News

Solar Horizon is pleased to provide the latest solar news from Australia and around the world. We also have a small section relating to Solar Horizon's own solar news.

Solar Horizon News

Australian Solar News

International Solar News

Solar Horizon News

Solar Horizon/Autonomous Energy completes two solar power systems at Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga

Solar Horizon/Autonomous Energy Have completed the installation of two solar power systems at Knox Grammar School, funded under the National Solar Schools Program. Autonomous Energy provided a complete turn key solution from system design, grant management, through to supply, installation and commissioning . Autonomous Energy also helped to facilitate the approval and implementation of rain water tanks, also funded by the grant.

Solar Horizon/Autonomous Energy completes solar power system at Wenona School, North Sydney

Solar Horizon/Autonomous Energy were chosen to supply and install a 6kW solar power system by Wenona School, a leading girls school located in North Sydney. The system was funded under the National Solar Schools Program, with some additional funding from the school. The system is now fully operational and is predicted to produce 9729kWh of clean electricity per year, preventing the creation of 10.3 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Solar Horizon has recently been selected as a preferred supplier for the Greenstyle program.

‘We are delighted to be selected as part of the panel of preferred suppliers for Greenstyle. Greenstyle is a joint initiative between Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby and Willoughby Councils and has been assisted by the NSW Environmental Trust'. (Matthew Linney, Solar Horizon)

For more information please go to http://www.greenstyle.org.au/ or click here to download the list of preferred suppliers

Solar Horizon / Autonomous Energy wins 7kW project for leading School in Canberra

Radford College has selected Autonomous Energy (Solar Horizon's parent company) to design, supply and install a 7kW grid connected solar power system, funded by the National Solar Schools Program as well as Radford College , who are partly funding the system. The system also features and online data monitoring and display system allowing the students of Radford College and the greater schools community to monitor, track and analyse the production of renewable energy from the new system.

‘We are delighted to be working with Radford College on this important project. Radford will be one of the first schools to install a new solar power system under the Commonwealth Government's exciting new National Solar Schools Program and will therefore be a great example to other schools of what can be achieved' (Mark Gadd, Solar Horizon & Autonomous Energy)

This system is now fully operational and is reportedly the largest grid connected solar power system in the ACT and the first commercial scale system to apply for the ACT feed in tariff.

Australian Solar News

Renewable Energy Target and Solar Credits pass through senate

The senate has approved the Federal Governments's renewable energy target (RET) bill which includes the legislation for the new Solar Credits scheme to replace the discontinued Solar Homes and Communities Plan rebate. The new scheme will be available to all systems installed after the 9th of June 2009, although the process for claiming Solar Credits is yet to be finalised. The Solar Credits legislation is expected to provide a significant boost for residential and small scale commercial grid connect solar power systems. Autonomous Energy/Solar Horizon encourages the Federal Government to go further and to provide an incentive for commercial and in particular off grid solar power systems.

NSW announces Feed in Tariff

The NSW government has announced that it plans to introduce a feed in tariff in the coming months. While the scheme will be net metered, meaning that only energy in excess of consumption will be counted as opposed to gross schemes such as those in Germany and the ACT which count all solar power production, the relatively high system size limit of 10kW and the generous 60c/kWh incentive should lead to a significant boost for home and small business owners who choose to install a solar power system. Importantly the net scheme will encourage energy efficiency and larger system sizes in order to maximise the payback which will give improved environmental outcomes compared to similar schemes in some other Australian states. Solar Horizon looks forward to the scheme being passed into law in the near future. For more information on how this scheme will affect the feasibility of installing solar power at your home or office, please contact us.

Rebate axed with replacement scheme yet to pass senate

The Federal government has ended the $8,000 Solar Homes and Communities Plan rebate 3 weeks early on the 9th of June due to a massive spike in uptake caused funding to run out. Unfortunately, despite the government's claims to the media that the replacement Solar Credits Scheme has replaced the SHCP as of the 9th of June, this replacement scheme is yet to pass the Senate and wont do so until August at the earliest. The scheme will be back dated with systems installed from 9th of June eligible under the draft legislation, provided they do not also receive the $8,000 SHCP grant.

The Solar Credits scheme builds on an existing market based process by multiplying the number of renewable energy credits (RECs) solar power systems can generate by 5 for the first 1.5kW. These can then be sold or assigned to the supplier in return for an up front discount and are currently worth approximately $4,000 for a 1.5kW system in Sydney. For more information, please see the rebates page.

National Solar Schools Program will provide $480 million to help all schools in Australia switch to clean and renewable solar electricity.

‘The Australian Government is backing our schools in the fight against climate change. The National Solar Schools Program is giving Australian schools a head start in tackling climate change and conserving our precious water supplies. Our schools can harness the power of the sun in meeting one of the biggest challenges confronting our planet. This exciting new program will help primary and secondary schools around the country take practical action to save energy and water while cutting their utility bills. National Solar Schools offers grants of up to $50 000 (GST exclusive) to install solar and other renewable power systems, solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks and a range of energy efficiency measures' (Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts).

Please click here for up to date information on the National Solar Schools Program or click here to download the program guidelines.

