Northern Ireland’s Largest Solar Project Commences Operations
A 32MW solar development in Antrim, Northern Ireland was switched on earlier this week, adding a significant contribution to the region’s renewable energy goals. Made up of a network of five sites across the County with capacities ranging between 5 and 10M, the installations share a single connection to the mains grid. The project will […]
Solar Energy To Power 70% Of Australian Potash Project
Agrimin Limited has inked an agreement with Danish company Aalborg CSP that will see the development of a solar thermal heating system for Agrimin’s Sulphate of Potash Project in Western Australia. Sulphate of potash (potassium sulfate – K2SO4), also known as arcanite, is a white crystalline salt that is predominantly used as a fertiliser. As […]
Electricity Price Hike Looms For Canberra
Residents of the ACT are facing a significant electricity price increase from the beginning of July this year that will add hundreds of dollars onto the average annual power bill. The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) yesterday published its draft determination (PDF), which states based on information available up until the end of February, […]
More Electricity Price Rises For Western Australia
Households in Western Australia could be facing electricity price rises of seven per cent each year for the next three years – and perhaps even more. ABC reports the state’s new Energy Minister, Ben Wyatt, wants electricity prices to match cost. “If you are not at [cost reflectivity] it costs the taxpayer a significant amount […]
Australian Solar Supporter Survey – Have Your Say
With more than 1.6 million solar power systems now installed throughout the nation, this year’s Solar Citizens Supporter Survey could see a record number of responses. Solar Citizens is an independent non-profit community based organisation with a mission of advocating for solar energy, system owners and those wanting to go solar in Australia. The annual […]
ACCC To Review Australia’s Retail Electricity Market
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been tasked with reviewing retail electricity prices across the nation. We recently reported on a Grattan Institute study that found retail electricity prices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide have almost doubled over the past decade. In the case of Victoria, the report expressed concerns the profit margin […]
Solar Powered Synthetic Tactile Skin Unveiled
In the not too distant future, amputees could regain the benefits of a sense of touch through motorised prosthetic limbs featuring solar powered synthetic skin. After developing a graphene based ‘electronic skin’, also known as tactile skin, researchers at the University of Glasgow have been tinkering with using solar energy to power it. Their synthetic […]
Big Solar Energy Plan For Oregon
The U.S. state of Oregon could source as much as 10 percent of its electricity requirements from solar energy by 2027 according to a recently unveiled blueprint. Oregon, with a population of around 4 million, currently has 226 megawatts of solar installed, enough to provide for the electricity requirements of 25,000 homes. Nearly 50 percent […]
Queensland Battery Storage Recommendation Change Welcomed
Australia’s Clean Energy Council has welcomed a recent change in recommendations by the Queensland Electrical Safety Office (ESO) concerning home battery installations. The CEC says the ESO had previously recommended all residential energy storage units should be installed in a separate external enclosure. Aside from this being overkill in the opinions of many in the […]
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer To Run On Solar Juice
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is a step closer to spending three-and-a-half years examining the environment surrounding the gas giant, assisted by solar power. The ESA recently announced that earlier this month the project had reached a stage where a prototype craft can now be constructed, which will be subjected to […]
