In this week’s issue of Solar Tidbits: (1) The UNSW Rooftop Solar Mapping Tool puts the Power in the Hands of Consumers – for Free. (2) As Developers Focus on Size, Very Large Solar sets a Record Year of Growth in 2022 (3) ARENA allocates $41.5 Million to Low-cost Solar Research in Australia.
The UNSW Rooftop Solar Mapping Tool puts the Power in the Hands of Consumers – for Free.
Photo Credit: Western Power
Following a federal government-backed upgrade, an online rooftop solar mapping tool developed by the University of New South Wales has been made available for free use by households, small businesses, and councils across the country.
The Australian PV Institute (APVI) has released version three of its SunSPOT solar calculator, which includes more accurate rooftop solar estimates, a more user-friendly interface, and a free version for anyone in Australia.
The online tool, which debuted in April 2018, uses geographic information system data to estimate the technical potential of rooftop solar – and now also home battery storage – while taking into account the tilt of roof surfaces and shading at the site.
More about this article: http://bit.ly/3JC9wqo
As Developers Focus on Size, Very Large Solar sets a Record Year of Growth in 2022.
Photo Credit: Reneweconomy
Rooftop solar is frequently the shining star of Australia’s PV scene, with world-leading uptake and contributions to the grid. However, big solar shone in 2022, with a record year for large-scale solar farm energisation offsetting a rare contraction in the small-scale market.
According to SunWiz’s annual solar round-up data, 2022’s large-scale market grew to its second-highest volume to date – not due to a more significant number of solar farms coming online, but due to some much larger individual projects coming online.
According to SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston, 2022 ended up delivering the most annual volume of 200MW-plus solar PV projects commissioned in Australia to date, as projects in the solar pipeline grew in size to meet rapidly expanding federal and state renewable energy targets.
More about this article: http://bit.ly/3XZSHu9
ARENA allocates $41.5 Million to Low-cost Solar Research in Australia.
Photo credit: Edify Energy
The Renewable Energy Agency of Australia (ARENA) has allocated A$41.5 million (US$28.51 million) to 13 research projects aimed at lowering solar costs.
The funding has been distributed in two blocks to research teams from three Australian universities: the University of New South Wales, The Australian National University, and The University of Sydney, with the goal of lowering the levelised cost of solar PV and improving cell and module efficiency.
More than half of the funding (A$27.5 million) has been allocated to research and development (R&D) and innovation in solar cells and modules, with the remaining A$14 million dedicated to accelerating innovations that reduce the costs of utility-scale solar PV projects through system balance and operations and maintenance.
More about this article: http://bit.ly/3YhLB3K
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