Spanish govt proposes self-consumption fee for solar households that add battery storage that would double the system's pay-back time. Law would also include an infringement penalty double that for leaking nuclear waste.
Solar
Rooftop solar distribution data reveals some interesting patterns, linking some of Australia's most conservative electorates with high PV uptake.
Energy Made Clean wins tender for 1.1MWh battery system for ground-breaking large-scale community energy storage trial in Western Australia.
Central Victorian NGO launches 2nd round of bulk-buy community solar offer, in hope of attracting 150 more households to cheaper, easier rooftop solar.
NSW motor-sport precinct that aims to host electric vehicle racing events plans to go-offgrid, using solar and battery storage.
Tesla announcement has already forced battery storage pricing in Australia to come down by one third, with further rapid falls to follow.
Australia’s first council and community-owned solar project could be completed by the end of 2015, with campaign to attract local investors set to launch.
Despite RET uncertainty, Australian community renewables sector has shown remarkable ability to get on with it.
Japanese construction company Sekisui Heim used Star Wars droids to promote its net zero houses. It worked.
New housing estates in Australia may be built without a connection to the main grid, offering instead free electricity – and even free electric vehicles – to residents. Meanwhile, numerous towns are looking to buy back their grid from networks. Welcome to the new world of micro-grids.
91-year-old medical entrepreneur installs largest solar and battery storage array for an off-grid home. Hawaii and Australia seen as biggest off-grid markets.
Panasonic targets Australia as first global market for battery storage, in deal with 3 utilities to trial 8kWh system. It says storage will double self consumption of solar households, but it intends to sell product through networks and retailers, challenging their business models.
SA network operator dares to go where Qld and WA governments feared to tread – higher network charges for solar households. The network justifies this by changing demand profiles, but will also look to shift hot water and pool pump use to daytime to make up for lost demand caused by PV production.
Tesla's lithium-ion technology isn’t the only battery on offer. Here's a quick survey of current battery technologies, and some that are in development.
Canadian Solar, one of the big three solar manufacturers, says solar PV costs to fall 25% in three years as module efficiencies improve.
SolarShare is seeking approval from ACT govt to build a 1MW community-owned solar farm in Canberra's Maruja Valley, alongside a commercial PV plant.