Stand-alone power systems get green light under new electricity connection rules
People living in remote areas of Australia will get their electricity from stand-alone power systems like solar panels and battery storage under new connection rules. The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has recommended a change to current regulations that require all electricity customers to be connected to the main grid. It would mean electricity distributors […]
Queensland Supreme Court throws out ‘electricians only’ solar farm rule
Queensland’s Supreme Court has upheld a challenge by Impact Investment Group (IIG) against a restrictive new rule that allows only electricians to work on Queensland solar farms. The court rejected the state government’s solar farm electricians amendment, introduced this month, which says only licensed electricians can mount and fix unplugged solar panels on projects larger […]
National renewable energy policy needed as coal-fired plants bow out
Despite Scott Morrison’s Coalition Government’s convincing victory at the ballot box this month, it still needs to address the issue of a national renewable energy policy. That’s the verdict of deputy director of the SA Centre for Economic Studies at the University of Adelaide, Steve Whetton. Whetton told Adelaide’s InDaily that South Australian businesses face even […]
Australia on track to reach 50% renewable energy by 2030: RepuTex
Australia is on track to achieve a 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030, regardless of federal policy intervention. This is due to the country meeting state renewable energy targets. That’s the finding of new modelling by energy analyst firm RepuTex. Its latest research projects renewable energy generation growing to 52 per cent of electricity […]
Australian electric vehicle maker ACE-EV could produce 15,000 cars by 2025
An Australian electric vehicle maker has signed a contract to begin producing four EVs from a new Adelaide base. The Australian Clean Energy Electric Vehicle Group (ACE-EV) has made a deal with Adelaide’s Aldom Motor Body Builders. ACE-EV now aims to produce more than 15,000 vehicles by 2025 from the South Australian facility. The deal […]
How Much Power Will a 6.6 Kw Solar System Produce? And Is It Enough?
Undoubtedly, the average size of a solar power system is getting bigger. Many years ago, most households bought 3kW solar power systems (approximately 12 panels). Now, a 6.6kW solar system size (around 24 panels) is all the go [updated on 24 January 2023]. The big question is why? There are three main reasons: The cost […]
Victorian Solar Homes: Andrews Government to honour ‘ineligible’ solar rebate applications
The Victorian government has decided to pay solar rebates to around 600 households who meet the Solar Homes requirements but failed to apply for an eligibility number. These households installed solar power systems without first getting an eligibility number from Solar Victoria as required under the Solar Homes program. As a result, Solar Victoria rejected their […]
Which electricity retailer is offering the best solar feed-in-tariff?
Right, so you’ve got a solar power system on your roof – or you’re thinking of buying one – and you want to get a fair deal for the solar you don’t use and send to the grid. That’s only reasonable, isn’t it? After all, the solar power you export goes to your neighbours who […]
Breakthrough ‘doping’ method improves efficiency of perovskite solar cells
Like (some) elite athletes, new research has revealed that solar cells also benefit from performance-enhancing chemicals. Swinburne University scientists have shown how sunlight heals defects and boosts efficiency in ‘doped’ perovskite solar cells. Doping, in this case, means introducing impurities into a material to change its characteristics. Scientists believe their doping breakthrough could see perovskite-type […]
Queensland solar farm takes government to court over ‘electricians-only’ labour rule
A Queensland solar farm nearing completion is taking the state government to court over new rules that allow only electricians to work with solar panels. From May 13, all handling, locating and mounting of panels on Queensland solar farms must be done by licensed electricians. These new solar farm regulations may impact the viability of […]