Solar Australia

November 2011

What’s coming for solar in the clean energy future?

Melanie Ryan

Solar Australia provides an overview of the outcomes for the Australian solar industry in the Clean Energy Future package, following the introduction of a carbon pricing mechanism and associated funding arrangements.

Insights from pioneers of large-scale solar

Warwick Johnston, Managing Director, SunWiz

Faced with comparatively bleak prospects for residential solar for the coming summer, many solar company directors are eying off the commercial photovoltaic sector as a way to survive. This article examines considerations for the leap to large-scale solar, from a selection of industry leaders.

Performance degradation in solar cells

Oliver Hartley, Managing Director, Q-Cells Australia

Potential induced degradation has adverse effects on the performance and power output over the life of a photovoltaic module.

Great southern press establishes clean energy marketing services division

Great Southern Press is pleased to announce the creation of a new department to help solar industry businesses market themselves.

Tracking in the Outback: Uterne Solar Power Plant

SunPower Corporation has recently completed construction of Australia’s largest tracking solar power plant: the 1 megawatt Uterne Solar Power Plant in Alice Springs. As seen in EcoGeneration magazine.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Compact linear fresnel reflector technology

Anthony Wiseman, Regional Director And General Manager – Australia, AREVA Solar

Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector technology, a cost-effective and land-efficient form of concentrated solar power, will soon be established on a large scale in Australia by AREVA Solar.

Liquid Sunshine

The CSIRO is finalising the development of a technology that combines solar energy with natural gas to produce a ‘solar-charged gas’, which can be bottled, piped or harnessed on demand. Here, Solar Australia speaks with Glen Hart, a CSIRO Project Manager, to learn more about this unique process and the opportunities it presents for commercialisation.

Gemasolar power plant sparkles in Spain

Torresol Energy, a joint venture between Masdar – an Abu Dhabi-based future energy and clean technology company, and SENER Engineering and Systems – a Spanish engineering and construction company, have recently commissioned the Gemasolar concentrated solar power plant, located in Fuentes de Andalucía in Spain.

Connecting large-scale solar to the grid

The proposed 150 megawatt Moree Solar Farm, winner of the Solar Flagships photovoltaics program, will be one of the largest solar plants of its kind in the world. Connecting this immense generator to the electricity grid will present a number of challenges, as well as a number of opportunities for learning – opportunities that will not be missed since the project received a $66.5 million research and development grant from the Federal Government’s Education Investment Fund.

Trina gets connected

Solar Australia interviews John Susa, Senior Director and Country Manager of Trina Solar in Australia and New Zealand about the company’s Australian and offshore involvement in connecting small- and large-scale solar to the grid, a new supply agreement with Origin Energy, and Trina’s plans for future solar development.

Aged care centre saves with solar

Residents of the Melody Park Seventh Day Adventist Aged Care South Queensland facility are enjoying the benefits of being part of Australia’s first state network of solar photovoltaic and solar hot water-powered retirement villages.

Solar best practice at Mount Gambier TAFE

A solar training centre has recently been launched at the Mount Gambier TAFE campus in South Australia. Solar Australia finds out more about the training centre and its commitment to solar best practice principles from Andrew Knowles, Mount Gambier TAFE Training Manager for Manufacturing, Engineering and Transport.

Update on solar best practice

Solar Australia talks with renewable energy system auditor and Australian Solar Energy Society Board Member Glen Morris about the latest updates from the Society’s Solar Photovoltaic Best Practice Program.

Internationally-aligned standards for solar

Colin Blair, Chief Executive, Standards Australia

As Australia contends with an uncertain global economic environment, we need to consider the drivers of economic expansion and innovation into the future, particularly for the nation’s solar industry. Adopting solar standards to enhance efficiency and promote international trade will also provide solutions for economic issues.

Solar on Show at EcoGen 2011

Australian and international clean energy experts met with industry professionals and a wide range of exhibitors at the EcoGen 2011 Conference and Exhibition, held in Brisbane from 5–7 September, where the industry’s successes were celebrated and its future prospects debated.

SMA Australia launches SMA Solar Academy

SMA Australia, manufacturers of solar inverters and monitoring systems, now provides complementary training at its Solar Academy in North Ryde, Sydney, and through its travelling Solar Academy Roadshow.

Transformers are back - Eltek Valere presents new solar inverters

Eltek Valere, a provider of power supply systems for telecommunications, industrial applications and renewable energy projects, has recently launched a new range of high-efficiency isolated string inverters that featured at the EcoGen 2011 Conference and Exhibition in Brisbane.

Trina SOLAR tops PRTM Photovoltaic Growth Index

Trina Solar, a Chinese manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products, has topped PRTM’s Photovoltaic Sustainable Growth Index, when placed against the world’s 25 largest publically listed companies in the photovoltaic industry.

Cool your home with SolarVent’s home ventilation system

SolarVent is a solar powered ventilation system that draws clean, fresh air through a building, creating a breeze that lowers summer roof cavity temperatures by up to 20° Celsius and living spaces by up to 6° Celsius.

I love Solar Australia magazine

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