Australian rooftop solar power: down but not out
11 July, 2012Residential solar PV will be around as long as the sun shines, but long-term growth could be constrained by the limits of the electricity network. That’s the conclusion of energy research specialist Energeia, which recently found that the the residential solar PV market is falling 56% in 2012, after growing 58% in 2011.
BlueScope Steel raises the bar on integrated solar roof technology
05 July, 2012Supported by a grant from The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Emerging Renewables Program, BlueScope Steel will develop a low-cost building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system for Australian residential, commercial and industrial rooftops.
Carbon tax making solar look even cheaper
02 July, 2012With the carbon tax now operating and energy price rises kicking in, the economics around solar power are making it look even cheaper.
Every cloud has a solar lining
26 June, 2012 by Lauren DavisSolar intermittency - the interruption of solar power due to cloud cover, night-time or the sun simply not shining brightly enough - has been a major factor in preventing Australia from fully embracing solar energy. Now, the CSIRO is working hard to understand how to manage this problem.
Using the sun to solve water quality problems
18 June, 2012When Eurobodalla Shire council was looking to control blue green algae and improve dissolved oxygen and pH levels at Deep Creek Dam, it installed five SolarBee long-distance water circulators.
First Solar to provide solar power projects for AGL under Solar Flagships Program
13 June, 2012First Solar has announced that it will supply, construct and maintain large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects totalling 159 MWAC for AGL, following AGL’s selection as the successful proponent in the solar PV category of the Solar Flagships Program independent reassessment process.
Increasing efficiency of thin film solar
04 June, 2012In a boon for the local solar industry, a team of researchers from Swinburne University of Technology and Suntech Power Holdings has developed what is claimed to be the world’s most efficient broadband nanoplasmonic solar cells.
Sustaining a clean energy future
01 June, 2012 by Sylvia Tulloch, Director and Joint Founder, Dyesol Limited*Solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity continues to grow rapidly across the world and is now, after hydro and wind power, the third most important renewable energy source in terms of globally installed capacity. PV represented about 0.5% of global electricity demand and 1% of peak power demand at the end of 2011^.
Australian solar technology breaks the 20% barrier
30 May, 2012Australian solar research has produced photovoltaic solar cells that recently broke the 20% barrier for conversion efficiency in capturing the sun’s energy, the highest-ever efficiency for a low-cost, commercial silicon solar cell.
Sunways solar inverters
28 May, 2012Solar Energy Australia (SEA) is now the distributor of Sunways Solar Inverters in Australia and will also provide the customer service for these devices. Comprising the AT, NT and PT device series, the agreement with SEA covers the entire Sunways product range for solar inverters.
Solar-powered systems for Tongan schools
23 May, 2012Installing solar power systems into Tongan high schools, allowing computers to be used in classrooms, is an initiative about to be launched by the University of Canterbury’s Russell Taylor.
Sports centre to be powered by solar heat and electricity
21 May, 2012Hunter-based invention Granex will soon be powering and heating The Forum Sports and Aquatic Centre at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus, thanks to a $770,000 grant from the Australian Solar Institute.
Solar cell efficiency breakthrough
24 April, 2012The early-stage breakthrough of a University of Sydney researcher and his German collaborators could see the realisation of 40% efficiency for low-cost solar cells suitable for rooftop panels.
Cutting our carbon footprint
23 April, 2012Roofing materials that double as solar panels and can also moderate the temperature of buildings are among the next-generation building products being developed at UNSW.
Solar to play big role in New Zealand’s electricity future
22 April, 2012Small-scale renewables could play a big part in New Zealand’s electricity future, says Brendan Winitana, Chair of the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand.
