Solar Trust Centre | Solar and Renewable Energy News

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 | 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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