CEFC commits $20M to WA lithium project
Battery storage and electric vehicles locally are set to receive a boost after a company secured an estimated AU$20 million investment from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). This is the first of its kind to be invested in with the CEFC becoming a cornerstone investor in a US$100 million senior secured bond issued by […]
Solar sweetens beekeeping business
While the two may be seen as odd bedfellows solar arrays and bee colonies are coming together to help sell the usefulness of solar in new areas while helping to promote the aging profession of beekeeping. All this has been spurred on in the US with the first ever commercial beekeeping hosting arrangement being created […]
Up to 40% of electric vehicle drivers have home solar panels: report
A survey of 2,000 electric vehicle (EV) drivers across 28 countries found between 28–40% of respondents also have home solar panels. The new analysis of the Clean Technica survey data found a link between drivers of electric cars and home solar panels. “A very large portion of our respondents had home solar panels, which means […]
NSW announces $15 million demand response pilot
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the NSW Government will commit $15 million in funding for a demand response pilot. ARENA will provide grant funding to support tech development costs associated with demand response projects. These include inputting renewable energy into the electricity while maintaining frequency, a challenge for asynchronous generators like solar panels in Australia. The […]
Solar energy produces methane from CO2 with new catalyst
Australian scientists now have a catalyst that converts carbon dioxide into methane gas using solar energy. The University of Adelaide, in collaboration with the CSIRO, developed the process, which could potentially replace fossil fuels. It could also lead to lower CO2 emissions from existing carbon-based fuel technologies. The new catalyst drives the process of combining […]
Boost for Finkel Review as recommendations adopted
With the Finkel review receiving support nationally the recommendations have gotten another boost as the government approves 49 out of the 50 possible suggestions. The recommendation that has been left out is the clean energy target with Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg saying such a scheme was still under consideration with stakeholders to be consulted. Among […]
Excitons light up solar future
In what could revolutionize solar panel efficiency researches at Melbourne University have discovered a way to manipulate a ‘quasiparticle’ called an exciton which could prove to be a great inroad into better energy harvesting. Science has known about these quasiparticles for years now but this is the first time we now understand and can manipulate […]
Clean coal rebutted as sustainable: Climate Council
In a report released by the Climate Council the merits of clean coal have been debunked, this coming in the wake of the recent release of the long anticipated Finkel Review. The report breaks down what clean coal is, the over reliance and continued reliance of the energy form and the damage it is doing […]
Small Business Ombudsman urges government to adopt Finkel Review
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman wants the Federal Government to adopt the recommendations of the Finkel Review. The agency called for a bipartisan approach to energy policy to avoid job losses and business closures. Ombudsman Kate Carnell says the small business sector could be crippled by rising electricity costs and reduced reliability. Ms Carnell said […]
Australian Energy Regulator welcomes federal funding boost
The Australian Government will increase funding to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) by $67.4 million over the next four years. The funding increase, which begins July 1 2017, was announced this week. Making the announcement, the Turnbull Government added: “Every decision we make in the energy sector is designed to ease pressure on household bills […]
