It has been a good week for the solar power industry, especially in Queensland. Queensland already holds the most solar power systems installed in Australia so naturally, research has shown that we have spent the most on solar installations and technology. Research has also shown that Australia as a whole a reduced carbon emissions as a result of electricity generation by as much as 14 million tonnes. Latest information from last year has revealed that our REC solar panels have made the top 10 solar panel suppliers and yesterday we reported that Germany is to start subsidising solar power storage systems next month.

Figures released by the Clean Energy Council have shown that Queenslanders have spent $1.45 billion dollars on solar power systems and technology in the last two years, equivalent to $2 million per day! In this time, the number of solar power systems in the state has quadrupled to almost 300 000 systems installed. With further electricity price rises predicted as well as deadlines for approved applicants to install solar power coming to a close, Queensland is expected to continue to power ahead with no end in sight. Click here to read the full article. 

The Federal Government released its Australian National Greenhouse Accounts showing that our pollution from carbon emissions is on the decline. Australia’s electricity generation has always been our main contributor to our carbon pollution levels. However the Accounts show that our emissions from electricity generation have declined by 14 million tonnes last year. In fact, many of our coal fired stations also showed less emissions. The decline has been attributed more clean energy systems, including solar power systems, being installed across the country reducing the demand for fossil fuelled electricity. Some other sectors did show increases in emissions due to an increase in our economy, however Australia’s total emission still decreased by 0.2%. Click here to read the full article.

IMS Research released data from 2012 finding that REC solar panels came in at no. 9 in 2012’s top solar panel suppliers based on annual merchant shipments. The quality solar giant was the only Europe based solar panel company named in the top 10. Chinese solar company, Yingli, came in top after increasing its annual shipments by 43%. They were followed by First Solar and Trina Solar. With the key solar PV market expanding out of Europe, solar panel companies have to expand as well. They need a strong presence in many countries now in order to rank in the top 10 and have a successful business – not just in Germany and Italy as before. Click here to read the full article.

This week the German Government announced that it would start supporting new solar power storage systems as of the 1st of May this year. The state’s main bank, KfW, will provide €25 million funding for the first year of the two year incentive program providing around €660 per kilowatt of solar power capacity installed. With Germany starting the generous feed-in tariffs that made small scale solar power systems so popular around the world, one cannot help but hope this new incentive program will also take on around the world and provide more reasonable solar battery back-up system prices. Click here to read the full article.

Have a good weekend everyone! We look forward to welcoming you back to a short working week next week!