This Week in Solar: Flexible Cells, Floating Arrays, No-Interest Solar Loans, Renewables in Australia and Increase in Solar Installation Subsidies

Here are some solar news stories you may have missed from this week. Click on the links to read these stories in more detail.

1. Solar Panel Technology in 2019: Flexible Cells and Floating Arrays

The Georgia Institute of Technology is researching a way to make cheaper, flexible solar cells while the U.S. started utilising solar arrays on water.

2. Solar Rebates and No-Interest Loans in NSW: Labor and Liberal Provide Energy Incentives for Voters

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on rebates and no-interest loans announced by Labor and Liberal governments in the lead up to the state election.

3. Everything You Need To Know About The Clean Energy Regulator’s Solar Panel Validation Initiative

In 2018 CER launched a new scheme called the Solar Panel Validation Initiative. Recently, CER released an article encouraging the remaining solar industry players to jump on board with the initiative.

4. NSW Labor pledges state-owned renewable energy company to power three million homes

A New South Wales Labor government would establish a state-owned renewable energy company to support the rollout of enough renewable energy to power more than three million homes across the state in the next decade.

5. Solar farms coming to Palmer, Rocky Gully as SA Water seeks cheaper power

The rapid expansion of the solar power industry in the Murraylands is about to continue, as SA Water plans to install tens of thousands of panels at its facilities around the region.

6. Tesla big battery is holding its own in a burgeoning energy storage market

The South Australian battery pockets $4m as the market looks to unlock multiple potential value streams.

7. Australia is Creating Renewable Energy Faster Than Other Countries and They’re Planting 1 Billion Trees to Boot

An exciting new piece of research claims that Australia is installing renewable energy faster than any other country – and on top of that, the government recently announced they are taking even more steps to reduce their national carbon footprint by planting one billion trees by 2050.

8. Australia adds 283 MW of renewables under RET in Jan 2019

Power plants with a combined capacity of 283 MW have secured accreditation under Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) in January 2019, bringing the total accredited capacity over the last three years to 4,757 MW.

9. Climate change farce: How every Australian household contributes $200 a year to those lucky enough to be able to afford to put solar panels on their roof

Subsidies to pay for solar panel installation are set to add almost $200 to power bills across Australia.

Updated on 27 Feb 2019: An item on ABC’s Media Watch debunks the the above article (number 9). Watch the video here.