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Solar Insights: PV costs set for another 30% fall in 2012
Solar PV costs will fall another 30 per cent in 2012, with some developers able to write offtake agreements of less than 10c/kWh. But while solar becomes competitive with conventional power, it is still a dangerous place for investors. Plus: news from Canadian Solar, solar auctions in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and Japan’s solar surge.4 -
Is this the beginning of the end of coal-fired generation?
The government owned Stanwell Corp has put 700MW of coal-fired generation on ice because of falling demand, and the impact of renewables and the carbon price. Its annual report reveals that its entire portfolio of 4GW of coal and gas fired power plants may be surplus to requirements. -
Australia’s first utility-scale solar farm officially opened in WA
And although it’s just 10MW in size – and was built courtesy of funding from the local government, a state-owned utility and by one of the wealthiest companies in the planet – it may presage a dramatic change in the way this country produces energy. -
SolarCity’s big challenge: Prove that energy bills can fall
Not many companies have dared make a full-frontal assault on the decades-old business model of energy utilities. That’s because no-one had a disruptive technology or a disruptive game plan. SolarCity says it has one, which is why its IPO will be viewed with great interest, including in Australia. -
Will energy consumers finally benefit from the merit order effect?
The impact of falling demand and the renewables ‘merit order effect’ may finally be reflected in consumer electricity prices, with NSW joining South Australia in changing the way wholesale charges are calculated. But generators in those states may also be getting windfall gains from the carbon price.
