Blog Archives

NSW solar feed-in tariff rates to drop from 1 July 2018: What does it all mean?

Solar Choice Staff, May 09, 2018 05:26pm NSW’s regulator IPART has released its draft report for its recommendations for the state’s benchmark solar feed-in tariff range, to come into effect from 1 July 2018. The recommended ‘flat’ or ‘anytime’ feed-in rate will drop significantly from the current 11-15c/kWh down to 7.5c/kWh. Meanwhile, loosely following suit

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Affordability. Reliability. Security; get used to hearing these words.

The Federal Government came out today with what they feel is the best way forward for Australia’s Energy policy. Disregarding the recent Finkel Energy Review, spearheaded by the Government themselves, it seems that, after consultation with industry insiders and relevant stakeholders, a new way forward, known as the National Energy Guarantee, was announced. With expectations

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Australians have spent almost $8bn on rooftop solar since 2007, says report | The Guardian

(By Michael Slezak, The Guardian, 22 June 2016.Photograph: Raoul Wegat/AAP) Australian households and small businesses have invested more than $1bn a year in rooftop solar over the past five years, spending a total of almost $8bn since 2007, new calculations show. In its latest State of Solar report, Solar Citizens – which campaigns for, and

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Bluescope unveils “world first” solar roof with heat and power

(By Giles Parkinson, Renew Economy, 13 June 2016) A small terrace house in the inner Sydney suburb of Glebe is hosting what is believed to be the world’s first building integrated solar system that generates electricity as well as heat. bluescope bipvcThe array combines thin-film solar PV and solar thermal technologies into a steel sheet

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Redflow takes on home storage market with ZCell flow battery system

(From Ecogeneration Article, Wed 30 March 2016) Australian battery storage company Redflow today launched its first residential battery solution, the ZCell, a compact, modular 10 kWh energy storage system based on its zinc bromide flow battery technology. In a statement, Redflow hailed the versatility, safety and robustness of its product, saying the ZCell delivers the

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First Tesla Powerwall battery installed in Australia

(From EcoGeneration Magazine – Fri 29 January 2016) The Tesla Powerwall has officially arrived in the Australian market, with at least one installation being completed in Sydney this week. The first commercial installation of the much-hyped 7 kWh battery was undertaken by Natural Solar on a family home in Kellyville Ridge, in Sydney’s northwest. The unit

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Secrets of an award-winning solar installer

(From EcoGeneration Magazine – Mon 25 January 2016) In our ongoing series of solar installer profiles, we chat to Simon Duff of Towards Tomorrow Energy about his award-winning business, his green principles and the toughest things about being a solar installer. When Simon Duff set up Towards Tomorrow Energy (TTE) in 2001 – long before

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What if solar got the same subsidies as fossil fuels?

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Solar bungle to hit green households, with panels now needing to be moved

THOUSANDS of homes will be forced to move their solar panels to catch the afternoon sun because bungling officials failed to properly design pricing regimes. Most panels face north, meaning they catch all-day sun — but that does not ease the pressure at peak afternoon times, when the setting sun roasts Sydney from the west

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Stop the dinosaurs!

Australia’s Renewable Energy Target is under review, which could lead the Government to reduce or even abolish it. This would be a step backwards. The RET drives new renewable electricity generation, replacing high-polluting fossil fuels. Since it was introduced, the scheme has delivered $18 billion in investment and created thousands of jobs. Reducing the target

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