---
title: "This Week in Solar: Farms in Esperance Region Going Off-Grid, $0 Electricity Bills, Big Solar Farm in SA Begins Production"
description: Here are some solar news stories you may have missed from this week. Esperance Region Going Off-Grid, $0 Electricity Bills for Homeowners, Big Solar Farm in SA Begins Production, Biggest Wind Farm in WA to be Built
---

[Solar Trust Centre | Solar and Renewable Energy News ](https://www.solartrustcentre.com/blog)

# [This Week in Solar: Farms in Esperance Region Going Off-Grid, $0 Electricity Bills, Big Solar Farm in SA Begins Production](https://www.solartrustcentre.com/blog/this-week-in-solar-farms-in-esperance-region-going-off-grid-0-electricity-bills-big-solar-farm-in-sa-begins-production)

 Written by [Solar Trust Centre Team](https://www.solartrustcentre.com/blog/author/solar-trust-centre-team) | Mar 14, 2019 4:10:02 PM

Here are some solar news stories you may have missed from this week. Click on the links to read these stories in more detail.

**1. [Esperance Farms To Go Off-Grid With Solar + Storage And Generators](https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/esperance-solar-off-grid-mb0964/)**

Fourteen remote farms in Western Australia’s Esperance region will soon be ditching electricity supplied via conventional powerlines for solar energy based micro power systems (MPS) from Horizon Power.

**2. [SunPower Announces 400W Solar Panel Availability in Australia](https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/sunpower-maxeon-3-australia-mb0968/)**

The first 400 watt solar panel for the Australian residential market is now available from SunPower – the Maxeon 3.

**3. [Sydney solar-powered housing development the first in Australia to offer buyers $0 electricity bills](http://www.techguide.com.au/news/renewable-energy/sydney-solar-powered-housing-development-first-australia-offer-buyers-0-electricity-bills/)**

A new property development in Sydney’s north shore will be offering residents $0 electricity bills by integrating battery power into each of the homes.

**4. [South Australia’s second biggest solar farm begins production](https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australias-second-biggest-solar-farm-begins-production-56221/)**

South Australia’s 108MW Tailem Bend solar farm started sending electricity to the grid last week, kicking off operations for the state’s second large scale solar project.

**5. [Sod turned at Kwinana waste to energy facility](https://www.communitynews.com.au/weekend-courier/news/sod-turned-at-kwinana-waste-to-energy-facility/)**

CONSTRUCTION has started on Australia’s first thermal waste to energy facility in Kwinana which will create 800 jobs during construction.

**6. [Queensland trials rebate for solar systems at rentals](https://www.energymagazine.com.au/queensland-trials-rebate-for-solar-systems-at-rentals/)**

The Queensland State Government is trialling rebates of up to $3500 to encourage rental property owners and their tenants to install solar systems.

**7. [Victoria changes planning rules for large-scale wind and solar](https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2019/03/06/victoria-changes-planning-rules-for-large-scale-wind-and-solar/)**

The Victorian government has announced it has put a planning mechanism in place to ensure the state’s uptake of large-scale renewables is well-planned and responsive to the needs of the local community.

**8.** [**Northern Territory councils in line for solar, battery grants under sustainability funding scheme**](https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2019/03/13/northern-territory-councils-in-line-for-solar-battery-grants-under-sustainability-funding-scheme/)

The Northern Territory government has launched a $2 million funding program, which is open to government councils seeking to upgrade their infrastructure to support the efficient use of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

**9. [Queensland approves new 240MW wind farm for Western Downs region](https://reneweconomy.com.au/queensland-approves-new-240mw-wind-farm-for-western-downs-region-71436/)**

A 240MW wind farm proposed for construction in Queensland’s Western Downs region has been approved for development by the state government.

[View full post](https://www.solartrustcentre.com/blog/this-week-in-solar-farms-in-esperance-region-going-off-grid-0-electricity-bills-big-solar-farm-in-sa-begins-production)

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