A Practical Guide to PV Efficiency

At the end of June 2016, the world record for efficiency of rooftop solar modules was broken again: the US-based PV manufacturing company SunPower achieved an efficiency of 24.1% for a monocrystalline silicon-based PV panel, over 2% higher than the previous record. This news came shortly after the announcement earlier in the month of Hanwha […]

Residential energy storage: Are we ready?

The rise of residential batteries In the past year we have seen the first significant uptake of Grid Connected Battery (GCB) systems in Australia. In years gone by, batteries were used for standalone systems that were far from any poles and wires, i.e. in areas with no access to the electricity grid. However, we now […]

Configuring Battery Storage Products – Comparing Apples and Oranges?

The renewables market is currently being flooded with energy storage products to meet the increasing demand and hype for this technology. All of these products present a similar, well-scripted value proposition and all offer to deliver similar functionality. As a result, this rapid rush to market of these products and their advertising has created the […]

Standalone: Past, Present and Future

Stand Alone Photovoltaic (PV) systems are amongst the oldest of applications of photovoltaic systems and are a testament to photovoltaic technology’s ability to operate in the most extreme of conditions. They are typically used in isolated locations with low or no population, or in place of conventional grid infrastructure in less-developed regions. Standalone systems, as […]

Big solar’s ascendancy as coal slips in the popularity stakes. How ready is the Australian solar industry?

The Adani-owned Carmichael mega-mine inches ever so slowly towards a final approval amid falling coal prices and fierce community opposition. At the same time Adani has recently expressed interest in solar farms in South Australia and Queensland. What will the growth of Australia’s large scale solar sector be set to experience? The large scale solar […]

In 2016, Shouldn’t the DeLorean be Electric?

The DeLorean Motor Company announced last week that the iconic DeLorean DMC-12, best known as the time machine in the “Back to the Future’ series, will be back in production soon (CNBC, Jan 2016). The plan at the moment is to produce 300 replica cars using existing spare parts stock. Is this an opportunity missed […]

Hoverboards, Fires and Residential Battery Storage

The recent personal transportation device craze that is “self-balancing electric scooters” – a.k.a. hoverboards, have been all over the news recently, but for the wrong reasons. It seems these new toys, or more specifically the batteries used, have a tendency to unexpectedly catch fire in a range of situations. The fact that there have also […]

Professional Development for the Energy Storage Industry – Who needs it?

The ever increasing publicity and media surrounding ‘Energy Storage’ is promulgated by all sectors of the energy market: industry journalists, network operators, energy retailers, equipment retailers, wholesalers, system designers, and installers. What training is currently available for the energy storage industry? From GSES’ perspective, as an engineering consultancy and training company, the additional knowledge and […]

New CEC Endorsement Proposed for Grid Connected PV with Batteries: Training Requirements

New nationally recognised units of competency have been released in draft form setting out the knowledge and skills required for the design and installation of grid-connected PV systems with battery storage. The CEC has indicated that it will recognise completion of this training as an endorsement to Grid Connect PV Design and Installation accreditations: participants […]

Microgrid: A solution to the aging grid infrastructure

The business community and consumers are continually expressing their concern regarding climate change, energy security and the increasing price of electricity. Within these scenarios, renewable energy technologies increasingly present themselves as viable alternatives. With the increased penetration of renewable generation sources on the electricity network, the aging grid infrastructure can struggle to cope with the […]

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