Solar Progress March 2015

ISSN: 0729-6436

Sensational Solar Science Led by Martin Green UNSW strikes 40% cell efficiency

Positive Quality Industry steps up

SolarQuotes’ Market Intelligence Finn Peacock’s amazing insights

Grassroots realities Installer perspectives

03/15

Issue 1

Positive Quality – See story on pages 34 & 35

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR COUNCIL

Ex hi S b o 13 ition lar –1 an 2 d 0 4 Se M Co 15 a e n 18 pa y 2 fere 0 g -2 e 15 nc 2 s e

Raising the Bar on Quality

Contents Australian Solar Council Welcome from CEO and Industry Guest

2

Positive Thinking and Quality

34

Solar Council advocacy

36

Tribute to long-term Solar Progress Editor 46 Solar Council Corporate Members

49

Solar Gold and SolarPlus

50

Save Solar Heroes – a tribute

52

SOLAR 2015 Expo and Conference

Front cover: The Solar Council’s Continuous Positive Quality program is gaining momentum across Australia.

Image courtesy Finn Peacock, SolarQuotes

18

May 13-14 at MCEC What to expect and who to see at the industry’s own show

Solar Science Green Agenda: UNSW strikes 40% cell efficiency

10

Special features Market Intelligence: SolarQuotes’ unique insights

14

Installer perspectives

40

Energy Storage Council developments

23

Storage evolution, revolution

24

Turnbull test-drives Tesla

27

John Grimes on the rise of storage

28

10 14

18 40

Nigel Morris’s vision for storage and E-bikes 30

Market dynamics News and views

4

Saving Solar: State of play

7

Giles Parkinson on the rise of solar and storage

38

Projects and processes driven by ARENA and the CEFC

42

People and perspectives

44

Solar by numbers – State performances

45

30

SOLAR PROGRESS is published by the Australian Solar Council.

Solar Progress advertising, subscription and membership enquiries contact: Joanna Joustra Business Development Manager Phone: 0402 938 401 joanna@solar.org.au Storage Progress advertising and membership enquiries contact: Lorrae Ingham Phone: 0411 407 514 lorrae@energystorage.org.au

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Mitzi Mann

Solar Progress was first published in 1980.

The magazine aims to provide readers with an in-depth review of technologies, policies and progress towards a society which sources energy from the sun rather than fossil fuels.

Except where specifically stated, the opinions and material published in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Australian Solar Council. Although every effort is made to check the authenticity and accuracy of articles, neither the Solar Council nor the editors are responsible for any inaccuracy.

TECHNICAL PROOFREADER Sean Frost

Solar Progress is published quarterly. www.solar.org.au Solar Progress | 1

SOLAR PROGRESS EDITOR: Nicola Card editor@solar.org.au nicola@solar.org.au

AUSTRALIAN SOLAR COUNCIL CEO John Grimes PO Box 231 Mawson ACT 2607 admin@solar.org.au Phone: 1300 768 204 www.solar.org.au ABN 32 006 824 148

CONTRIBUTORS: Andrew Blakers, Martin Green, Nigel Morris, Giles Parkinson, Penny Parle, Finn Peacock, Sophie Vorrath.

And the never-ending review of the Renewable Energy Target is doing just that. With no bipartisan agreement, the Federal government has stopped big renewables dead. For the Prime Minister and his team RET uncertainty equals ‘tick, job done’.

But this same outcome is no bad thing for small-scale solar in Australia.

No agreement equals no change to the existing Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). No change to the 100 kW ceiling. No change to deeming. No change to the ceiling price.

Twelve months of no change to solar policy in Australia represents an unprecedented period of stability for our industry.

It’s time the industry saw the glass ‘half full’. Get on and sell solar PV and solar hot water. Sell solar to householders and businesses.

No change to the existing RET for small scale solar is also ‘tick, job done’ for small scale solar – so make the most of it.

John Grimes Chief Executive, Australian Solar Council Glass Half Full It is no secret that many in senior leadership positions in the federal government are committed to shutting down the renewable sector in Australia.

