Bella Peacock
Australia on track for record year for small-scale solar, says analyst
Sunwiz says 2023 could set a new record for small-scale solar in Australia. Installations are still lagging 2021, which was Australia’s biggest year to date, but Sunwiz Managing Director Warwick Johnston tells pv magazine Australia that multiple signs point to a strong fourth quarter.
Storing concentrated solar thermal energy via ‘falling’ ceramic particles
Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has harnessed sub-millimeter ceramic particles to store energy in a concentrated solar thermal system. Its pilot plant in the state of New South Wales has successfully reached temperatures of 803 C through this method.
Panasonic introduces heat-pump hot water system
Panasonic and Reclaim Energy have partnered to develop a new heat-pump hot water system for the Australian market. They claim that it is up to five times more efficient than gas or traditional electric heating.
Australian government approves nation’s largest battery
Australia’s federal government has granted approval for a 1.2 GW/2.4 GWh battery system – one of the world’s largest – at a site northwest of Melbourne. The project is owned by Equis Development, with support from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board.
Octopus acquires 500 MW/1 GWh battery project in Australia
Octopus Investments Australia, a subsidiary of UK-based Octopus Group, has purchased the largest battery installation in the Australian state of Queensland – the 500 MW/1 GWh Blackstone project – just outside of Brisbane.
Japanese companies switch on 204 MW of solar in Australia
Japan’s largest oil refiner, Eneos, and Tokyo-based trading firm Sojitz have jointly opened the 204 MW Edenvale Solar Park in Queensland, Australia.
Australian solar market hit by declining global panel prices
Tongwei Solar’s entry into the Australian solar market has triggered disruption in recent months, amplified by the ongoing global decline in panel prices, which solar analyst Warwick Johnston says has yet to fully affect the country.
Australian firefighters contain blaze at Tesla battery facility in Queensland
A fire broke out this week in a Tesla Megapack 2.0 battery unit at the Bouldercombe battery facility in Queensland, Australia.
GoodWe offering carport solar panels in Australia
China’s GoodWe has introduced specialized carport solar panels to the Australian market. The panels are designed to address concerns related to water drainage and wiring.
Australia’s large-scale PV segment is stagnating
Despite Australia’s favorable policy landscape, the nation’s large-scale PV segment is in decline, with disappointing figures for certificate registrations this year. However, Sunwiz Managing Director Warwick Johnston says there is a significant gap between “rhetoric” and reality.
