Home: Renewable Energy News: May 2012

Renewable Energy News

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Thursday 31 May, 2012

Australian Rooftop Solar PV Information Paper Released
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has given solar PV the recognition it deserves, committing to publishing analysis of existing and forecast levels of rooftop solar PV in its annual forecasting reports.

Wind Power 'The New Baseload' In South Australia
Achieving 20% renewable energy in Australia by 2020 isn't impossible - in fact, South Australia has already blown past that goal courtesy of wind energy primarily, with a helping hand from residential solar panel installations.

Wednesday 30 May, 2012

Australian Wind Farms And Health 'An Argument, Not A Debate'
Controversy over 'Wind Turbine Syndrome' and other wind farm related issues seems to have heated up in Australia over the last few days.

May 2012 Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices
In Ernst & Young's (EY) latest renewable energy country attractiveness indices, while the rankings at the top of the all renewables index remain unchanged, all five of the top countries have lost points.

Tuesday 29 May, 2012

More Turbines For South Australia's Snowtown Wind Farm
Snowtown South Wind Farm has applied for an electricity generation licence for the second stage its South Australian wind facility.

Germany's Solar Electricity Production Breaks Record
It's a positive sign of things to come - solar power supplied Germany with almost half its peak electricity needs on May 26.

Monday 28 May, 2012

Solar Households Stung By Poor Quality Inverters
A consumer watchdog organisation in South Australia states it is receiving dozens of phone calls a week from disgruntled owners of solar power systems who have discovered their systems feature low quality inverters.

Solar Trade Wars - China Strikes Back
Faced with tariffs of up to 250% on Chinese made solar panels imported into the USA; China's solar industry and government certainly isn't done fighting yet.

Friday 25 May, 2012

Queensland Government Bails On Solar Farm Project
The Queensland Government has withdrawn funding for Cloncurry Solar Farm as part of a cost cutting campaign that may see other solar related casualties.

Thursday 24 May, 2012

AGL's Loy Yang A Takeover Approved
AGL may be rejoicing after the ACCC approved the company's takeover bid for Victoria's largest power station and adjacent coal mine; but it may again place the Clean Energy Council (CEC) in an uncomfortable situation.

ACT Narrows Field For Australia's First Solar Auction
The ACT Government has narrowed down the field for the nation’s first large scale solar auction to 22 proposals from 10 different developers for the first 20MW to be allocated under its program.

World's Largest CIS Solar Farm Connected
Solar Frontier and Germany's BELECTRIC have announced the completion and grid connection of the world's largest CIS thin-film solar power plant in Bochow, Brandenburg, Germany.

Solar - A Sweet Electricity Solution For Queensland's Sugar Mills?
A draft determination on electricity costs for 2012/13 from the Queensland Competition Authority has the state's sugar mills very concerned as they will face an average power price increase of 150%.

Wednesday 23 May, 2012

Solar Power Boat To Make Its Debut
The solar-powered Solar Star 23 cruise boat will make its public debut with a journey along the 584 kilometre long Erie Canal, starting in Buffalo; New York.

The Case For Going Solar Now In Victoria Strengthens
Possible upcoming changes to Victoria's feed in tariff program may mean households in the state will be financially better off making the switch to solar sooner rather than later.

Tuesday 22 May, 2012

A Wind Turbine Made With Wood
Looking somewhat like a Hills Hoist that has come off second best in a tussle with a tornado, the Hercules wind turbine employs cutting edge technology with old world materials - wood.

US Feds May Whack Up To 250% Tariff On Chinese Solar Panels
The fallout from the US solar 'trade war' has resulted in a hefty proposed antidumping duty (AD) on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from China, whether or not assembled into solar panels.

Monday 21 May, 2012

Suntech CTO And Martin Green Win Collaborative Innovation Award
Suntech's Dr. Stuart Wenham and the 'father of photovoltaics', Professor Martin Green, were awarded the prestigious Australian Collaborative Innovation Awards last week.

Taking Solar Power From The People For Nix - VCEC
A report concerning the future of Victoria's feed-in tariff joins others that fail to recognise the true value of electricity generated by home solar power systems - and could threaten knock-on effects across Australia if implemented.

Friday 18 May, 2012

Solar Power Assisted Robotic Sailboat To Attempt World Record
The Austrian Society for Innovative Computer Sciences (INNOC) designed and constructed 'ASV Roboat' will take aim at the current robotic sailing world record in July.

Thursday 17 May, 2012

REC Releases Its First Sustainability Report
Norway-based Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), producer of multi award-winning REC Peak Energy Series solar panels, has published its first Sustainability Report based on data collected in 2011.

Western Australia's Solar Feed In Tariff Ramifications Exaggerated
The Sustainable Energy Association of Australia has challenged the notion that spending more on renewables is somehow a bad thing and brought the situation regarding Western Australia's solar feed in tariff into perspective.

Origin/AGL - Draft NSW Electricity Price Increases Not Enough
It seems AGL and Origin Energy feel a 16% increase in electricity prices on July 1 this year in New South Wales isn't enough. Struggling households may beg to differ.

