In the last few years, the deployment of solar technologies – particularly flat panel PV modules – has taken off around the world. But this might just be a taste of what’s to come, says Mark Twidell, the outgoing head of the Australian Solar Institute.
ARENA kills final hopes of Solar Dawn solar thermal project, but still in talks with Moree Solar and Infigen/Suntech over solar PV projects. Meanwhile, it releases its funding strategy with a focus on regional Australia, targeting areas where the cost of fossil fuels is already high.
Chairman Greg Bourne outlines initial plans for newly created ARENA which is, for the moment, the only additional source of funding for Australia’s emerging renewable energy technologies. Decisions to be made soon on solar projects, but flagships program effectively dead.
The Queensland government to stick to Solar Dawn funding commitment after failing to find an exit clause.
… and the next big baseload project will likely be PNG hydro. Origin Energy CEO Grant King also discusses the RET, the case for smart meters and the changing nature of the energy retail industry, the flickering prospects of geothermal, and why he said no to Solar Flagships.
PacHydro establishes a green energy retailer to bypass the influence of the big three utilities. The first priority will be to write a PPA for its Solar Flagships proposal, as Acciona replaces BP Solar in the Moree Solar consortium.
What are the most exciting cleantech projects in Australia this year? We look at solar energy, algae, electric vehicles, geothermal, wind and wave energy, and take a punt on their prospects.
DRET admits power of three big retailers is “an issue” in deployment of large scale solar and new technologies.
The debate around the structure and the purpose of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation will be one of the most critical policy debates of 2012. We summarise some of the more important submissions. Meanwhile, concern about the ability to meet the RET may become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
