Category Archives: Solar energy

SOLAR energy has a very positive rating in the public’s mind, while the nuclear industry and coal-fired power stations are at the bottom when people are asked about their perceptions of energy industries. Coal seam gas, which has become very controversial recently especially in NSW and Queensland, also rates badly. A UMR survey last month found more than eight in 10 people had a positive view of solar energy; only 10 per cent were negative. Three-quarters were positive on renewable [...]

Australia’s peak body for renewable energy has welcomed Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s renewed commitment yesterday to the national 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target (RET). Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren said the Howard Government introduced the original Mandatory Renewable Energy Target in 2001. “The Coalition has been a key supporter of both the expanded Renewable Energy Target in 2009 and the changes to the scheme last year. All sides of politics are committed to delivering 20 per cent [...]

Consumer and industry groups have challenged the Baillieu government’s claim that it will still take less than a decade to pay off a standard solar system through savings on power bills after changes announced this week. Since 2009 electricity companies have paid households and businesses 60¢ a kilowatt hour for electricity fed into the power grid. With the system nearly at its legislated cap, Energy Minister Michael O’Brien announced the rate would be cut to 25¢ while an inquiry was [...]

Seventy six per cent of Australians consider innovation an important national priority and Australia has a strong history of innovation, from inventing the bionic ear and Wi-Fi, to designing solar powered ferries adaptable for public transport needs. ByScott Wooldridge Yet, this focus on innovation is not reflected across the board – Australia is ranked last in industry collaboration with universities within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 21st in the global innovation index and below the OECD average for expenditure on research [...]

At least 15 electricians who installed potentially dangerous solar panels have been fined thousands of dollars and many have had their licences suspended following an audit that found hundreds of systems across Sydney had defects. An audit by NSW Fair Trading inspectors in June revealed that 122 homes in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown and Kellyville had major defects in their solar panel systems that could cause fires and another 418 homes had minor defects. The latest figures published yesterday show that [...]