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ESC LAUNCHESBATTERYGUIDE
The
Australian Battery Guide
,
prepared by the Australian
Energy Storage Council (ESC), is
a framework designed to provide
guidance to the energy storage
industry and consumers while
formal Australian Standards are
being developed for the sector.
A spokesperson for the group
says it has to “manage energy
storage products and materials
to reduce their impact on the
environment and manage any
risks they may pose to human
health and safety.”
GSES has fitted out a purpose built
trailer with the equivalent of two
working systems for grid-connect
solar and grid-connect solar with
battery storage, to help its students
understand the growing market.
The trailer has also been fitted
with additional components that
must be used repetitively by
students as part of their practical
training and assessment.
The GSES trailer has been
equipped to be able to demonstrate
both standard grid connected PV
systems as well as AC- and DC-
coupled, grid connected PV systems
with battery storage. The trailer
has been equipped with lithium ion
and lead acid gel batteries, grid-
connect and multimode inverters,
switchgear, PV module system,
ballasted system and clip-type roof
mounting systems, etc.
Now that the GSES trailer is
temporarily based in Brisbane, these
courses will be regularly offered for
the next six months. In early 2017,
GSES will announce the expansion
of its grid connected PV, and grid
connected PV with batteries, mobile
practical training sessions to other
locations around Australia.
Continued growth in wind and solar
power picked up to cover lower-than-
average production from Australia’s
hydro power plants last year, delivering
an increase in the amount of Australia’s
electricity coming from renewable
energy, according to the
Clean Energy
Australia Report 2015
.
Clean Energy Council chief executive
Kane Thornton says although 2015
was a tough year for the Australian
renewable energy industry, it ended
with a lot of optimism as the sector
turned its eyes towards the future.
“Even though hydro power was down,
largely as a result of the historically
low rainfall in Tasmania, the proportion
of Australia’s electricity provided by
renewable energy increased in 2015
due to a good boost from wind and
solar power. Renewables delivered
14.6% of our electricity, enough to light
up the equivalent of approximately 6.7
million average homes,” he says.
“Eight major solar farms and five new
wind farms became operational last
year. Two of Australia’s three largest
solar power plants at Nyngan and
Broken Hill became operational in 2015,
while the other at Moree in northern
New South Wales was officially
launched in the early part of 2016.
“The industry is just under halfway
towards meeting the 2020 RET. We
will need a lot more projects to move
forward during the rest of this year
to meet the 2020 Renewable Energy
Target (RET), a $40 billion economic
opportunity that has the potential to
create more than 15,200 jobs.
“The good news is that investment
confidence continues to grow in 2016
and there are more than enough
projects either under construction or
with development approvals to meet
the target.
“Rooftop solar power continues to
shine on, as homes and businesses
recognise its potential to reduce energy
costs. With the continued reduction
of state feed-in tariffs, solar power
sales have dropped to lower but more
sustainable levels.
“More activity is expected throughout
this year and the future for Australian
renewable energy looks bright.”
GSESROLLSOUTMOBILE TRAINING FACILITY FORPVSYSTEMS
WINDANDSOLARSTEPUP TO INCREASEAUSTRALIA’SRENEWABLE POWER
Origin’s new Solar as a Service
allows companies to enjoy the
benefits of low cost solar energy
without having to make the capital
investment in the solar system.
According to the general
manager of Origin’s Solar and
Emerging Business, Phil Mackey,
the company’s Solar as a Service
offering “provides business with a
simple way to save money on their
energy bills by providing them with
access to low cost solar energy at a
lower price than they are presently
paying for their grid energy.
“Plus the business does not have
to pay for the system or worry
about ongoing maintenance as
Origin owns the system and looks
after all this. This option is ideal
for companies with unshaded
roof space, who plan to be in their
premises for the long term and
operate during the day.”
Under Solar as a Service
businesses can keep the same solar
electricity rate for up to 15 years,
protecting them against any possible
future electricity price hikes, or they
can choose a CPI indexed rate.
ORIGINLAUNCHES SAAS