Home: Renewable Energy News: August 2012

Renewable Energy News

AUGUST 2012 | View archive list |

Thursday 30 August, 2012

Broken Hill's Desert Equinox Solar Art Exhibition
Australia's first Solar Art Exhibition, Desert Equinox, kicks off on Saturday in Broken Hill, New South Wales.

Solar Power - Regional Victoria Gets It
Statistics recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show uptake of solar power technology outside of Melbourne to be higher than in the state's capital city.

Hanwha Acquires Q-Cells
Hanwha Group, parent company of Hanwha SolarOne, has become the 3rd largest solar cell manufacturer in the world after acquiring German solar company Q-Cells.

Wednesday 29 August, 2012

Townsville RSL Stadium Goes Solar
What has been touted as the largest solar power system in North Queensland was officially opened today at Townsville RSL Stadium.

2012 Australian Energy Update
A recent report from Australia's Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) shows Australia's total energy consumption has increased by 3 per cent from 2009–10 to a total 6100 petajoules.

Tuesday 28 August, 2012

Australian Researchers Develop Cheap Salt Battery
Researchers at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia are developing water-based sodium-ion battery.

REC Group Focuses Solar Strength
Norway based REC Group is one of the success stories of the solar industry - but like other companies that grow quickly, their ascent isn't without its necessary growing pains.

Monday 27 August, 2012

New Rules To Rein In Electricity Price Rises
The AEMC has proposed new rules to better equip the regulator to set network prices so consumers aren't ripped off for reliable supplies of electricity and gas.

Microwave Ovens Could Make CZTS Solar Cells Even Cheaper
Last week we reported on IBM's CZTS solar cell efficiency record. Now engineers at Oregon State University have unveiled a way to make those cells even cheaper.

Friday 24 August, 2012

Largest N. Europe Rooftop Solar Power System Using REC Panels
Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) has announced completion of the largest rooftop solar panel system in Northern Europe.

Thursday 23 August, 2012

Be Wary Of Solar Company Liquidation Auctions
When solar companies go belly-up, sometimes their remaining solar panel and solar inverter stock wind up being sold through liquidation auctions. It can be an opportunity to grab a bargain - or wind up with a major headache.

Renewable Distributed Electricity Generation To Triple By 2017
Annual global installations of renewable distributed electricity generation will nearly triple between 2012 and 2017 says Pike research.

Wednesday 22 August, 2012

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 72 - August 22, 2012
Virginia reports on Australia's Renewable Energy Target under review, Australia leading the world in home solar, the solar powered toilet, coal costing Australians big bucks and NSW regional residents hit massive electricity price increases.

AuSES Renames To Australian Solar Council
The Australian Solar Energy Society has been renamed to the Australian Solar Council as it gears up to become the national voice of solar energy.

Tuesday 21 August, 2012

Review Of Australia's Renewable Energy Target Begins
Australia's Climate Change Authority released its Renewable Energy Target (RET) issues paper for industry and public comment yesterday.

IBM/Solar Frontier Sets Record With CZTS Solar Cell
IBM has set a world record for conversion efficiency of a solar cell made with earth-abundant materials.

Monday 20 August, 2012

BREE Report May Only Tell Half The Solar Story
The solar cost story might be twice as good as the government thinks.

Australians Led The World In Home Solar Installs In 2011
Australian households installed more residential rooftop solar power systems last year than any other nation.

Another Sunflower Inspired Solar Power System
The humble sunflower is forming the basis of another high tech solar energy design.

Friday 17 August, 2012

Caltech Reinvents The Toilet With Solar Power (Video)
40% of humanity doesn't have a safe way to poop. Solar power could help address that.

Thursday 16 August, 2012

Regional NSW Power Bills Jump 154% In 7 Years
An investigation by Business Day has found the average electricity bill for a customer in regional NSW has risen by 154% since 2005.

South Australia's Victor Harbor A Solar Stronghold
Home owners in Victor Harbor, a seaside resort township situated 80 kilometres from Adelaide, South Australia, have been installing solar panels at a cracking pace.

Wednesday 15 August, 2012

Coal Based Electricity Generation Costing Australians Big
Rising electricity prices aren't the only financial sting associated with Australia's current power generation status quo. Coal is costing us $2.6 billion annually in terms of health states a new report.

