Clean energy technology rocks
07 May, 2013Geodynamics has been hailed as the first company to successfully produce power in Australia using geothermal ‘hot rocks’ technology at its 1 MW Habanero Pilot Plant.
Solar discovery sets new record for low-grade silicon
07 May, 2013Solar engineers from UNSW have developed an innovative method to dramatically improve the quality of low-grade silicon, which will lead to a significant increase in electrical efficiency and reduce the cost of solar panels.
Safety alert for installers of PV systems
16 April, 2013The Queensland Electrical Safety Office has issued a safety alert to highlight the risks associated with direct current (DC) isolators used in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. When terminating electrical conductors into isolators and circuit breakers, it is paramount that connections are secure under the terminal clamp especially where DC is involved.
Building an energy-efficient medical research institute
12 April, 2013The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) is building a diamond-shaped facility designed to foster researchers’ creativity and productivity.
Call for mandatory disclosure of energy origins
10 April, 2013A recent study conducted by University of Technology’s Institute of Sustainable Futures (ISF), as commissioned by the Total Environment Centre, has highlighted the absolute lack of disclosure by Australia’s electricity retailers regarding the origin of energy sources.
1 million solar powered homes
08 April, 2013More than two million Australians are now getting cheaper power and saving some half a billion dollars a year on their electricity bills, because of their switch to solar energy, according to the Clean Energy Council. The number of Australian homes with solar power systems has passed the one million mark, according to figures from the Clean Energy Regulator that confirm the milestone was reached in March.
Despatchable solar energy
07 April, 2013Much has been said about the limitations of photovoltaic (PV) solar as an alternative energy source, given its inherent intermittent nature. PV solar has even been blamed for grid instability as well as pushing up the price of electricity. So what about a solar system that allows the utility to decide how much power it requires and when?
Solar Inception SolaGRID renewable energy storage
04 April, 2013Solar Inception has released a smart renewable energy storage solution that can capture energy from multiple sources, including solar, wind, hydro, diesel Genset and the grid, and then use the stored energy on demand. SolaGRID ESS is a fully integrated and expandable lead acid gel energy storage system suitable for stand-alone (off-grid) or grid-coupled operation.
Funding charges renewable energy storage solutions
25 March, 2013Cost-effective battery storage for residential and commercial renewable energy systems is a step closer following an Australian Government investment of $480,000 to test a world-leading battery technology.
Solar Council welcomes RET review
22 March, 2013The Australian Solar Council has welcomed the government’s response to the Review of the Renewable Energy Target, calling it a significant boost to investor confidence and certainty.
Overestimating wind power
14 March, 2013The latest research in mesoscale atmospheric modelling, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, suggests that the generating capacity of large-scale wind farms has been overestimated.
Clean and green
11 March, 2013 by Dannielle FurnessAs we veer away from a reliance on fossil fuels in a quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy is moving to the forefront. For all the benefits that renewable sources provide, the move to clean and green is not as easy as you would think.
UQ helps plan future power
07 March, 2013The University of Queensland will share a $3.3 million CSIRO grant to investigate the most economically efficient energy network for Australia’s future. Professor John Foster and Dr Liam Wagner from UQ School of Economics Energy Economics and Management Group will collaborate with the University of Sydney, University of Newcastle and University of NSW on a three-year project to provide a suite of tools and models to plan and manage the future grid.
Construction to begin on WA wave energy project
06 March, 2013Construction of the Perth Wave Energy Project is due to begin next month. Located at Garden Island, the project will start delivering green energy to the grid in 2014.
Now is the time to power up consumers on energy use
01 March, 2013Australia now has the opportunity to make transformative changes to our electricity market to put power in the hands of consumers and businesses, according to the Chief Executive of Australia’s peak clean energy industry body, Clean Energy Council.
