Solar

Tasmanian renewables group calls for state government intervention after a series of cuts to solar feed-in tariffs causes market to contract.

AGL Energy is offering battery storage systems at a steep discount to even wholesale prices. But there may be method to their madness, locking in customers for the long term and reaping benefits from battery storage systems. But it underpins the potential for battery storage costs to fall quickly and sharply.

The second round of a Central Victorian ‘bulk-buy’ community solar scheme has attracted 150 registrations for rooftop solar in just 29 days. Rooftop solar demand appears to be booming in rural Victoria, with 150 households from the shire of Mount Alexander registering to install a PV system in just 29 days, in the second round […]

Western Australia continues to lead in the development of new residential buildings and estates with built-in renewable energy supplies, with the installation of a 180kW solar system on the roof of a soon to be completed apartment complex in Perth. The developers of the Rivervale “Flo” project, local property group Psaros, say the rooftop PV […]

Australian networks are also penalising solar households, now it looks like they will do the same with those that add battery storage. The trend among some electricity networks to penalise or discourage the uptake of rooftop solar by imposing fixed tariffs or additional fees is now extending to battery storage, with one network accused of […]

Victoria regulator wants minimum feed-in-tariff paid for surplus rooftop solar output fed back into grid be cut dramatically. Victorian energy regulator the Essential Services Commission has recommended that the minimum feed-in-tariff paid for surplus rooftop solar output fed back into the grid be cut to 5c/kWh from the current level of 6.2c/kWh in 2016. The […]

South Australia looks to install battery storage in parliament house, museums and art galleries, and up to 150 other buildings including schools and railway stations, as it looks to become a leader in energy storage as well as wind and solar. South Australia is rapidly emerging as the leading state in battery storage, with the […]

New development to create 337kW solar suburb, producing 600,000kWh of electricity a year and saving Defence members more than $4.1m in electricity costs. Defence Housing Australia says it is creating a “solar suburb” in a new development near Darwin, with each home to feature a 4.5kW rooftop solar system and charging points for electric vehicles. […]

100kW solar array installed at Sydney car dealership, including parking area, to help cut power bills by half. A Sydney car dealership has tapped CEFC funding to install a 100kW rooftop solar system and LED lighting – measures that are expected to cut the 50 year-old business’s energy consumption by 60 per cent. Col Crawford […]

Greens leader Richard Di Natale chose to go off-grid 10 years ago, largely because of the huge costs of connecting his then weekender and now family home to the grid. He says it's a great feeling to be able to convert the sun into useable energy.

It’s satisfying to turn on a light or power tool and know the energy was generated only a few metres away.

Tender launched to install 30kW solar system at former Woodend timber mill, use funds generated to reinvest in more solar, or 'perpetual fund' for community renewables.

Adelaide City Council to offer $5,000 energy storage subsidy, extending Sustainable City scheme to cover batteries, EV chargers.

Strong uptake in farming areas has helped drive big increase in rooftop PV penetration in WA, and 4 postcodes now rank in Australian top 20.

ACT and NSW utilities to boost metering charges for new solar installations by factor of nearly 10.

Another WA housing estate to trial solar, storage using unique shared strata model to benefit investors and tenants, cutting grid energy consumption by 60%.