Queensland University leads in research for solar distributed energy
“In future, it will need to accommodate many, many more, smaller input sources in diverse locations, from renewable resources such as solar, geothermal and wind,” Professor Meredith says.
He says mid-size, commercial-scale renewable power generating systems like UQ’s will become increasingly common in urban and remote areas.
UQ powers up $7m solar array QBR, July 15, 2011, Brisbane has today stepped up its renewable energy research capabilities with the official launch of the University of Queensland’s $7.75 million solar array – the largest power system of its kind in Australia. Continue reading
New solar technology based on Australian design
The Pluto design is based on the PERL (passivated emitter with rear locally diffused) technology developed at Australia’s University of New South Wales, where efficiencies of 25 percent have been achieved in the laboratory. Unique texturing technology with lower reflectivity ensures more sunlight can be absorbed throughout the day even without direct solar radiation.
Suntech Unveils Pluto and Mono/Multi Hybrid Modules, Two new products show the innovation coming from China’s solar firms. GreenTechSolar, Eric Wesoff, 12 July 11, Suntech (NYSE: STP), the world’s largest solar module manufacturer just launched two new products. Continue reading
Selling solar energy from Australian home rooftops
AUSTRALIA SAYS HOUSEHOLDS CAN SELL SOLAR ENERGY FOR US$40, Utility Products, 6 July 2011 Australian households can sell their solar energy for about A$38 (US$40.48) for every megawatt hour of electricity generated.
The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator says the average market price for a Renewable Energy Certificate, which is equivalent to one megawatt hour of electricity generation, is $38.39 in 2011.
The office released its annual report on Tuesday which showed more than 160,000 homes and businesses installed solar energy last year.
That was an increase of more than 100,000 on the previous year.
“Growth in the installation of solar panels was encouraged by various state and federal initiatives including Solar Credits,” the report said.
Solar credits make solar panel installation cheaper for home owners.
The ORER accredited 24 more renewable energy power stations in 2010, bringing to 316 the total number of accredited renewable energy power stations in Australia.
Those stations can generate power to the equivalent of more than 1.9 million homes.
Solar power for Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
Australia’s Sunshine Coast gives green light to 10MW PV plant Recharge, 30 June 11 Energy Parks Australia (EPA) has been given the go-ahead to build one of the country’s largest solar plants – a 10MW facility on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The A$40m ($43m) project – the first of what the company hopes will be a pipeline of six – was approved by the Sunshine Coast Regional CouncilThe 50 hectare site on former sugar-cane land at Valdora, about 125km north of Brisbane, may include a biofuel plant alongside the PV installation.
EPA is looking for domestic and international investors to back the project.
The solar facility would be one of the biggest in Australia, apart from the utility-scale projects announced earlier this month under the government’s Solar
Flagships programme…. http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/solar/article264517.ece
Swap your BHP shares: rooftop solar is a better investment
Rooftop Solar Power A Better Investment Than Shares, Renewable Energy News by Energy Matters 20 June 11 An independent think tank believes Australian retirees investing in solar power will find it a more profitable investment than BHP Billiton shares and safer than bank shares.
Writing for the Australian Financial Review, David Hetherington, Executive Director of independent progressive think tank Per Capita, says new “solar plus storage” technology for homes and small businesses offers a way for retirees and others to future proof against rapidly escalating electricity costs. Continue reading
Australian govt awards solar funding to nuclear company AREVA
BP Solar, Areva win $770m funding from Solar Flagship Climate Spectator 18 June 11 The Federal Government on Saturday announced that a consortium led by BP Solar and a proposal put forward by French nuclear giant Areva had won the 1st round of funding under the $1.5 billion Solar Flagships Program. Continue reading
Giant solar energy plants for New South Wales and Queensland
Giant solar energy plants to run 100,000 homes, Sydney Morning Herald, Ben CubbyJune 20, 2011 THE two giant new solar power plants slated for Moree in western NSW and Chinchilla in Queensland will mark the first time solar power in Australia is deployed on a scale large and reliable enough to rival coal as a source of ”baseload” energy. Neither plant is close to being the world’s biggest, with much more powerful solar power stations in the US and Spain already under construction, but enough power to run more than 100,000 households will be generated without the use of fossil fuels…. Continue reading
Australian Productivity Commission overestimated costs of solar power
some media reports seem to have put a strong focus on the solar element rather than the major driver – increases in the costs of transmission and distribution. Massive amounts of money are being poured into network upgrades to service peak demand; largely driven by the use of air-conditioners during the summer months. “Here’s again where rooftop solar power can be a saviour,” said Mr. Rich. “By creating the power closer the point of consumption, you decrease line loss, which can account for up to 10% of electricity generation – and line loss worsens in warm weather. Additionally, solar power systems would be generating the most power during times when the bulk of air-conditioning is being used. Rooftop solar has many other benefits – it’s the Internet of distributed electricity generation.”