$8000 SHCP Rebate Ends 30 June 2009

The Government will continue to meet demand under the Solar Homes and Communities Plan up until the end of June 2009. The SHCP rebate will be replaced by the ‘Solar Credits' scheme in mid 2009. From 1 July 2009 until June 2012, the number of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or ‘solar credits' received will be multiplied by five (for the first 1.5kW of any newly installed PV system). One benefit for owners of new PV systems is that the ‘solar credits' scheme will not be means tested and will also be available to businesses and community groups.

Solar Horizon advises it's clients that if they are eligible for the SHCP rebate it is a best to apply for this before it ends.

For more information on the new solar credits scheme, click here to download the Government's solar credits fact sheet: Solar Credits for Small Scale Renewables.

BP Solar to Close Solar Module Manufacturing Plant in Sydney and move all solar manufacturing off shore

BP Solar will cease the production of solar photovoltaic power cells and panels from its manufacturing plant in Sydney Olympic park ( Australia ) at the end of March 2009. ‘Although BP Solar said it was closing the photovoltaic solar panel factory to cut costs, it admitted there would be no immediate benefit to customers, and panels would not become cheaper as a result of the move' (Sydney Morning Herald, 19/11/2008).

Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/closure-of-solar-plant-casts-cloud-over-industry/2008/11/18/1226770451101.html

SunPower to Build 505kW Solar Power Tracking System in Western Australia

SunPower Corporation has reached an agreement to build a 505-kilowatt solar power installation for Horizon Power, a government-owned company providing power to remote and regional communities and resource operations in Western Australia .

The ground-mounted installation will be located on two sites in Marble Bar and Nullagine, in the east Pilbara region of Western Australia , and will be the largest solar tracking system in Australia .

Last month, SunPower announced that it is building a 305-kilowatt rooftop solar power system for the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. SunPower entered the emerging Australian solar market earlier this year, with the acquisition of Solar Sales Pty Ltd. Solar Sales had partnered with SunPower for several years prior as a leading systems integrator and product distribution organization.

Full story: http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsASPR209.htm

International Solar News

Kyocera Solar panels chosen for solar roof in Toyota's third generation of Prius hybrid electric cars

The next generation of Toyota's popular Prius hybrid electric vehicles will feature a an optional solar roof using high efficiency solar cells from Kyocera Solar. Kyocera was chosen to supply the cells for the Prius based on their high energy yield, robust construction and long lifetime as demonstrated over the last 30 years. These cells are the same as those installed by Solar Horizon in most of our solar power systems, chosen for the same reasons.

The solar roof will run a temperature controlled fan that will moderate the internal temperature of the car when it is parked in the sun, keeping the inside of the car cool and reducing the need for air conditioning.

Full story: http://www.kyocerasolar.com/news/news_detail.cfm?key=605

Kyocera Supplies Photovoltaic Panels for Arizona 's Largest Customer-Owned Solar Energy Project

Kyocera Solar, Inc. today announced that it has provided the photovoltaic (PV) modules for Arizona 's largest customer-owned solar electric generating system – a 500-kilowatt installation on the roof of a distribution facility operated by The Gatorade Company, a division of Pepsico (PEP), in the city of Tolleson.

The system, installed by SPG Solar Inc., consists of 2,448 Kyocera KD205GX-LP 205-watt PV modules on the roof of a 797,000 square-foot structure. The system is expected to produce more than 783,000 kilowatt hours per year.

Full story: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=54600

Aguascalientes , Mexico : Wal-Mart Store Goes Solar

Wal-Mart Mexico successfully concluded the installation of a photovoltaic complex that will generate 20% of the energy used by Bodega Aurrera Aguascalientes.

Over 1,056 solar panels that were set up on the roof of the store will transform sun energy into electricity. The project, with 174 kW installed, is one of the largest photovoltaic complexes in Latin America, according to ANES (the Mexican Solar Energy Association), and will eliminate the emission of some 140 tons of CO2. ANES gave an award to Wal-Mart Mexico as recognition for this project.

Full story: http://www.solarbuzz.com/news/NewsNAPR1368.htm

Kaohsiung, Taiwan : Solar Sports Stadium Nears Completion

Construction on the new main stadium for the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan will be complete by the end of this year. The new, architecturally impressive sports arena is also Taiwan 's largest photovoltaic installation to date.

The Japanese architect Toyo Ito planned the ultra-modern stadium in accordance with the ecological requirements of a "Green Building." 8,844 solar panels on a surface area of 14,155m2 are integrated into the roof construction of the sports facility.

The unique solar roof, which emulates the form of a flowing river can, depending on the strength of the sunshine, cover 75% of the energy needs of the stadium which can hold 55,000 spectators. On days when no competitions are taking place, the electricity generated is fed into the grid.

Full Story: http://www.solarbuzz.com/news/NewsASPR212.htm

BIPV Market in Europe Showing Growth

The European Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) market is showing great investment and growth potential as it spreads through Europe, a recent Frost & Sullivan report shows.

Full story: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54591

TEPCO plans 10-MW solar plant to cut CO2 emissions

TOKYO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) (9501.T) said on Tuesday that it plans to build a 10-megawatt solar power plant in central Japan, as Asia's biggest utility works to meet targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUST11118820090127

NREL and SkyFuel Collaborate on Concentrating Solar Technology

For the next several months, National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) engineers will be testing the performance of SkyTrough, an innovative parabolic trough that is coated with a gleaming reflective skin instead of mirrored glass.

Full story: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54548