This Week in Solar: Cheap Solar Deals, Coal to Solar, Australia’s First Power Microgrid, SA’s Electricity Prices Dropped Below Zero

1. Don’t let budget installers throw shade on your solar dreams

If you’ve been holding out on putting solar panels on your roof to curb your power bills, this might be the year to take the leap, depending on what happens after the Federal election. Right now there’s a Federal rebate along with various state rebates, which combined can more than halve the cost of a home solar installation.

2. Gupta advances plans to make niche electric cars in Australia by 2020

Chairman of mining and energy giant GFG Alliance Sanjeev Gupta is hatching a plan to create a niche electric car industry in Australia in collaboration with innovative UK automotive design company Gordon Murray Design.

3. Fremantle’s East Village goes off grid with own power, water

WA energy trading platform Power Ledger is collaborating with government in a sustainable community development in Fremantle, which has its own power and water microgrid and a shared on-site battery.

4. ‘Old energy, new energy’: Victoria’s former State Coal Mine site now runs on solar

A solar array and battery storage facility has opened on the site of Victoria’s former State Coal Mine in South Gippsland on the Bass Coast.

5. Daintree to Be Home to Australia’s First Power Microgrid

Power in the Daintree has taken a significant step forward with the announcement today that the Federal Government will help the Daintree Rainforest community establish Australia’s first solar to hydrogen-based micro grid.

6. Wind, solar push South Australia prices below zero for almost six hours

A combination of strong output from the state’s wind farms and its growing solar resources, coupled with low demand, pushed wholesale electricity prices in South Australia into negative territory for nearly six hours on Tuesday and for more half hour intervals on Wednesday.

7. $315 million Badgingarra Wind Farm officially opens

Western Australia’s Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Energy and Industrial Relations, Bill Johnston, officially opened APA Group’s Badgingarra Wind Farm (BWF) on 2 May 2019.

8. Renewable energy leaders welcome $75m cash injection Labor promise for sector

Labor leader Bill Shorten promised on Thursday to put $75 million towards building Australia’s renewable energy sector, which he said will create 70,000 jobs.

9. Wind and solar projects poised to lead Hunter’s clean energy transition

TWO renewable energy projects slated for the Upper Hunter are spearheading the region’s transition away from coal to a low-carbon economy.