U.S. Wind Energy Breezes Past 50GW
The U.S. wind power industry has hit a significant milestone: 50 gigawatts of electricity generation capacity.

Tuesday 14 August, 2012

South Australians Increasingly Turning To Solar Energy
South Australia's annual electricity consumption has decreased significantly, thanks in part to home solar power systems.

New Solar Panel Coating Developed At University of Houston
A researcher at the University of Houston (UH) has developed a special coating for solar panel glass that enhances its self cleaning properties and assists in keeping solar modules operating at their peak efficiency.

Monday 13 August, 2012

University of Queensland And NSW To Partner On Solar Farm Research
The University of Queensland the University of New South Wales will conduct research relating to two large solar farms projects to be constructed over the next three years in western New South Wales.

Solar Powered Silent Falcon Drone Unveiled
U.S. based Silent Falcon UAS Technologies has unveiled its solar electric unmanned aerial system (UAS) at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) conference in Las Vegas.

Friday 10 August, 2012

REC Awarded Grant For Solar Cell Research
Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), is one of five solar power research teams awarded grants totalling 6.9 million Euros under Singapore's Clean Energy Research Program (CERP).

Lockheed Martin To Develop Solar Powered Fuel Cell Technology
The U.S. Office of Naval Research has awarded aerospace giant Lockheed Martin a $3 million contract to develop solar power/fuel cell technology for the U.S. Marines.

Thursday 09 August, 2012

Suntech Hits 1 Gigawatt Solar Panel Milestone In The Americas
After a couple of particularly challenging months for the company, Suntech has announced it has delivered more than one gigawatt of solar panels to customers throughout North and South America as of the end of July.

Top Wind And Solar PV Countries Per Capita
Switzerland's SolarSuperState Association has published its new global rankings for cumulative wind energy and solar panel capacity.

Wednesday 08 August, 2012

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 71 - August 8, 2012
Virginia reports on solar to the rescue during India's massive blackout, solar to be cheaper than brown coal by 2030, the Australian Solar Institute providing funding for research into solar solutions for rural areas and the Saphonian - a wind turbine without blades

Electricity Price Rises Can't Continue - Gillard
The fur flew on Tuesday after Prime Minister Julia Gillard said rapidly rising electricity prices were a threat to the Australian economy.

U.S. Army Issues $7 Billion RFP For Renewable Energy
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for $7 billion worth of locally generated, renewable and alternative energy through power purchase agreements.

Tuesday 07 August, 2012

US Power Company To Invest Another $883 Million In Solar
US utility Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) recently announced it will request approval to invest up to USD$883 million to develop an additional 233 megawatts (MWs) of solar energy capacity.

Renewable Energy Under Siege In The USA
Renewable energy faces opposition from cashed-up fossil fuel supporters in Australia; but it's nothing compared to what is going on in the USA at the moment.

Monday 06 August, 2012

The Saphonian - Zero Blade Wind Turbine
Inspired by sailboats, Saphon Energy's Zero-Blade technology is said to be a substantial improvement on the efficiency of current wind power equipment.

New Iron Air 'Rust' Deep Cycle Battery Unveiled
University of Southern California (USC) researchers have developed a new type of deep cycle battery that uses the chemical energy generated by the oxidation of iron plates.

Friday 03 August, 2012

That's Not A Wind Turbine Blade..
..this is a wind turbine blade - and it weighs as much as four bull elephants.

Thursday 02 August, 2012

India's Massive Blackout Proves Solar Energy's Mettle
In what has been described as the world's largest blackout event, solar panels again proved their worth.

Gas No Panacea For Australia's Rising Electricity Prices
Contrary to popular belief, a heavy reliance on natural gas for electricity generation in Australia could see power prices soar.

Wednesday 01 August, 2012

ASI Funds Northern Territory Solar Electricity Study
The Australian Solar Institute (ASI) is providing $500,000 to the Northern Territory’s Power and Water Corporation (PWC) to investigate ways to increase solar energy sourced electricity in Daly River.

Solar To Be Cheaper Than Energy's Crack Cocaine - Brown Coal
A new report from Australia's Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics predicts a major shakeup in Australia's energy mix by 2030.

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