New Zealand and Pacific Solar Council Recently we were in New Zealand launching the New Zealand and Pacific Solar Council (NZPSC).

NZPSC will focus on training and standards, and open up business opportunities for its members throughout the Pacific.

If you would like to learn more please email anna@solar.org.au

Guest Editorial A renewable energy revolution is in progress. More Large-scale storage will also be required. Pumped than half of new electricity generation capacity hydroelectricity storage (PHES) constitutes 99 per cent worldwide is hydro, wind and photovoltaics, in of all storage around the world (>150 GW) because it approximately equal measure. South Australia is cheaper than alternatives. However, PHES is frequently procures 40 per cent of its electricity from wind and overlooked because of the misperception that Australia PV, Tasmania procures 100 per cent of its electricity is “flat” and “arid”. In fact, Australia has hundreds of from hydro and wind, and the ACT is on track to excellent sites outside national parks and away from reach 90 per cent renewable electricity by 2020. rivers, comprising pairs of closely-spaced small reservoirs Achievement of Australia’s 2020 Renewable Energy separated by a height difference of 400 to 1000 metres.

Target equates to procuring 27 per cent of our Water is pumped uphill when wind and sun is electricity from renewables. available, and the energy is recovered at a later time Storage on both small and large scale will by water flow through a turbine. In a closed system be important to achieve high (50-100 per cent) the same water goes round the cycle several times per renewable electricity penetration of energy markets. day, with only a small top up to replace evaporation Professor Andrew Blakers The levelised cost of PV electricity from domestic required. A pair of 10 hectare, 30 metres deep, reservoirs rooftops in Australia is about 9 c/kWh (including separated by 750 metres can deliver 1000 MW for five renewable energy certificates, and using the mortgage rate as the discount hours. A dozen such systems could stabilise a 100 per cent renewable rate). This compares with the PV feed-in tariff (4-8 c/kWh), the domestic Australian electricity grid at modest cost. electricity tariff (25-30 c/kWh) and the domestic gas tariff (10-15 c/kWh after 30 per cent losses).

Professor Andrew Blakers is Director of the Centre for Sustainable Energy Local storage, coupled with energy management, allows maximisation Systems at the ANU Research School of Engineering. He is the first of our of self-consumption. PV-driven heat pumps provide storage in hot water guest presenters on this page. tanks, heat stores and the building fabric to eliminate gas. Batteries, although relatively expensive, allow PV electricity to be stored for the morning and evening. A 1 kW PV panel on a house roof can drive an electric car 5-10,000 kilometres each year at a cost of about 1 cent per km.

Similar storage strategies can be used in commercial buildings.

Printed using FSC® mixed source certified fibre by Printgraphics Pty Ltd.

2 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

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Local and global news Big solar just got bigger All being well Australia’s biggest and most ambitious solar plant, AGL Energy’s 102 MW Nyngan PV plant will be generating electricity before Easter and its co-project plant 53 MW Broken Hill solar plant will

become active before Christmas. These plants which together dwarf the ACT’s still mighty 20 MW Royalla plant have been partly funded by state and federal governments.

The part complete AGL Energy Nyngan PV plant which ARENA helped fund

Kirribilli coverage Four days, 12 solar panels: the impressive result of crowd-funding by Christians and everyday Australians to show support for a strong Renewable Energy Target.

The proposed beneficiary? Kirribilli House on Sydney Harbour.

“The solar panels are a gift for the nation, from the nation, to symbolise public support for a clean energy future,” said Reverend Dr Michael Frost.

PV performance measures The PV Performance Laboratory at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle is a new facility that offers a measurement service for PV cell performance according to the standards set out by the International Electrotechnical

Commission. It is the first and only facility in the Southern Hemisphere to hold accreditation for this measurement.

Stay tuned for more information in June Solar Progress.

“We know that 89 per cent of Australians support a strong Renewable Energy Target. By giving solar panels to Kirribilli House, Christians are adding their voice to a chorus of Aussies who want to see a vibrant renewables industry. Our message to the Prime Minister is: don’t knock renewables until you’ve tried them.”

