Fall in STC price may affect the future cost of solar
In the first half of 2017 there was a 23% increase in small-scale solar system installations in Australia. While this is good news, it has also led to an oversupply of Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs). This, in turn, has reduced the trading price of STCs from $40 to their current price (as at early September) […]
Extreme weather impacts Australia’s ageing energy system
Extreme weather events driven by climate change are stressing Australia’s ageing energy system, a new report shows. Hot and Dry: Australia’s Weird Winter, produced by the Climate Council, explores the impact of 2017’s warmest winter on record. It claims the nation’s ageing energy infrastructure won’t be able to cope with more frequent and longer heatwaves. […]
One in five Aussie properties have a solar power system
One in five Australian homes and businesses generate their own electricity via solar power system, new figures show. Data released by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) also shows 23 per cent more Australians have embraced rooftop solar over the last 10 years. The monthly CER figures show numbers of installations under the Renewable Energy Target’s […]
New solar accreditation rules keep installation quality high: CEC
The requirements are tightening up for installers seeking Clean Energy Council (CEC) accreditation. The CEC oversees the training requirements and accreditation of solar installation companies across Australia. It also stresses the importance of installers staying ahead of training and new technology. This week, more ongoing changes were announced by the industry monitoring body. The upgrade […]
Renewables to match coal generation by 2040
Global renewable energy generation will match coal generation by 2040. That’s the claim of the latest international report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The ‘International Energy Outlook 2017’ (IEO2017) says coal will fall to 31 per cent of energy generation by 2040. Renewable generation is also expected to increase by an average of […]
Rooftop solar best way to supply power to urban poor: report
Rooftop solar panels are the answer to the power needs of emerging economies, according to a World Resources Institute report. The report, ‘Powering Cities in the Global South’, says solar panels are the cheapest way to power poorer households. Furthermore, it found rooftop solar panels are already the most common form of renewable energy in the […]
Wind and solar power can replace Liddell coal station: Wind Alliance
Renewable energy can replace the Liddell coal-fired power station, according to the Australian Wind Alliance (AWA). The claim comes as the Turnbull Government tries to persuade energy company AGL to keep the ageing Liddell power station open. This is despite AGL’s reluctance to keep the 50-year-old NSW plant in operation beyond 2022. However, AWA coordinator […]
ARENA’s Innovation Energy Summit outlines Australia’s energy future
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) hosted a series of talks at its recent ‘Innovating Energy Summit’. The main theme of the summit was ‘Powering Australia’s Future’. The event took place at Parliament House in front of a 400-strong audience. It featured Clean Energy Council’s chief executive Kane Thornton as a keynote speaker. The line-up […]
Geelong community group fosters local renewable energy
A sustainability group in Geelong Victoria is a prime example of how locally-owned renewable energy projects can benefit a community. The Geelong Sustainability CORE (Community Owned Renewable Energy) group has provided an update of its current solar and renewable projects in the region. CORE was established to create an ‘energy democracy’, and to help make […]
AEMC: How Australia can achieve reliable, low-emissions electricity
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is setting out new ways to achieve stable, low-emissions electricity. In a discussion paper, the AEMC puts forward several recommendations to secure the nation’s power supply. In summary, the paper supports measures to deliver secure, reliable energy to households and businesses. It states that these goals must also meet commitments for reducing carbon emissions. […]
