The Hydrogen Stream: US government targets $2/kg by 2026, $1/kg by 2031
The US Department of Energy says it is aiming for “clean” hydrogen production costs of $2/kg by 2026 and $1/kg by 2031.
South Australia tests energy-smart homes to ease pressure on grid
An “Australian first” demonstration of aggregated flexible demand in residential settings will be rolled out in South Australia, with the state’s principle electricity distributor to deliver smart energy upgrades for 500 households as part of a pilot program to coordinate power usage and support the grid.
Algorithms to detect underperforming rooftop PV panels
Australian researchers have developed multi-stage algorithms to remotely detect and accurately diagnose underperforming solar panels in residential and commercial PV systems.
Australian lithium-sulfur battery player claims to have nailed safety standards
Australian battery company Li-S Energy claims to have taken a significant step toward proving the safety of its semi-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries, with the third-generation technology successfully passing a series of nail penetration tests.
Australian energy storage tender attracts 19 GW of proposals
The Australian federal government’s 32 GW Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) is already bearing fruit, with a competitive tender seeking 600 MW of energy storage capacity in Victoria and South Australia attracting 19,000 MW of project proposals.
Australian solar farm hosting 6,000 sheep
The first stage of Acen Australia’s planned 720 MW New England Solar Farm in Australia is home to more than 6,000 sheep, which graze beneath the panels in a proof-of-concept agrivoltaics project.
UNSW researchers warn of surprising TOPCon solar module vulnerabilities
Researchers at the University of New South Wales claim to have identified three TOPCon panel failure types that are absent in PERC products. They explained that these failures may occur when the modules are exposed to high humidity and contaminants before encapsulation.
Singapore developer planning 1 GW of solar in Australia
The renewables arm of Singapore-based fund manager Cambridge RE Partners has unveiled plans for its first Australian project. It has submitted a development application to establish a 300 MW solar farm in northern Queensland.
Using commercially available inverters for daylight photoluminescence imaging
An Australian research group has used an SMA inverter to switch the operating point of a PV array and has demonstrated its ability to create photoluminescence images for both rooftop and large scale solar installations.
Australian communities push back against big renewables
As the Australian authorities launch rolling tenders for 32 GW of renewables and storage by 2030, it has become clear that some communities, including locals around pv magazine reporter Bella Peacock’s hometown, have not been brought onside. Heated debate on social media and a frenzy stoked by concerns about the impact on the natural environment are throwing up hurdles for renewables development.