Buoyant solar energy

Zen move

Work is underway in the sunny state of SA for an alternative rooftop solar farm with Infratech positioning panels so they float on wastewater.

The cooling effect of the water enables greater efficiency and slower evaporation rates which in turn helps contain blue green algae by preventing photosynthesis.

Plans are underway to develop Australia’s largest rooftop PV system: a 3 MW plant atop Mitsubishi’s old factory in Adelaide. The plant is now home to a host of high-tech businesses including high-profile Zen Energy Systems which will manage the development that will be funded and owned by Origin Energy.

Located in the north centre of SA the Jamestown plant will provide sufficient energy for its adjacent wastewater treatment facility, with excess diverted to the nearby township.

Infratech has developed a similar facility in France and South Korea but this is a first for Australia.

A greener kind of tree Have you heard of the eTree? The ecological sculpture resembles a real tree but the “canopy” consists of transparent solar panels that produce energy.

Designed and produced in Israel by Sol-Logic, the eTree provides a shaded recreation area, a cold-water drinking fountain, Free WiFi, a docking station to charge smartphones and tablets, outlets for electrical appliances and computer monitor enabling visitors to chat with friends located at other eTrees.

The eTree is now available in Australia.

Guy Inbar of DifferenThinking said: “Over the next 12 months, we expect to see over 20 eTrees “planted” around Australia - everywhere

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from schools, public parks, universities, new residential developments and resorts.

Australia’s dry climate and latitude makes solar art like the eTree a perfect fit.”

ASM MONEY SALES

MARKETING

FINANCE

Local and global news RE’s bright score card Earlier this year the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) gained significant attention announcing that across the globe most renewable energy technologies have reached parity or dropped below the cost of fossil fuels while limiting local pollution, environmental damage and ill-health.

The report Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2014 also concluded that with PV module costs falling 75 per cent since 2009 and the cost of electricity from utility-scale solar PV falling 50 per cent since 2010, PV was leading cost decreases.

Grass is greener …

German think tank Agora Energiewende CEO Dr Patrick Graichen states: “There’s no end to the cost decline in photovoltaics …within the next ten years photovoltaics will become, in many regions of the world, the cheapest source of electricity.

‘Where in the future will we have cheap and clean energy? … Those countries in the world with a lot of sun and with stable investment

conditions … You see a lot of solar projects are now coming up in the Gulf, in New Mexico, California, Texas, but Australia is lacking in that concept.”

Germany boasts 40 GW of PV installations which provides 6 per cent of electricity production.

Australia boasts an unlimited supply of sunshine.

Printed cells get a boost University of Melbourne researchers claim their discovery of the highly sought-after ‘nematic liquid crystals’ can boost the performance of printable organic solar cells.

Lead author Dr David Jones says the cells will be easier to manufacture, with the new crystals

Thumbs up to: • Queensland’s new Labor Government which in the lead-up to the state election waved its nine page policy document supporting solar energy and renewables in general. (See State of Play on following pages.)

• Victoria’s new Labor Government for preparing a Renewable Energy Action Plan and guidelines for its $20 million “new energy jobs fund”. Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio: “We’re seeing many communities coming up with plans to make renewable energy part of their

Please keep us up-to-date on your company developments by including us on your circulation list: editor@solar.org.au

6 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

able to work in cells that are double in thickness on the previous limit of 200 nanometres. “We have improved the performance of this type of solar cell from around 8 per cent efficient to 9.3 per cent, finally approaching the international benchmark of 10 per cent,” he said.

Eiffel Tower gets the point of renewables In addition to two on-site wind turbines that will produce 10,000 kilowatt hours annually, the Eiffel Tower now features a newly installed solar hot water system that will supply approximately 50 per cent of the water heating needs of the first two levels.

Melbourne City Commercial building owners and tenants in Melbourne City have until mid June to apply for commercial solar rebates worth up to $4000 each.

Russell French of the CoM Sustainability Branch explained that as a part of achieving Zero Net Emissions by 2020 the City of Melbourne was offering 18 solar rebates which reduce building running costs and combat rising electricity prices, provide high return on investment and reduce environmental impact.

