THE sun seems to be rising for sustainable energy in Toowoomba with solar electricity systems installed in almost one in seven premises in the city. Ergon Energy released figures on the uptake of solar PV systems this week which showed that 8289 systems had been installed in Toowoomba – a penetration rate of 14%. via […]
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EVEN if you don’t have solar panels, you’re helping to pay for your neighbour’s. The Queensland Competition Authority said the cost of the Solar Bonus Scheme accounted for about 30% of the expected increase for the typical residential customer on Tariff 11. The QCA anticipated the cost of generating electricity would rise by 29% in […]
HERVEY Bay is the solar panel capital of regional Queensland with almost one in four Ergon Energy residential customers having solar panels installed on their roofs. An Ergon Energy spokesman said at the end of December, 6442 customers – 23% of the 28,570 serviced from Ergon’s Hervey Bay depot – were eligible for the solar […]
For each postcode and local government area, the map shows the estimated percentage of dwellings that have a PV system and the total photovoltaic capacity installed. via Australian Photovoltaic Institute • Mapping Australian Photovoltaic PV installations.
Townsville, Gladstone, Brisbane, Mackay, Cairns and Rockhampton, in that order, are the best performers, based on cost of electricity, sunlight availability, government subsidy and solar system cost, according to research by Energy Matters. Co-founder Nick Brass said a conservative rate of return in those cities was more than 20 per cent a year, well above […]
STEVEN Willemse has invested more than $100,000 in a solar system to power his family’s SJW Mushrooms farm at Chevallum. The 60kW solar hybrid system is believed to be the biggest of its kind on the Sunshine Coast. Mr Willemse said he decided to avoid rising electricity costs and protect his farm from costly power […]
The Federal Court has ordered by consent that Euro Solar and Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing (WEMA, formerly trading as Australian Solar Panel) pay combined penalties of $125,000, for publishing fake testimonials and making false or misleading representations about the country of origin of the solar panels they supply. This followed action by the Australian Competition […]
Brisbane Materials, a specialty materials company, has won a $1.3M grant from the ASI for the construction of a pilot scale plant for the production of solar anti-reflection (AR) coatings. This project will capitalise on Australian IP by providing industry-leading AR coatings, with clear potential to reduce solar energy system costs at all scales. via […]
A BORDER nursing home is harnessing the power of the sun as part of a 10-year plan to slash its electricity costs by up to 40 per cent. Dubbed “the energy efficiency program”, residents at the Murray Vale Shalem Hostel in Lavington can now enjoy up to 200 kilowatts of renewable energy from the sun each […]
Queensland electricity prices will increase by 13.6 per cent from July, increasing the average household bill by $192 a year. The Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) has released its draft decision for 2014 in Brisbane. Qld power prices set for hike – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
