Getting Kids Excited About Solar – Synergy Schools Solar Challenge
The 2017 inaugural Synergy Schools Solar Challenge saw Year 6 and Year 8 students battle it out in a model solar car race this week. More than 500 students from around Perth took part in the inaugural Challenge, a joint initiative between Synergy and the Science Teachers Association of WA (STAWA). Semi-finals occurred last month […]
Open Letter Calls For “5 Minute Rule” In Australia’s Energy Market
The Australia Institute has published an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for three energy market reforms – including a “5 minute rule” that has been gaining increasing support. In Australia’s National Energy Market (NEM), generators bid to supply energy over 5 minute intervals. However, they are paid a price that is set over […]
Fashion Giant Attains 96% Renewables-Sourced Electricity
Released yesterday, the H&M group Sustainability Report 2016 outlines a number of new goals and reaffirms a commitment to 100% renewables-sourced electricity – a goal it’s not far from achieving. H&M has been a member of the RE100 for some time. The company states it sourced 78% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2015 […]
New Silicon/Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiency Record
Researchers from the Australian National University have set a new record efficiency for semi-transparent perovskite solar cells. The record 26 percent sunlight-to-energy conversion was achieved by mechanically combining perovskite with silicon solar cells, a breakthrough that could lower the cost of rooftop solar power systems. “Until now efficiencies of this kind have only been achieved […]
Renewable Energy Driving Down EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A new report states renewable energy uptake in the EU since 2005 resulted in a reduction of fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of around 10% in 2015. The report, published yesterday by the European Environment Agency (EEA), states the biggest reductions in fossil fuel use and carbon emissions through a switch to renewable […]
FPL Announces 2.1GW Solar Power Rollout
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has announced it expects to roll out nearly 2,100 megawatts of new solar capacity across the state over the next seven years. The company, which serves more than 10 million people across nearly half of the state of Florida, plans to add an average of nearly 300 megawatts of […]
Wind And Solar Tax Credits Driving U.S Economic Growth
U.S. federal wind and solar investment tax credits will create more than 220,000 jobs and add nearly $23 billion to the nation’s economy this year states a new report. The investment tax credit (ITC) is a 30 percent credit for wind, solar power and energy storage systems. The program has been a significant contributor to […]
Climate-KIC Australia Kicks Off
A new initiative launched in Australia yesterday with the support of several state governments and universities will see entrepreneurs, researchers, developers and startups work together to explore renewable and low carbon energy pathways. Climate-KIC Australia is a Knowledge Innovation Community (KIC), based on the European KIC model. That community, which has a presence in 23 […]
Fern Biomimicry Boosts Supercapacitor Energy Storage Capacity 3,000%
Researchers in Australia have developed a new type of electrode that radically increases the energy storage capacity of supercapacitors and could lead to flexible, thin film self-contained solar capture and storage devices. RMIT University researchers created a graphene electrode inspired by the structure of the western swordfern, Polystichum munitum; which is native to western North […]
SMA Reports A Stellar 2016
Leading battery and solar inverter manufacturer SMA says it achieved a sales record of 8.2 GW of inverter capacity last year, approximately 11% more than in 2015. In 2016, SMA’s residential business unit accounted for approximately 19% of the company’s total sales, the commercial business unit made up around 28% and utility unit, 42%. Energy […]