Email: solar@melbourne.vic.gov.au Phone: 03 9658 8758

everyday life … projects including solar energy schemes are staging a revival.”

Thumbs down to: • Environment Minister Greg Hunt for stating 15 per cent of the 1.3 million rooftop systems in Australia are “substandard” and 3.9 per cent “unsafe”.

Solar Council CEO John Grimes was quick to accuse Hunt of trying to “kill the industry” and pointed out the industry regulator had confirmed there was no systemic issue over safety in rooftop PV. He declared Hunt’s comments a “politically motivated scare campaign” against solar and called for the minister’s resignation.

Nigel Morris of SolarBusinessServices (and consultant to the Clean Energy Council) said he wasn’t aware of any statistics that showed a widespread problem, saying “Is the industry perfect? Absolutely not. Do we occasionally have quality issues with product and installations?

Yes, we do... [yet] there is evidence to say it is not endemic.”

Thought of the day Laurie Zoloth of Northwestern University in Chicago characterises climate change as an ethical issue. “The greater share of the expected climate change will fall on the shoulders of those who barely contributed to it … if we know we are harming others, even distant others, we have a duty to do wherever we can to try to avoid this harm. Talks in Paris in December 2015 are critical [and possibly] the last chance to create policies to avert some aspects of the crisis.”

State of play One year on and industry remains in limbo due to the unresolved outcome of the RET Review. But it’s not all bad; industry and finance sector initiatives are on the rise, as are state-led solar programs.

The renewables industry faces lingering uncertainty as deliberations over the RET review fail to reach consensus or conclusion.

In mid March Industry Minister Macfarlane’s offer to industry was to accept a target no higher than 31,000 GW with a guarantee of no further reviews until 2020, alternatively to leave the existing 41,000 GWh target in place. No one believed the Minister was serious in calling for the current scheme to remain in place.

For its part, at the time of printing, Labor steadfastly refused anything below 35,0000 GW hours - which in any event is unrealistically low – with Shadow Environment Minister Mark Butler rejecting the offer of compromise on the RET on the basis it would ruin the industry. And with a high rooftop solar component the large-scale component would have been even lower. “The process is doing nothing to restore investor confidence or Supply Partners Ad 09-03-15 copy.pdf 1 3/10/2015 10:39:34 PM

the security of thousands of jobs in the sector,” Butler said.

Solar Council CEO John Grimes addresses the Springwood Save Solar Forum And so we are faced with status quo, no agreement means the SmallScale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), the 100 kW ceiling and deeming remain in place – which is no bad thing for small-scale development says Solar Council Chief Executive John Grimes.

He has called on the solar industry to see the positives and get on with the business of selling PV and hot water systems to householders and businesses. “No change to the existing RET for small scale solar - make the most of it,” he states, conceding however that large-scale sector struggles on, and that “With no bipartisan agreement, the Federal government has stopped big renewables dead.”

His words are echoed by The Australia Institute which points out that large potential investment in solar relies on a stable, strong large-scale RET and that “If large-scale solar is to be built in Australia, the RET is integral.”

Save Solar

Shadow Environment Minister Mark Butler addresses a Queensland Save Solar Forum Solar campaign. The Solar Council rallied the troops to again fight hard on all fronts.

Joining forces with local solar companies, the Queensland Council of Unions, Queensland Conservation Council and GetUp! the campaign targeted marginal seats across the State and addressed packed-out Save Solar Forums in Townsville, Springwood and Redcliffe, home to marginal seats. The extensive Save Solar social media campaign included newspaper and TV adverts, extensive TV and radio coverage.

Result!

John Grimes stated “Queensland Labor has shown real vision … the election result was a huge win for solar families and solar companies across the State [and] another reminder Australians will not support anti-solar political parties. It is time the Prime Minister drops his anti-solar ideology.”

Change of climate

State initiatives

In its report released late last year The Climate Change Authority called on the government to consider the role of the RET beyond 2020, with particular regard to increasing and extending targets, and expanding coverage to a wider set of technologies. Given the current political climate the Authority has not a snowflake’s chance … but no harm in presenting strong evidence-based rationale.

