had at the end of 2008.

Monday 06 July, 2009

 

• Los Angeles To End Coal Power Addiction By 2020
  Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has vowed to "permanently break" the city's addiction to coal and to source 40% of LA's power from renewable energy by 2020.

Friday 03 July, 2009

 

• The Solar Vest
  Mark Twain said that clothes make the man and one wonders what he would have made of the solar vest.

Thursday 02 July, 2009

 

• ACT Solar Feed In Tariff Under Attack
  The Australian Capital Territory currently has the most generous solar feed in tariff policy in the country; one that has recently come under fire.


• Hills Receive Additional Solar Hot Water RECs Recognition
  The Office of Renewable Energy (ORER) have confirmed the Hills Esteem evacuated tube, solar hot water product range now has an increased number of RECs allocated per system when purchased and installed within Australia.

Wednesday 01 July, 2009

 

• Sunpower Inks $124 Million Solar Power Deal
  Wells Fargo and SunPower Corp. yesterday announced an agreement to the tune of AUD $124 million for funding the construction of SunPower commercial-scale solar systems.


• Nanocapacitors - A Renewable Energy Storage Solution
  Capacitors have shown a great deal of promise for energy storage, but while offering high power and fast recharge, the necessary energy density has remained an issue - until now.

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