Wednesday 16 May, 2012

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 67 - May 16, 2012
Virginia reports on REC's 5 millionth solar panel, Victoria’s Yarra Climate Action Now pursuing a community-owned solar farm and solar soon to be an even better deal for small businesses in Australia.

Why The Australian Solar Feed In Tariff Blues? - Infographic
Household PV subsidies have had only a minor impact on household electricity bills; 'so why the political angst?' asks Exigency.

And The Solar Lights All Went On In Massachusetts* (Walmarts)
Various sources are reporting the world's largest retailer, Walmart, will be partially powering half of its Massachusetts stores with solar energy very soon.

ACCC Eyes Solar Sellers
Some in Australia's solar industry have been exaggerating looming electricity price rises and drawing the attention of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Tuesday 15 May, 2012

Rumours Of Wind Farm Unpopularity May Be Grossly Exaggerated
Wind farms in Australia can tend to suffer a bit of an image problem - but it increasingly seems much of that comes from mainstream media's focus on a minority's concerns.

SMA Sells 90% More Solar Inverters In Q1
SMA Solar Technology AG continues its dominance in the solar inverter sector; posting impressive gains during the first quarter of this year.

Monday 14 May, 2012

REC Celebrates 5 Million Solar Panels Produced
REC has celebrated production of the 5 millionth Peak Energy Series module at the 13th SolarExpo; held in Italy.

Yarra Community Solar Project Launch
Victoria's Yarra Climate Action Now (YCAN) is finalising a pre-feasibility study for a medium-scale community-owned rooftop solar farm in inner Melbourne.

Friday 11 May, 2012

Solar Win Brings Smile To Agfest Patron
Gary Woodward has been announced the winner of an Energy Matters solar power system after entering a draw at last weekend’s Agfest Field Days in Tasmania.

Mars Rover Opportunity Solars On
Opportunity has taken its first, albeit short, drive since December, as Mars' winter draws to an end and the rover's solar panels start producing more electricity.

Thursday 10 May, 2012

Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics Until 2016 - EPIA
A report just released by the EPIA states enough electricity will be produced by new solar PV and wind installations in Europe in 2012 to compensate for the closure of nuclear reactors in Germany.

What Now For The Solar Credits Rebate?
An announcement of a further reduction to the Solar Credits rebate didn't eventuate in Budget 2012 as some suspected might happen. Does this mean the rebate is totally safe?

Wednesday 09 May, 2012

Solar An Even Better Deal For Small Business
From the start of the 2012-13 tax year, small businesses in Australia will be able to immediately write off assets to the value of $6,500 - including solar power systems.

Budget 2012 And Clean Energy
Federal budgets can be a nail-biting time for the Australian renewable energy industry, but there were no major surprises in Budget 2012 announcements.

Tuesday 08 May, 2012

Iron Mountain Going Solar
Data storage and document management firm Iron Mountain has announced plans to install solar panels on the rooftop of eight of its storage facilities in three U.S. states.

Solar Seller Fined For Dodgy Goods
The director and general manager of three New South Wales solar companies has been fined $15,000 for selling solar hot water systems with potentially unsafe storage tanks and solar panels with electrical faults.

Monday 07 May, 2012

REC Inks 20MW Bulgarian Solar Panel Deals
Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) has signed agreements to supply 20 MW of its award-winning solar panels for facilities throughout Bulgaria.

The 3D Spin Cell Solar Generator
Not a fan of rooftop solar power systems? Perhaps Solarphasec's Sentinel 3D Spin Cell solar generator might appeal to you.

Friday 04 May, 2012

Mobile Solar Powered Rapid Response Unit
The first days after a disaster are critical and if power and clean water are unavailable, it can seriously hamper rescue and cleanup efforts.

Thursday 03 May, 2012

Origin: Australia To Overshoot Renewable Energy Target
Recently we published an article on concerns Australia's Renewable Energy Target may not be met. Origin Energy is reportedly saying quite the opposite.

UK Solar Feed In Tariff Cuts Sees Uptake Plummet
A reduction in the UK's feed in tariff for new connections has seen solar power installations drop by 90% due to households not understanding that even at current rates, the case for going solar is still strong.

Wednesday 02 May, 2012

Australia Home To More Than 1.2 Million Solar Installations
Either Australia is chock-full of tree-hugging hippies, or the average Aussie is increasingly understanding how much money can be saved by making the switch to solar... and yes, it's the latter.

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 66 - May 2, 2012
This week, Virginia reports on Australia's renewable energy target under threat, the mining industry still on the subsidy gravy train and the US EPA's latest top 50 Green Power Partnership rankings.

The Renewable Energy Potential Of Airports
Land appropriated for electricity generation facilities can be a thorny issue and we need to make better use of land we're already utilising (or have ruined). Airports around the world represent a huge potential resource.

Tuesday 01 May, 2012

Gas Price Hike To Hit Households Soon
It's not just electricity prices that will increase sharply soon; gas will also - and the hikes could be in the double-digits.

Wind Farms Will Cook The Planet
Well, that's a slight (gross) exaggeration, but no doubt some in the anti-renewables lobby will attempt to amplify the findings of a recent study. We thought we'd try to grab your attention first.

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