Energy trends of 2017: Artificial Intelligence, smart homes technology and solar innovation
Innovation and Artificial Intelligence are at the forefront of an energy revolution in the US. A thought leader in the US energy market has identified Artificial Intelligence, smart homes technology and solar tech innovation as key energy trends of 2017. Vikas Desai is Senior Vice President and Global GM of Flex Living at Flextronics International. […]
Christmas lights and energy bills illuminate high cost of electricity
Aussies are spending a fortune on electricity to get into the Christmas spirit, new research shows. The survey by comparison site finder.com.au found that during the Christmas season Australians will spend $163 million on energy bills, purely to power their lights. The high cost of electricity this year means only 11 per cent of families […]
Ongoing demand for solar power drives up STC price
A predicted increase in demand for Small-scale technology certificates (STCs) in 2018 which will affect the STC price is good news for solar retailers and customers. According to a new analysis by the Australian Clean Energy Regulator, there was a 25 per cent increase in STCs in 2017. This is likely to continue into 2018. […]
Solar batteries cost keeps on getting lower: wait or buy now?
Solar batteries cost is getting lower. Prices have steadily come down over the past 20 years. This is particularly true for the latest lithium-ion batteries – a real revolution in storage technology. However, it’s not necessarily a benefit to hold off to see if prices come down further. Now is a great time to buy sonnen […]
National Electricity Market ‘not in the best of health’: Energy Security Board
Australia’s runaway energy market prices are not sustainable and customers are looking to solar PV and battery storage to cut power bills. That’s according to the inaugural annual report from the newly-appointed Energy Security Board (ESB). The Board calls on federal, state and territory governments to push through the National Energy Guarantee to fix the […]
Victorian feed-in tariff may skyrocket to 29c from July 1 2018 if new draft rules adopted
The Essential Services Commission has made a draft decision to alter the minimum Victorian feed-in tariff (FiT) rates from July 1, 2018. Solar customers could get as much as 29 c/kWh at peak times of the week if the new rates are applied. Two FiTs will be set: time-varying and single rates. Under the new […]
Australian emissions rise as Turnbull Government defends climate policy
Australian emissions continue to climb, as the Federal Government’s latest pollution figures show. And the Climate Council has attacked Australia’s 12-month review of climate policy as a “farce” with no new policies to tackle climate change. The quarterly update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory subsequently reveals a 0.7% rise in carbon emissions between July […]
Australia Post installs record-breaking solar panel power system
Australia Post has installed the nation’s largest single-roof solar panel system at its Chullora sorting centre in Sydney. The $3 million project will subsequently power Australia’s busiest parcel sorting facility. This will save more than $800,000 in annual energy costs. The record-breaking project also spans more than 11,000 square metres, the same area as nine […]
Power prices set to fall over next two years, thanks to new solar, wind capacity
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) estimates that power prices will fall over the next two year as more solar and wind capacity comes online across the country. The AEMC’s latest report on national residential electricity price trends found prices jumped sharply by 11 per cent in 2017. It states the cost of wholesale electricity has […]
Port of Newcastle clean energy transition begins
Major coal exporter Newcastle Ports is moving away from fossil fuels in a clean energy transition. The incoming Port of Newcastle chairman Professor (Emeritus) Roy Green says the NSW port must urgently diversify its traffic. New cruise terminal and non-coal freight facilities are part of this low carbon transition. Professor Green has a background working […]
