Yingli Solar passes Positive Quality Program
14 October, 2014Yingli Solar has been announced as the first solar PV module manufacturer to successfully pass the Australian Solar Council's Positive Quality inspection program. The program was announced in May this year in order to help distinguish between high- and low-quality solar panels.
Rethinking grid-connected PV economics: cost parity period
13 October, 2014 by Dr Glen Johnston, Director, LAROS TechnologiesTypical analysis of PV system economic viability usually assesses net present value of the PV plant capital expense and running costs in comparison with an alternative investment offering a specified rate of return, or 'discount rate'. Grid-connected PV plants should be assessed against a different type of competing 'investment' - the grid electricity tariff.
Solar power project for off-grid NT communities
13 October, 2014The Australian and Northern Territory governments have announced Solar SETuP - a $55 million project to bring solar power to remote communities in the Northern Territory. The project was launched on Sunday by Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane, NT Chief Minister Adam Giles and Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) CEO Ivor Frischknecht.
Improving the efficiency of plastic-based solar cells
08 October, 2014Researchers from Victoria University of Wellington are helping to improve the efficiency of next-generation solar cells made from materials like plastics. Their work has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Solar battery runs on light and air
07 October, 2014Scientists from The Ohio State University (OSU) have succeeded in combining a battery and a solar cell into one hybrid device, described as the world's first solar battery.
New polymer improves solar cell efficiency
29 September, 2014A US research collaboration has developed a new polymer which, when used added to a solar cell, improves the efficiency of that cell.
New Zealanders turning to solar power
25 September, 2014New Zealand research has found that more and more of the country's citizens are shifting their power to solar energy. The study was led by Dr Rebecca Ford, a lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington's School of Engineering and Computer Science.
A solar concentrator you can see through
09 September, 2014Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) have developed a solar concentrator which, when placed over a window, creates solar energy while allowing people to actually see through the window.
100 MW Mildura Power Station Project suspended
22 August, 2014Silex Systems has announced that plans for the Mildura Power Station Project, located in Carwarp in Victoria, have been suspended. The decision was based on factors including low wholesale electricity prices and the uncertainty surrounding the Renewable Energy Target.
Car batteries recycled into solar cells
22 August, 2014Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a system which recycles materials from discarded car batteries into long-lasting perovskite solar panels, thus solving several environmental issues at once.
YHI New Zealand to distribute Enphase Energy microinverters
18 August, 2014Enphase Energy has partnered with YHI (New Zealand) to distribute its microinverter-based solar photovoltaic (PV) system to the New Zealand solar installer community. YHI will ship Enphase's products from six warehouses throughout New Zealand, meaning the company's products are now shipping in 12 countries.
Solar inverters for birdseed manufacturer
05 August, 2014SolarMax has provided its grid-connected solar inverters to Bird Munchies, a manufacturer of birdseed products, through its installation partner Ygrene Energy.
Yingli PV panels at Australia Post headquarters
29 July, 2014Solar PV manufacturer Yingli Green Energy Australia, known as Yingli Solar, has supplied Australia Post with a 284 kWp solar PV system through provider Photon Energy Australia.
Kingspan constructing king-sized solar PV project
23 July, 2014Kingspan Energy has commenced construction of what is claimed to be the largest single rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Australia, located at the IKEA Tempe store in NSW. IKEA is moving to roll out solar PV systems across its stores nationwide, and this will be the largest of its projects.
SolarMax provides inverters for Qatar Solar Energy
04 July, 2014Swiss inverter manufacturer SolarMax has provided its technology to the Middle East by partnering with solar technology development and manufacturing facility Qatar Solar Energy (QSE).