Solar Power’s Carbon Abatement Cost Exaggerated, Renewable Energy News, by Energy Matters 15 June 11 –The Australian Productivity Commission’s recent report questioning the value and benefit of residential solar power is misinformed says Jeremy Rich, CEO of national solar solutions provider Energy Matters.
Explaining Australia’s ineffective solar energy policies
Australia has no policies to build the market for large-scale solar power.The carbon price, if it is ever introduced, will be too low for at least a decade to assist significantly….
Flagships will subsidise initially only one large CPV and one large CST power station by 2014.
Cuts to this program in the 2011 federal budget make it unlikely that a second round of grants will be made….
There is really only one plausible explanation for Australia’s piecemeal and ineffective set of solar policies: the immense political power of Australia’s big greenhouse polluters.
Australia’s confused solar policy June 1, 2011, PHYSORG.com By Mark Diesendorf Solar collectors spread out over a square 50 km could generate all of Australia’s current electricity demand. Continue reading
How Australia could be powered by solar technology
Australia’s confused solar policy June 1, 2011 PHYSORG.com By Mark Diesendorf “…….Scaling up to industrial-size solar The residential and commercial sectors are together responsible for about half of Australia’s electricity consumption. Almost the entire other half is industrial.If this demand were supplied by solar, it would need large solar power stations. Continue reading
Rural Australia’s enthusiasm for solar and for feed-in tariff
“A sensibly designed scheme would make Australia a world leader in solar power.”…The feed-in tariff scheme’s cancellation comes despite huge interest in solar power across the State.
Wanted: sensible solar, The Land RICHARD FOX, 21 May, 2011 “…….“Australia has an excellent resource for solar, particularly west of the Dividing Range, and consumers have an enthusiasm for renewable energy. Continue reading
New South Wales rally for solar feed in tariff to re-open
Australian Solar Energy Society holds rally to demand re-opening of New South Wales feed-in tariff Solar Server 20 May 11 On May 18th, 2011, the Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) organized a rally in Sydney, Australia to ask the New South Wales (NSW) Government to re-open its Solar Bonus program.The NSW Government has announced that it will not accept applications to the program filed after April 28th, 2011, and has reduced the existing feed-in tariff level for the highest tier.
“AuSES and NSW homeowners are calling for certainty and security,” stated AuSES CEO John Grimes. “The rally is the last chance for solar, because businesses and livelihoods are on the line.”…KW20 | Australian Solar Energy Society holds rally to demand re-opening of New South Wales feed-in tariff – SolarServer
Western Australia and NSW govts strike down solar power
Western Australia FiT chopped in half, PV-Tech By Emma Hughes – 19 May 2011, Less than a week after the shock closure of the feed-in tariff scheme in New South Wales, the Government of Western Australia has cut the subsidy rate for new residential applications submitted after June 30. The state will also be subject to a cap on installations, putting a halt to progress just one year after the scheme was introduced.
The feed-in tariff rate for new installations will now be cut in half, with applicants receiving AUD$0.20/kWh instead of the AUD$0.40/kWh rate that was introduced in July last year. All existing customers will continue to receive the higher tariff rate for the originally-proposed 10 years.
Alongside the tariff cuts Western Australia will also be hit with a 150MW cap, which when reached, will mark the end of the program, when no further applications will be received….Western Australia FiT chopped in half | PV-Tech
Solar energy in Australia – whacked by the power of polluter lobbyists
The situation in Australia is problematic because renewables, and climate policies in general, are clearly a political football.
A solar policy of ill repute | Climate Spectator, Giles Parkinson, 17 May 11, “…….The renewables industry has experienced multiple policy convulsions over the past decade that have stalled its development, but none may be so damaging as the decision last week by the NSW government to make retrospective changes to its feed-in tariffs. Continue reading
Australia’s Minister For Nuclear Energy squashes solar power’s prospects
the budget cuts come as solar policy is in turmoil, as feed-in-tariffs, introduced over the past few years to support the installation of rooftop solar, are set to be wound back or abolished.
Spending, like meters, goes backwards and forwards, Sydney Morning Herald, Paddy Manning, May 14, 2011 The budget was dismal for the renewable energy industry and the Energy Minister just doesn’t get it.
MORE proof ricocheted through Twitter this week that federal Energy Minister Martin Ferguson doesn’t ”get” renewables. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 