Solar

Byron Bay Services Club considers EV charging station and battery storage after installing a large rooftop solar array.

As 2016 draws to an end, rooftop solar in Australia is experiencing another boom – this time with warnings. So here's a list of some top tips for consumers of residential solar and battery storage, gathered from the observations and recommendations of industry players and experts.

Australia's "busiest regional airport" adds 100kW of rooftop solar to cut electricity costs, boost security of supply in North Western Victoria.

Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) in New Mexico wants to serve all its customers during the summer peak with 100% solar power by 2023.

Community energy is the next big threat to utility companies – unless they manage to become part of this emerging energy economy.

SA Power Networks installs the last of 100 battery storage systems in northern Adelaide VPP trial – the largest actually commissioned, for now, in Australia.

AGL Energy says SA virtual power plant well ahead of schedule after 150 first round battery systems snapped up by consumers.

AEMC report says most Australian households can expect to pay between 4-10% more for their 2017-18 electricity bills, thanks largely to the cost of the RET and the exit of Victoria's Hazelwood brown coal plant. But is it really as black and white – or even green – as all that?

Now that our rooftop solar industry has matured, we need to reconsider the purpose of FiTs and align them with our goals for the electricity system in the future.

Australia records best month for more than two years for rooftop solar, with WA setting records and Victoria breaking through 1GW rooftop solar mark.

Oxford County, Ontario, has just opened a wind farm as part of a project to go 100% renewables for electricity and heat.

The long-standing upfront subsidy for rooftop solar systems will be reduced within a few weeks when the "deeming period" for PV systems declines from 15 years to 14 years.

Going partially off-grid is a smart alternative for homes who want to become completely energy self sufficient. So how's it done?

Report from Australia's main network lobby and CSIRO suggests that by 2050, nearly half of all future generation – and storage – will be on site in homes, business and communities.

Sonnenbatterie says sales in Australia have doubled and it is now the biggest market outside Europe for the German premium battery storage developer. And even at the top end, prices have fallen to be comparable with grid costs.

Not for profit charity Ronald McDonald House to save thousands of dollars a year on power costs, via 8.3kW rooftop solar system donated to its Orange, NSW branch.