Solar energy Australia: the sky’s the limit

August 13, 2012 2017-10-25T10:23:50 by 1 Comment

Solar Panels and SkyOne of the key sub-themes that tends to elbow its way through these SolarQuotes weekly columns is the understating, or inability to recognise, of the potential of solar energy in Australia. Time after time we at SolarQuotes HQ are forced to report on cuts in support from slow-moving and slow-thinking state governments. The bad news is not restricted to the states either with influential Canberra pollies such as Martin “Fossil Fuel” Ferguson bemoaning the alleged lack of growth in the solar sector.

This wouldn’t be so bad except that old Fossil Fuel is Minister for Energy and Natural Resources! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With:

Time to batten down the hatches as China, EU solar trade war looms

August 3, 2012 2017-10-25T10:24:15 by Leave a Comment
chinese and EU fists

Is the next solar trade war between China and Europe?

News on the international solar front is not good this week solar fans, with rumblings of a trade war between China and the EU.

The dispute revolves around German company SolarWorld AG which has asked the European Union to investigate allegations of dumping by Chinese-based solar firms. Instead of keeping their heads down and riding out the quarrel, Chinese firms Yingli Green Energy, Suntech Power Holdings Co., Trina Solar and Canadian Solar (which operates in the country) have come charging out of their corner, swinging punches like a drunken flyweight. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With:

Australia’s solar sector from a German perspective

July 26, 2012 2017-10-25T10:24:48 by Leave a Comment
How much solar contributed to german electricity production on July 23

Great illustration of how much solar can contribute to a nation’s power needs. Source: www.Facebook.com/EnergyRebellion

Reading news of the Australian solar industry, the recent carbon tax and our energy industry in general can become a little wearisome. The constant carping, criticisms from conservative politicians and vested interests can make it difficult to “see the light” in news reports and articles with regard to the solar industry.

Dare I say certain fossil-fuel interest-driven politicians, combine with (again unnamed) news outlets to paint the renewable energy picture as one of risk and expense instead of a brave new sustainable and clean energy future for the country? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With: ,

Queensland’s feed-in tariff: playing politics with solar?

July 5, 2012 2017-10-25T10:25:25 by 2 Comments
Solar Cuts

Solar Feed In Tariffs axed in Queensland

Unsurprising news this week that solar feed-in tariffs in Queensland will be cut from one of the country’s most generous (0.44c per kilowatt hour) to 0.8 cents per kilowatt hour has led the solar news this week in Australia.

Regular readers of this column may be expecting your correspondent to fly off into an anti-state government tirade about favouring earth-destroying fossil fuels over the renewable energy industry. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With: ,

Can Aussie solar soar despite sorry policy options?

June 6, 2012 2017-10-25T10:26:28 by Leave a Comment
a graph showing 94% vs 6%

Most Aussies Seem To Like Solar Power

A couple of renewable energy reports released recently have shown how important solar power is to the country and outlined (again) its major potential as an energy source. Unfortunately the studies also reveal how much our politicians still have a lot of catching up to do to reach the general consensus held by most Australians.

Firstly the results of the 100 Percent Renewable poll in which over 40 groups canvassed the opinions of around 12,000 Australians over renewable energy. The results were an extraordinary 94 percent of those polled believe that the government should do more to assist the construction of big solar plants in the country. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy

Japan’s solar revolution?

May 7, 2012 2017-10-25T10:27:26 by 2 Comments
Japanese Sunshine

Solar Panels: About to be Big In Japan?

As Japanese anti-nuclear activists celebrate the closing of the country’s final nuclear reactor, making Japan temporarily nuclear free, a power revolution of another sort is set to begin in the Land of the Rising Sun.

While debate rages over whether or not the country should remain permanently nuclear free, rumblings from the country’s once-mighty Ministry of Trade have hinted at the emergence of a renewable-led energy sector. Your correspondent’s memory seems to recall that it was this ministry (also known as METI) which was in the driving seat of planning the great Japanese industrial and export-led economic post-war “miracle,” culminating in the booming success of the 1990s.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With:

Discover How Australia Could Be Powered By 100% Renewables

April 25, 2012 2017-05-02T10:38:32 by Leave a Comment
Auses LogoIf you live in Adelaide and would like to hear about a 100% renewable powered future then come along and say hi next Wednesday At UniSA:
Australian Solar Energy Society SA Meeting

Towards electricity without fossil fuels: finding the best mix of renewables, demand management and storage
 [Read more…]
Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With:

Bob Brown and solar energy: the Senator’s real legacy

April 16, 2012 2017-10-25T10:28:05 by Leave a Comment
Bob Brown Loves Renewable Energy

Bob Brown – photo credit flickr:james_tCA

As Greens leader Senator Bob Brown bowed gracefully out of politics this week, news of the latest milestone in the construction of Australia’s largest solar farm shows he is leaving Australian politics a far more supportive place for solar energy than he found it.

Despite some sniping from political enemies both in and out of Parliament (including a predictable diatribe from a well-known Opposition wingnut saying that Senator Brown’s legacy will be the carbon tax), opinion from commentators was that he was that rare political animal: an honest representative with a clear vision. This was particularly so on renewable energy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With: ,

‘No Can Do’ for Campbell’s Queensland Solar Projects

April 3, 2012 2017-10-25T10:28:34 by Leave a Comment
solar dawn logo

Will the sun set on Solar Dawn?

Well that didn’t take long did it folks? No sooner had Campbell “Can-Do?” Newman adjusted the height of the premier’s chair following his landslide win in the Sunshine state, than the plug was pulled on one of Queensland’s flagship solar projects. In moves that have become familiar to solar supporters around the nation, solar (and other worthy renewable projects) are usually first to go as new governments look to impress their new electorates.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With: , ,

Germany takes knife to solar subsidies

February 28, 2012 2017-10-25T10:29:42 by Leave a Comment
Solar Power in Germany

A German Solar Installation – Are the Solar Glory Days over in Deutschland?

From manufacturing quality cars to leading the continent in economic policy, Germany is often considered Europe’s “go to” country. The “engine room” of European manufacturing also is well out in front of its neighbours in renewable energy policy, with its clear and consistent support for solar installation legendary. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With: ,
Get the latest solar, battery and EV charger news straight to your inbox every Tuesday