Tesla Powerpack battery a Gold Winner at Australian design awards
The innovative Tesla battery installed at Hornsdale Wind Farm has taken out two of Australia’s top design and sustainability awards. Tesla Powerpack’s ground-breaking technology won two categories in the 60th Annual Good Design Awards held at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday night. The Tesla installation emerged as Gold Winner in Engineering Design for outstanding […]
CER data shows 47,000 small scale solar installations for Q1 2018
Data from the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) shows there were 50,592 small-scale renewable energy installations during the first quarter of 2018 across Australia. 41,611 (or 82 per cent) of these were small scale solar panel systems, 5,811 were solar water heaters, and the rest were air source heat pumps. The most common installation system size […]
The Tesla iPhone X: Gold-plated iPhone has its own solar battery — but it’s not cheap
A Russian company has released a gold-plated iPhone with a dedicated solar battery retailing at more than US$4,000. Customised by Russian accessory manufacturer Caviar, the iPhone X Tesla features a solar panel on the back. While Caviar planned to release only 99 phones, a pre-order boom subsequently boosted the figure to 999 units. Caviar has […]
Cook Islands to be fully powered by solar plus battery power by 2020
New solar plus battery projects in the Cook Islands demonstrate how off-grid regions can escape reliance on diesel generators. Six of the twelve inhabited Cook Islands are the target of hybrid renewable energy projects comprising solar and solar battery technology. The first of these, on Mitiaro Island, is now complete and should be able to […]
Large scale solar forum: Queensland leading the way on industry solar
Chief executive of the Clean Energy Council Kane Thornton spoke at the launch of the Large Scale Solar Industry Forum yesterday, saying Queensland is leading the way on large scale solar projects in Australia. Thornton said solar projects across the country amount to $5 billion in investment, with $2.6 billion of this coming from Queensland. […]
Business renewable energy trend continues with nearly half of Australian businesses switching
The business renewable energy trend is continuing according to a report showing Australian businesses switching to renewable energy in a bid to cut rising electricity costs. Nearly half are taking matters into their own hands by installing large solar power and battery storage systems. That’s according to a new report from the Climate Council. It […]
Solar energy can help solve Australia’s water crisis says new report
Australia can help solve its water crisis by optimising use of water-friendly solar energy, a new report concludes. Because solar power generation consumes minimal to zero water, it beats water-hungry coal-fired power production in terms of conserving an increasingly precious natural resource. That’s the verdict of the World Resources Institute (WRI). Its new report points […]
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg orders crackdown on ‘totally unacceptable’ electricity price gouging
A Federal Government crackdown on electricity price gouging by distribution networks could save householders hundreds of dollars on power bills. A review will be carried out by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to ensure energy companies are not charging customers for their corporate tax liabilities. According to the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh […]
Clean Energy Regulator confirms 2020 Renewable Energy Target already achieved
According to the Clean Energy Regulator (CER), there are now enough clean energy projects completed or under way to meet Australia’s 2020 Renewable Energy Target (RET). Surging numbers of commercial and industrial solar power systems are also applying for accreditation, figures show. These plants are between 100 kW and 1 MW. Around 130 MW of […]
Geelong community solar: $150,000 raised in one week for aged care facility solar installation
A Geelong solar installation project has attracted over $150,000 from local investors in its first week. CORE Geelong One will install a 156 kW solar system at Multicultural Aged Care Services (MACS) in North Geelong. Geelong Sustainability is the organisation behind the project. The funds came from local community investors. Project coordinator Dan Cowdell from […]
