Australia to lead world in solar and battery storage: report

November 1, 2015 2017-10-20T16:36:43 by 30 Comments
solar and batteries

Solar & Batteries will be installed in half of all Aussie homes, sooner than you think.

How long before solar and battery storage becomes the cheapest way to access electricity in Australia? A decade? Twenty? Thirty years?

Only three years according to a new report from the Climate Council, which also found that an expected half of all Australian households will soon have solar and battery storage. Should this eventuate, it would mean a stunning 50-fold increase over the next ten years with a potential worth of around $24 billion. [Read more…]

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We ask five experts: Will battery storage change the way we live?

September 23, 2015 2017-10-24T13:52:48 by 4 Comments

In the first of a series from SolarQuotes, we ask five eminent experts in the clean energy field to discuss four questions on a selected topic. This month we’ve selected “battery storage” as the launching pad for some fascinating discussion and advice.

Solar and battery storage has been one of the clean energy talking points of 2015 following the dramatic unveiling of the Powerwall by Tesla’s Elon Musk. However as we’ve seen, the Powerwall isn’t the only option out there in the marketplace and the best battery storage option will differ depending on your situation whether on-grid, off-grid or hybrid solar.

With this in mind we’ve asked our experts what these solar battery storage breakthroughs mean for Australian households and small businesses and what the future holds for energy independence. [Read more…]

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Are AGL’s New Solar Packages a Trick or a Treat for Aussie Consumers?

March 3, 2015 2017-10-19T11:15:08 by 4 Comments
mousetrap and solar panel

Are AGL offering a great deal or bait?

Just to prove that energy giants can move with the times like the rest of us, AGL Energy, who only a few months ago described solar household tariffs as a ‘scam‘, has decided roll out a couple of new solar energy products.

One is happening now — a (sort of) solar leasing offer — while the other a promise to offer battery storage by the end of the year.

Similar leasing-style models have been very successful in the USA, and AGL join a long list of companies who have recently rolled out solar finance packages such as Energy Matters, Tindo and Sungevity. The option to pay for the energy produced, rather than the initial cost of the panels removes the hurdle of finding $5-$15k upfront, but cunningly locks the solar owner into a very long term contract with AGL.  [Read more…]

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Selling Solar By Making It Look Good!

November 3, 2014 2018-05-09T11:05:49 by 2 Comments

Last week, CSEM debuted the world’s first white solar modules with the promise of solar panels in any colour you wish. This new product has great potential to increase the deployment of solar. Why is that? Because it’ll look good.

While it may sound petty, many have been hesitant to switch to solar power because the modules stick out like a sore thumb on buildings. Now that CSEM has developed solar panels that will blend into a building’s structure with no visible cells or connections, architects can install solar panels into their design without having to compromise the aesthetic of their project.

Check out their video here (and marvel at how many coffees the voiceover guy must have had – gee he sounds excited!):

To read more about this story, click the article here:: White Solar Modules the Next Thing in Building Integrated PV?

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New Discovery Converts 90% of Captured Light Into Heat

November 3, 2014 2018-05-09T11:06:06 by 3 Comments

An engineering team in San Diego, California has developed a new nano-particle material that can absorb and convert 90% of the light it captures into heat. Not only can this material make for efficient solar thermal power, it can also withstand temperatures greater than 700 degrees Celsius. Read more here: New solar power material converts 90 percent of captured light into heat

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Northern Territory to be SETuP with Solar Energy Systems

November 3, 2014 2018-05-09T11:06:39 by Leave a Comment

Power and Water Corporation (PWC) is set to deploy renewable energy systems to over 30 communities in the Northern Territory. SETuP (Solar Energy Transformation Program) will develop solar power for use in remote communities. The aim is to implement systems that won’t affect remote energy users’ usual operations. For the full article, click here: Northern Territory Solar Energy Transformation Program

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Electricity Doesn’t Grow on Trees… Until Now

October 31, 2014 2018-05-09T11:07:00 by 1 Comment

Sologic, a company based in Israel, has developed a series of solar panels in a tree branch formation with the aim of providing public areas with a place to recharge devices and surf the web using free solar energy. The aim of the eTree is to provide green energy and shade whilst providing a environmental awareness and a sense of community. Check out pictures and a full article on the eTree here: Sologic Unveils the First Ever Life-Sized eTree Charging Station

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70% of Carbon Emissions Drop Is Thanks to Renewable Energy and Efficiency

October 31, 2014 2018-05-09T11:07:21 by 2 Comments

Analysts from Greenpeace have published findings showing that the lion’s share of carbon emission reductions since 2007 comes from the rise in renewable energy usage and energy efficiency. While critics claim that the drop in emissions comes from using more natural gas, the numbers tell a different story. For a full article on this, click here: Renewables & Energy Efficiency Responsible for 70% of Carbon Emission Drop Since 2007

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Poor Nations Beating Rich Nations in Alternative Energy Race

October 30, 2014 2018-05-09T11:07:39 by Leave a Comment

A recent study of 55 nations, found that wealthy, developed countries have developed an 84% growth rate in using renewable energy sources from 2008 to 2013. Sounds good, right? On paper it sounds nice. Until you see that much poorer nations have experienced a 143% growth in the same time period!

Why is it that poorer nations are moving faster toward greener energy? Well, it’s economics. While the nations themselves are poor, investing in renewable energy is providing much cheaper power than their fossil fuel counterparts. Meanwhile, wealthier nations can afford to keep using fossil fuels, so there is less motivation to use more renewable sources. With that said, it shouldn’t be long before other energy sources are depleted and wealthier nations move forward as their poorer counterparts have done.

Read the full article about this study here:: Poor Nations Go for Solar, Wind at Twice the Pace of Rich Ones

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European Union Pressures U.S. & China with Strict Carbon Regulations

October 30, 2014 2018-05-09T11:07:56 by 1 Comment

At a summit in Brussels, leaders of the EU endorsed a target date to cut greenhouse gases by at least 40% from 1990 levels by 2030. Based on current progress, the goal’s outlook is positive despite the fact that meeting the goal by the deadline will cost $48 billion a year to implement the increased deployment of solar and other green energy. This agreement now puts pressure on other nations such as the United States and China to respond. For a full article, click here:: EU Leaders Agree to Tough Carbon Regulations to Spur Renewable Energy Development and Fight Climate Change

Filed Under: Quick Reads, Solar Policy Tagged With: ,
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