One perfect 100% renewable day in South Australia
As Christmas lights twinkled their last, South Australia’s electricity grid spent a whole day basking in sunshine and turning towards brisk summer breezes. Renewables ruled — a taste of future feasting on clean energy.
‘Water battery’ a winner for Australian university
In the first year of operation, the thermal energy storage tank saved 4,232 tonnes of CO2 emissions – with 3,082 tonnes saved by the University of the Sunshine Coast through using solar power instead of grid electricity, and the rest by feeding solar energy into the grid.
Australian utility makes splash with portable solar farm
South Australian utility SA Water is set to flick the switch on the “world’s largest” portable solar array, as work has started on a 12 MW prefabricated PV system at the Happy Valley Reservoir near Adelaide.
The ideal size for a quantum dot
Scientists in Australia have developed an algorithm to calculate the perfect size and density for a quantum dot as a light sensitizer in a solar cell. The research could lead to both higher efficiencies for quantum dot solar cells, and the design of quantum dots compatible with other cell materials, including crystalline silicon.
Singapore investor injects $3 million into 500 MW Queensland PV project
Plans to build a large-scale solar farm at Harlin in Queensland’s Somerset Council region continue to gather momentum after Singaporean infrastructure investor Keppel Corporation agreed to pour more than $3 million into the project.
Another Vanadium redox flow battery to be installed in Australia
A vanadium redox flow battery will be installed at a Western Australian caravan park in the new year. Supplied by VSun Energy, the installation advances its parent company’s vanadium endeavours.
New approach to III-V tandems sets 32.9% efficiency record
A collaboration between the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Australia’s University of New South Wales has yielded a new efficiency record of 32.9% for a tandem cell device utilizing III-V materials. Key to the achievement was a new technique enabling the researchers to take advantage of “quantum wells” in the material that serve to trap charges and enable tuning of the cell bandgap to absorb more of the light spectrum.
Australian research improves scope, efficiency of PV light sensitizers
Australian scientists have developed an algorithm to increase both the efficiency and compatibility of light sensitizers in solar panels.
Renewables driving down Australian energy bills
The Australian Energy Market Commission’s latest annual Residential Electricity Price Trends report shows costs are falling as renewables build-out replaces inefficient coal-fired generation.
Hydro storage project pumps new life into old Australian mine
Centennial Coal has secured more than US$3.8 million in government funding to assess the feasibility of turning a coal mine near Newcastle, New South Wales, into a pumped hydro storage site that could supply 600 MW of renewables to the grid.
