In 2010, for the first time, worldwide cumulative installed capacity from wind turbines, biomass, waste-to-energy, and solar power surpassed installed nuclear capacity. Even before the disaster in Fukushima, the world’s nuclear industry was in clear decline, according to a new report from the Worldwatch Institute. The report, which Worldwatch commissioned months before the Fukushima crisis began, paints a bleak picture of an aging industry unable to keep pace with its renewable energy competitors. “The industry was arguably on life support [...]

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, today announced adjustments to the Solar Credits arrangements in light of continued strong growth in the industry, the impact of this on electricity prices, and the impact of the Solar Credits support on demand for other clean energy technologies such as solar hot water heaters. The federal government is to wind back generous subsidies for home solar electricity panels, a move welcomed by the industry as providing long-term certainty. Climate [...]

Household solar power must not be used as the scapegoat for electricity price rises, despite adjustments to Solar Credits arrangements announced by Government today being a necessary and sensible decision. Matthew Warren, the Chief Executive of the Clean Energy Council, the peak body for the clean energy sector, questioned the justification for the announcement. “For some time now the Clean Energy Council has been concerned about the stability of the solar market. We have been consulting with industry, analysing the [...]

Regional and coastal Australia are driving the nation’s switch to household solar energy according to new figures, released today by the Clean Energy Council as part of Clean Energy Week. The data debunks the myth that renewable energy is more popular in the city latte set than it is in the bush. It also shows strong demand in working class suburbs. The research identifies the 20 postcodes nationally with the highest percentage of household solar installations – and Australia’s coastal [...]