News

Vestas backs Victoria with local wind turbine assembly

14th February, 2019 | Australia, Company Updates, Projects, Wind, Wind Projects

Danish firm Vestas has entered a partnership with Geelong-based Marand Precision Engineering to turn out hubs and drive trains for wind turbines that will power the Victorian grid.

Solar wings to debut at Avalon air show

11th February, 2019 | Renewables, Solar, Uncategorised

Composite wing technology featuring inbuilt solar cells with the ability to triple the flying time of drones will be exhibited at the Avalon aviation expo this month.

First turbine standing proud at Stockyard Hill Wind Farm

11th February, 2019 | Australia, Projects, Wind Projects

The first turbine is standing tall at the Stockyard Hill Wind Farm in Victoria, the first of 149 Goldwind turbines to be installed at the site.

Australia on track for 50% clean energy by 2025, 100% by 2032: ANU

11th February, 2019 | Renewable Energy Target, Renewables, Solar, Storage, Wind

Australia is installing renewable power per person each year faster than any other country, helping it to meet its entire Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets five years early.

ARENA tips $9.6m into distributed energy resources

11th February, 2019 | Funding, Renewables

ARENA has awarded $9.6 million in funding to 12 distributed energy resources projects and studies.

Major parties in NSW hear clean energy message as election nears

11th February, 2019 | For Consumers, Funding, Policy, Renewables, Solar, Solar

Substantive clean energy announcements from both the NSW Government and the Opposition show that both major parties have recognised the importance of the issue to voters ahead of the state election next month, the CEC said.

Energy efficiency a $7.7bn, 120,000-job opportunity for Australia

8th February, 2019 | Efficiency

Improving the energy efficiency of Australian homes and businesses would slash $7.7 billion a year off energy bills and create the equivalent of 120,000 full time jobs, a new report has found. The Energy Efficiency Employment in Australia report, commissioned by...

Business twigs to PPAs as managers hedge energy risk with cheap solar

7th February, 2019 | Commercial, For Consumers, For Installers, Funding, Renewables, Solar, Solar, Wind

Business is plugging directly into wind and solar with power purchase agreements to cut costs, but can the clean energy sector keep up?

CEC pitches some free expertise into the NSW energy policy vacuum

7th February, 2019 | Australia, Policy, Renewable Energy Target, Solar, Storage, Wind

In the lead-up to a state election in March the CEC has offered a list of policy options to put NSW on course for a clean-energy future.

Kondinin wind-solar-battery project gets the nod in Western Australia

7th February, 2019 | Australia, Projects, Solar Projects, Uncategorised, Wind Projects

The Kondinin Wind and Solar Farm has received federal government approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Lacour Energy director Mark Rayner said all state and federal approvals have been secured for the $250 million project, with...

Commercial and industrial solar installs through the roof as business wakes up to the sun

6th February, 2019 | Australia, Commercial, For Consumers, For Installers, Projects, Renewables, Solar, Solar, Solar Projects

Business owners are quickly catching on to the benefits of putting electricity plants up on the roof … and solar installation companies are pedalling hard to keep up.

Demand response to the rescue as states simmer

6th February, 2019 | Australia, Efficiency, For Consumers, Renewable Energy Target, Renewables, Solar, State Policy

The Australia Institute’s Dan Cass explains why demand response is proving so popular with energy market operators, Australian consumers and some of our country’s biggest businesses.

How do solar installers market their business?

31st January, 2019 | For Installers, Solar

Most installers and indeed small businesses are busy with their day-to-day activities and will find it hard to promote themselves says Gerard McAllister from Assertive Marketing.

OECD tells Australia to get a move on if it wants to meet 2030 emissions targets

30th January, 2019 | Uncategorised

Australia will fall short of its 2030 emissions target without a major effort to move to a low-carbon model, the OECD has warned.

Why a revolution in energy needs an evolution in skills

30th January, 2019 | For Installers, Solar, Solar

EcoGeneration speaks to three of Australia’s trainers from the top registered training organisations about why it’s so important to keep upskilling as technology keeps changing.

Townsville gives big tick to 4MW/8MWh Tesla battery

30th January, 2019 | Renewables, Solar, Solar, Storage

In Townsville, North Queensland, approval has been granted to install Queensland’s first community-scale battery to support the transition to renewables and provide back-up power to the local community.

World energy markets report 2018 … are we there yet?

30th January, 2019 | International, Policy, Renewable Energy Target, Renewables, Solar, Storage, Wind

Late last year Capgemini released its 20th annual World Energy Markets Observatory Report for 2018. Ecogeneration takes a look at the report and what it means for the renewable energy sector as China continues to be the world leader in in the production of renewable energy sources.

CEC’s Approved Solar Retailer program picks up power

29th January, 2019 | Commercial, For Installers, Policy, Renewables, Residential, Solar, Solar

The clean energy industry has come a long way in the last few years and continues to grow at a rapid rate. As with all fast-moving sectors, it’s vitally important to continually improve how we do things to maintain a high level of integrity, trust and reputation with...

Natural Solar picks Q Cells for SA solar and battery installation

29th January, 2019 | For Installers, Residential, Solar

Solar and storage installer Natural Solar will use Q Cells’ Q.PEAK DUO-G5 panels in the rollout of South Australia’s first multi-site, battery-powered residential development as part of the state’s home battery scheme launched in October 2018.

‘Jobs don’t have a gender’ … and that includes solar

29th January, 2019 | Commercial, For Installers, Residential, Solar

Women electricians are a rarity, sure, but in an industry as dynamic as solar we should hope to see more of them, says Melbourne-based installer and trainer Billie Smith.

Ambitious energy efficiency targets needed

23rd January, 2019 | Comment, Efficiency, Policy

Setting ambitious energy efficiency targets that are measured annually and linked to electricity and gas sales could significantly sharpen focus on demand-side energy policy, helping to offset the current supply-side-heavy imbalance, writes Hamish McGovern. Victoria’s...

Investa Commercial Property Fund closes $170m green loan, first for Australia

23rd January, 2019 | Funding

Investa Commercial Property Fund has closed Australia’s first green loan for $170 million and achieved Australia’s first verification of a green loan from the Climate Bonds Initiative. To qualify for a green loan, the fund developed a green debt framework, which...

Photon Energy helps Aldi cut costs with a 4.6MW solar roll-out

23rd January, 2019 | Australia, Commercial, Company Updates, Projects, Renewables, Solar, Solar

Photon Energy Engineering Australia will soon start work on helping supermarket chain Aldi cut its energy bills by installing 4.6MW of solar projects across 30 stores and a distribution centre in NSW and Queensland. “Photon Energy is very proud to be cooperating with...

Shorten delivers Labor’s plan for Australia’s hydrogen boom

23rd January, 2019 | Australia, Funding, Policy, Projects, Renewables

Australia’s latent potential as a major producer of exportable renewable energy has been delivered a boost with plans by Labor to invest $1.14 billion in a National Hydrogen Plan, counting on a change in government in the May federal election. Opposition leader Bill...