Industry News
Mobile devices and SSDs to drive high demand for data recovery in 2013
According to Kroll Ontrack, the rise of mobile devices in the workplace and widespread adoption of virtualisation drove an increase in data recovery requests globally in 2012. The race to reduce the cost of solid state drives (SSDs) will further fuel adoption and even higher volumes of data recovery requests in 2013. [ + ]
Industry leads electricity transformation
According to a recent report from the CSIRO, in a first for Australia, over 35 industry partners will work together to explore a future vision for Australia’s electricity system. This vision will help guide the expected $240 billion investment required by the sector over the next 20 years. [ + ]
2013 “another tough slog” for Australian business
“2013 looks like it’s shaping up as another tough slog for Australian businesses, with no indication the international economy will improve dramatically or that we will see any pressure taken off the high Australian dollar,” said NSW Business Chamber CEO Stephen Cartwright. [ + ]
Scientists boost solar energy conversion efficiency
Scientists at RMIT University are attempting to boost the efficiency of solar energy conversion technology with an improved type of solar cell. [ + ]
Australia-US partnership to develop next-generation solar cell technology
A new joint Australian-US research institute led by the University of New South Wales(UNSW) will foster rapid development of ‘over the horizon’ photovoltaic technology and establish Australia as the solar cell research and education hub of the Asia-Pacific region. [ + ]
Partnership a “big win” for electrical contractors
Electrical contractors are set to benefit from a new partnership formed between Master Electricians Australia and national wholesaler Lawrence & Hanson. [ + ]
IBA invests in Indigenous communications company
Indigenous Business Australia has announced investment in Message Stick Communications, a successful majority Aboriginal-owned business that provides unified communications services to a range of corporate and government clients. [ + ]
Scientists make ‘a new kind of light’
Scientists at Wake Forest University have made a new kind of light from mouldable plastic which can glow in any colour and won’t shatter. [ + ]
Smart meter proposal not so clever declares MEA
Master Electricians Australia has rejected the call for the compulsory rollout of smart meters in Australian homes, saying it was just more wasteful spending that would drive the cost of domestic electricity even higher. [ + ]
Clipsal and Schneider Electric unite
Global energy management specialist Schneider Electric has restructured by uniting its Clipsal and Power businesses to create a new Clipsal and Schneider Electric Partner Business unit. The union will see the two brands work together to leverage the other’s strengths. [ + ]
ABB wins solar power orders worth $225 million
ABB has won orders worth around $225 million to supply two turnkey photovoltaic (PV) power plants that will be built in the northern province of Limpopo in South Africa. The orders were awarded by two special-purpose entities, Core Energy and Erika Energy, whose primary stakeholders include SunEdison, a leading global solar energy services provider. [ + ]
New professional development program for solar installers and designers
The CEC has launched a continuous professional development program to help household solar power system installers and designers stay up to date with new developments in the industry. [ + ]
LRC develops new method to light roundabouts
The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the United States has developed a concept for roadway illumination called Ecoluminance, which incorporates roadside vegetation with low-level pedestrian and landscape lighting, retroreflective markers, and light-emitting diode (LED) road and walkway illumination. [ + ]
WA homeowners burdened with connection costs
Homeowners in Western Australia will soon pay $350 more to have power connected as a result of a bureaucratic new connection scheme, Master Electricians Australia has warned. [ + ]
Dexus and Buildcorp win CitySwitch Green Office Awards
Dexus Property Group and Buildcorp have been recognised in the City of Sydney’s CitySwitch Green Office Awards for incorporating measures such as solar panels, improved computer management and lighting into their offices. [ + ]