Some Solar Households Unfairly Slugged For Electricity

Media reports emerged yesterday claiming some solar power system owners in Australia were being charged ridiculously high rates for mains-grid supplied electricity compared to non-solar customers. An investigation by Energy Matters since has revealed some astounding reasons as to why this is likely happening in some cases.

(Yet Another) Solar Cell Efficiency Record

The solar energy industry is on a mission, a mission that began when the first photovoltaic cells were installed on a rooftop and began converting sunlight into electricity: to make solar power as cheap as traditional energy sources. In other words, to achieve “grid parity.”

Solar Power Provider To Electricity Retailers: Don’t Be Evil

Following reports of solar power system owners being slugged excessive rates for electricity they draw from the grid; national solar solutions provider Energy Matters says that Australian electricity retailers should apply Google’s corporate motto of “Don’t be evil”. Energy Matters has also announced the development of a league table to help consumers identify solar-friendly retailers.

Don’t Blame Solar Power For Rising Electricity Costs : CEC

According to Australia’s Clean Energy Council (CEC), the cost of supporting residential solar power is a “drop in the ocean” stacked up against the billions of dollars in network costs that it says are primarily responsible for driving a spike in electricity prices in NSW.

UK Solar Power Feed In Tariffs Delivering

Rooftop solar energy systems are driving uptake of the UK government’s pilot solar feed-in tariff scheme, according to a report into the first six months of the policy.

Old Solar Panels That Just Won’t Die

Today’s solar panels usually have a warranty period of around 25 years; but if solar panels of the past are anything to go by, a far longer working life could be expected.