Monash University zeros in on emissions goal with microgrid plans
Monash University is a step further towards net zero emissions after announcing plans for a solar microgrid incorporating solar power and storage at its Clayton Campus. The microgrid is a key platform of Monash’s Smart Energy City project. The initiative builds on the university’s $135 million commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. […]
Alice Springs residents willing to pay for solar farms to cut electricity bills
The majority of residents are willing to pay for Alice Springs solar farms to get lower energy prices, according to an independent survey. Community solar group RePower Alice Springs says more than 80 per cent of 542 residents surveyed are willing to put between $1,000 and $5,000 into investing in solar power infrastructure in the […]
Does Australia’s solar ‘freight train’ signal the end of solar subsidies?
Some energy leaders are calling for an end to solar subsidies as the solar industry enjoys exponential growth. Six solar panels are installed every minute in Australia, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). Furthermore, solar costs have also fallen steadily over the last decade. AEMO CEO Audrey Zibelman told the National Energy Summit this […]
Inner West students and council join forces to put solar in schools
Sydney’s inner west solar network has received a boost after local student leaders joined the solar in schools movement. The Sydney Student Leader Coalition (SSLC) is a collective of high school students from inner west schools advocating for change in their communities. The Coalition is partnering with Inner West Council to get rooftop solar for local schools. […]
Two of Australia’s biggest solar farms set to light up Riverina town
Two of the biggest solar farms Australia has seen so far are planned for Balranald in rural NSW. The 255 MW Sunraysia Solar Farm is due to begin construction shortly. The $350 million project should generate enough energy to power around 50,000 homes. Building of the Limondale solar project will also begin this month. The […]
Chief Scientist: solar-powered hydrogen production could be major Aussie export
Chief Scientist Alan Finkel says Australia should consider exporting solar powered hydrogen to Japan – a new industry he calls “shipping sunshine”. Finkel wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald that this could provide a huge export opportunity for Australia. He described it as a “multi-billion dollar market in the making”. Finkel says government and tech […]
NT approves 25 MW solar plant on road to 50% renewables target
The NT government has approved the development of a 25 MW solar PV plant near Katherine. Once completed, this Northern Territory solar farm will be the Territory’s largest to date. It’s the first in a number of large-scale Northern Territory solar projects under consideration in the NT under Labor’s 50 per cent renewable energy target. […]
Local governments lead the way on climate change and renewable energy
While the Morrison Government remains uninterested in energy policy, local government areas throughout the country are forging ahead with emissions reduction and renewable energy initiatives through the Cities Power Partnership (CPP). The Climate Council created the CPP program, which is now the biggest climate, emissions and energy program for local governments in Australia. So far, […]
Huge solar project sees Port Augusta emerge as Australia’s renewable hub
The largest solar project in the southern hemisphere is well under way in South Australia. The first stage of the Bungala solar farm has been completed north-east of Port Augusta. The subsequent completion of stage two will then see the 300 MW solar PV farm cover an area close to the size of Melbourne’s CBD. […]
Renewables must replace coal to stop catastrophic climate change: IPCC
Renewables like wind and solar power must replace coal by 2050 to prevent carbon emissions pushing a global temperature increase above 1.5°C. That’s the finding of a report released yesterday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report says greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels must reach virtually zero by mid-century to prevent catastrophic climate change. […]
