Rooftop solar installation for Katherine High School thanks to NT renewable energy plan
Katherine High School will get a rooftop solar installation as part of the Northern Territory government’s renewable energy plan, the Katherine Times reports. The rooftop solar installation forms part of the NT government’s $5 million Rooftop Solar in Schools program. So far, in Round One of the program, ten schools have received $1.5 million in […]
Energy market chief wants control over WA home solar panels
The national energy regulator wants to stabilise Western Australia’s electricity grid by controlling the state’s home solar panel output. One in four homes in Western Australia now has a rooftop solar installation. As a result, solar energy is flooding the grid and even causing over-supply at times, particularly during the day. In the case of household solar, […]
Renewable energy investment hits record $20 billion in 2018
Australia’s booming renewable and storage industry has blown away previous records, with new data showing investment in the renewable projects sector reaching $20 billion in 2018. There are a staggering 83 renewable projects currently in construction (or due to start construction soon) across Australia. It’s the value of these committed projects which have delivered the […]
Council bulk-buy solar scheme helps SA pensioners buy solar panel systems
An innovative bulk-buy solar scheme is helping low-income residents in the South Australian town of Port Pirie buy solar power systems. The program was set up by the area’s local government authorities. Port Pirie Regional Council wanted a home solar installation that residents of the area could pay off over four years at no more […]
Origin Energy halts renewable investment due to Federal Government ‘big stick’ proposals
Origin Energy has paused its large-scale renewable investment strategy, citing threatened energy market interventions by the Morrison Government. As reported by the Australian Financial Review, Origin is reacting to a lack of coherent energy policy and threats to control the energy market by divesting energy assets. Origin says this makes it hard for the retailer to […]
Cheapest electric car in Australia: Introducing the Hyundai IONIQ EV
The Australian driving public has a new electric vehicle on the market to review and test drive. Retailing at around $50,000, it’s the cheapest electric car in the country. The Korean made Hyundai IONIQ electric vehicle paves the way for a new generation of comfortable and affordable Australian EVs. According to the respected Motoring magazine, the […]
Report says gas not renewables causing high power prices in South Australia
According to a new report, gas is the cause of high electricity prices in South Australia, not renewable energy. The Victoria Energy Policy Centre produced the report, titled ‘Does renewable electricity generation reduce electricity prices?’ The centre’s research found that the closure of two power stations did lead to wholesale price increases. These amounted to […]
Fremantle residents trade solar energy with blockchain platform
Residents in the Western Australia port city of Fremantle will soon be able to trade solar energy using a blockchain-enabled platform. Around forty households in the WA city will take part in the peer-to-peer clean energy trading RENeW Nexus trial, which was announced in late 2017. Running until June 2019, the trial involves a fixed-use […]
Queensland solar battery grants — government adds another 1,000 battery packages
The Queensland solar battery grants and loans scheme has been so successful that the state government is expanding it. The scheme, introduced in November, comprises offers of interest-free loans of up to $10,000 and grants of $3,000 to purchase solar batteries or solar-battery systems. The offer applies to 1,500 applicants, including households and small businesses. […]
Energy Regulator: electricity distribution networks efficiency cuts bills, Melbourne’s CitiPower is #1
A new Australian Energy Regulator (AER) report indicates that when electricity distribution networks improve productivity, electricity prices go down. The fifth ‘Annual Benchmarking Report on Electricity distribution networks service providers’ shows distributors’ productivity grew 2.7 per cent on average in 2016-17 over the previous year. An improvement in the distributors’ productivity reduces electricity costs to households […]
