The NSW solar power industry welcomed last week’s news that Premier Barry O’Farrell will not pursue legislation to retroactively cut the state’s 60c feed-in tariff under the now defunct NSW Solar […]
Category: Solar Choice News
Solar Choice’s news service about local, national and global developments about solar photovoltaics and related technology.
Some good news: Government drops retroactive solar NSW Solar Bonus Scheme reduction plans!
Unable to secure the votes required in the Upper House of Parliament, Premier Barry O’Farrell has abandoned plans to retroactively cut the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme 60c/kWh solar feed in […]
More Solar Power Industry responses to proposed NSW Solar Bonus Scheme changes
In a different perspective on the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme debacle, Clean Energy Council Chief Executive officer Matthew Warren showed some sympathy for the O’Farrell Government’s unenviable position of having […]
NSW Feed-in Tariff Debacle: Hardship provisions?
NSW GOVT PROPOSES HARDSHIP PROVISIONS FOR SOLAR BONUS SCHEME NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher today announced in a media release that special provisions would be made […]
Solar power and renewables vs coal: Government subsidisation
With the recent furore over the NSW government’s decision to retroactively reduce the 60c/kWh solar power feed-in tariff, the issue of government subsidisation of energy resources has been brought to […]
43kW of Solar Panels to come to Australian Parliament House
Parliament is soon to be decked out with its own photovoltaic array, as part of the federal government’s efforts to identify and implement solutions to move into a low-carbon future […]
First international solar-powered flight
The Swiss-engineered Solar Impulse is set to make its first international flight on 2 May 2011 (yesterday in Australia as of the time of this writing, but today in Switzerland!) […]
NSW Government suspends Solar Bonus (feed-in tariff) Scheme
Energy Minister Chris Hartcher announced this afternoon that the NSW government, facing a budget deficit, has put the Solar Bonus Scheme on ice as of midnight 28 April 2011 due to fears […]
West Australia’s first 100% renewable-powered mine: Wind and Solar
Lithium producer Galaxy Resources is planning to be operating West Australia’s first mine powered by 100% renewable energy within 3 years. The mine is already partially powered by solar panels […]
RECs, STCs: The need for price stability (SMH)
The solar power industry is looking to the Federal government to provide some assurance over the price of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), known as Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) for smaller, […]
3kW solar power system donated to Melbourne Citymission for Clean Energy Week
The Clean Energy Council National Conference has combined with the annual ATRAA (Appropriate Technology Retailers of Australia) conference for the first ever ‘Clean Energy Week’, a conference for Australia’s clean […]
NSW electricity prices to rise by up to 18.1% by July 2011–IPART
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has recommended that the price of electricity in NSW increase by between 16.4% and 18.1%. Changes will come into effect from 1 July, […]
Major commercial solar power project planned for Queensland
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced plans for a massive commercial-scale solar power for Australia’s Sunshine State. 44MW of supplementary solar power will be added on to a preexisting coal-fired Kogan […]
Stand-alone solar power to be set-up in Japan refugee centres
As part of the relief effort for the 11 March 2011 Northeastern Japan earthquake and tsunami, Sharp and Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery are planning to assemble and provide 250 solar power […]
How will a carbon price affect the solar power market?
As you may have heard, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has recently proclaimed her government’s intention to put a price on carbon dioxide pollution by July 2012. Although at this point […]
19-year-old demonstrates true Solar Power: The Solar Death Ray
In Indiana, USA a pioneering teenager has demonstrated the formidable power of the sun with a simple, hand-made device composed of 5800 tiny mirrors and an old satellite dish. The […]
Western Australia’s Commercial-scale Solar Farms
Two significantly large solar farm projects are underway in Western Australia: the Greenough River Solar Farm near Ellendale in the Mid West, and a hybrid solar-diesel plant in the Pilbara region, […]
Queensland floods and solar power arrays: safety and precautions
The cataclysmic flooding in Queensland has devastated individuals and communities, taking and ruining lives, and leaving large sections of cities and towns underwater. As the flood waters recede and people […]
State Government Approval Granted to NSW’s First Solar Farm
Infigen Energy has been granted the Keneally government’s approval for NSW’s first commercial solar farm. The farm, to be located about 2km south of Nyngan, a small town in the […]
Solar Power the choice of Renewable Energy in the Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands have been under the influence of volatile oil prices for far too long and they have, for the last few years, decided to move towards renewable energy […]
Australian Companies swinging towards a price on Carbon
Yesterday, chief executive of BHP Billiton Marius Kloppers, called for ”a clear price signal” on carbon dioxide emissions, possibly including both a carbon tax and a limited carbon trading scheme […]
Solar Power, Chain Restaurants and power by numbers
Solar Panels have several advantages but sometimes the incentives in place to help you get a start are not enough, but that didn’t stop Chipotle, a mexican fast-food chain-restaurant in […]
Recap: Who is truly advocating Solar Power?
As election day draws closer, the three different camps are going to be talking about each others policies and how they are trying to keep the best interests of the […]
Australian Solar Cities & Communities Growing!
Adelaide, Townsville, Blacktown, Alice Springs, Central Victoria, Perth and Coburg are getting $75 Million dollars over 5 years to demonstrate high penetration uptake of solar technologies, energy efficiency and smart […]
Emerging Solar Energy Panel Trends
The University of New South Wales holds the record for producing the highest efficiency solar energy cells and has had the privilege of holding this record for approximately 20 years, […]
Solar Power Update from Germany
Solar Powered Germany : a shining example The implementation and ongoing review of feed-in-tariff laws in Germany over the last 19 years has been hugely successful in encouraging solar PV […]
ACT Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) Revision
Important news for ACT customers only: Earlier this month a strategical recommendation was made by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC in Canberra) that would directly affect the investment […]
NSW feed-in tariff loophole to be closed
A loophole in the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme (the states feed-in tariff) that allowed energy retailers to only offer credit instead of cash will be closed. The NSW Energy Minister, John Robertson, […]
Steel beam solar cells? A technology of the future
Imagine being in a sky scraper where the huge glass windows and steel beams act as solar cells, soaking up the sun’s light and generating electricity. This is exactly the […]
Solar powered plane set to circumnavigate the globe
In 1903 two audacious young men set human kind into a new era with their bold attempt at flight. They were the Wright brothers, and their pioneering invention, which got […]
Myth Busted: Solar cells do NOT take more energy to manufacture than they will ever generate
One of the myths that has floated around about Solar Energy is that it takes more energy to produce, transport and install solar panels then the amount the panels will […]
