Welcome to the last week of August 2013! We have had some wonderful weather this week with solar systems starting produce some fantastic generation figures. This week has also brought around some great changes in the solar power industry with models done showing that switching to 100% renewables is not more expensive than staying with fossil fuels. Technology is getting more popular with sales of micro-inverters set in quadruple and solar starting to affect how we travel. With the election just around the corner, the Coalition has been scrutinized for its proposed cuts to the renewable energy sector.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has done some models to show the cost of going 100% renewable only to find that the cost is similar to that of staying with fossil fuels. What was once the main reason for not switching to renewable energy has now proven to be false. Some find it unbelieve that a model such as this has not been done before. Research by the CSIRO and the UNSW have also come up with similar statements. Making the switch might not cost us more but it will make us less susceptible to rising gas and coal prices. Not surprisingly, these research papers have been conveniently buried and not brought to the public eye. Click here to read the full article.

New research by the IHS has predicted the uptake of micro-inverters will quadruple between 2013 and 2017 to 2.1GW’s with the main reason being their increased generation and efficiency. Although they may be slightly more expensive than the normal string inverter, the micro-inverter enables increased power generation through shading issues, increased monitoring of each solar panel as well as higher safety with lower overall voltages being experienced. The majority of micro-inverters are used in the United States for residential solar power installations but the report also shows that shipments will increase worldwide with many commercial systems also opting for the newer technology. Click here to read the full article.

Solar power is now becoming more common and its full potential has still not yet been realized. They have already started to be used in campers and caravans but we are now seeing in them in vehicles and planes too.  A prototype plane is already making journeys from New York to San Francisco in 5 stages and hopes to be able to go further, more cheaply in 2014 and beyond. There has also been a solar powered tricycle built and currently covering bigger and bigger distances. Click here to read the full article.

With the election just around the corner, the Coalition is in the spotlight. They have already vowed to scrape the carbon tax (whether they know the implications that will have is anyone’s bet) as well as the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. However, shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has now announced that there will also be funding cuts to the independent renewable energy group ARENA. The group managed billions of dollars and allocates funding clean energy projects. How much funding will be cut has not yet been made clear but will apparently be released before the election. Click here to read the full article.

Have a great weekend everyone. Hope the sun is shining on your solar system all weekend!