As one insider told Solar Progress “Our only hope is that there is a change of leadership … the Prime Minister’s dislike of solar runs deep and despite a verbal commitment to start listening to the troops he’s unlikely to vary his deep seated, pro-fossil fuel ideology. Any change in leadership would be good.”

Abbott’s assault on solar and renewable energy was matched only by the now dumped and relegated-to-the-history-books Campbell Newman: “the most anti-solar Premier in Australia’s history and who called for the Renewable Energy Target to be abolished”. Under his reign Queensland’s 44-cent solar feed-in tariff was abolished as was the subsequent 8-cent solar feed-in tariff. Electricity bills rose by around $440 annually, clean energy programs were axed as “... redundant carbon schemes are a luxury Queensland just can’t afford” and the Solar Bonus Scheme phased-down.

By stark contrast – and keeping up with the mood of the electorate - then opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk and fellow candidates strategically waved a detailed nine-page solar energy policy. The smart strategy reflected the profile and popularity of the solar industry and listed a target for a million solar rooftops in Queensland by 2020 and a review to determine a fair price for grid feed-in plus a trial 40 MW renewable energy auction. Export opportunities are to be explored along with the provision of electricity in remote areas.

And in a historic election result Queenslanders turned away in droves from the incumbent Premier to produce one of the most astonishing turnarounds in recent times. Labor clawed back from just nine seats to 45 enabling it to get on with its pro-solar, job-generating agenda.

Referring to the RET Review and repeal of the Carbon Pricing Mechanism the Climate Council laments the regressive national agenda but on the flip side says “the roles and opportunities for Australian states and territories to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding renewable energy should not be underestimated … statebased actions [can] stimulate highly effective policy measures.”

Most states are indeed adopting pro-renewable agendas. Take a look at the popularity of PV in South Australia and the state’s ambitions to reach 50 per cent renewable energy by 2025 (a significant slab of which will be driven by solar); note the ACT’s intention to achieve 90 per cent renewables by 2020; take heart from Queensland’s strong solar agenda; be reassured by Victoria’s pro-renewables new Labor government. For its part the Liberal led NSW government favours solar and having already taken some steps would like to do more but is constrained by federal colleagues.

A series of initiatives are also underway in the finance sector. Banks are partnering the CEFC to provide a string of schemes designed to provide attractive deals for clean energy finance. Costly commercial PV installations are now within reach, driving growth and driving down emissions, and “Providing opportunities for investors to support the acceleration of clean energy technology uptake,” as CEFC CEO Oliver Yates said.

AGL and Origin Energy are reshaping their business models to invest more in renewables, with AGL establishing a New Energy division. The City of Melbourne is offering commercial solar rebates. The greening of Sydney City is hailed on the world stage. ARENA is pushing ahead on big picture R&D with commercialisation in mind.

The federal government may be attempting to stall action but solar installations are – well let’s just say sunny side up.

The trump card is yet to be played: solar energy coupled with storage will propel the industry to new heights. Homeowners and businesses are already doing the maths and figuring what suits them best. They will not be waiting for the federal government to change course. Instead the vast majority recognise the imperative for a renewables-led future. And they love solar.

Clean Energy Independence Day – bring it on.

Forums Save Solar Newly elected Premier Palaszczuk hailed the Solar Council for its “pivotal role” in her party’s victory enacted through the carefully staged Save

8 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

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Solar science

Green agenda Martin Green has earned the title ‘Father of photovoltaics’ due to his long-term commitment toward PV advances. The driver of the world’s highest efficiency silicon solar cells and several successful spin-off companies is no newcomer to toppling records and late last year his team took a quantum leap by striking 40 per cent cell efficiency. Here Professor Green who has guided successive generations of aspirational students outlines the potential for the latest breakthrough and reflects on solar’s past and future.

Someone recently dubbed Martin Green of UNSW “a perfect example of how Australian innovation and ingenuity can have an enduring impact around the world. ”Few would disagree. Since the early 1970s he has driven a series of significant advances in solar cell efficiency that have cemented the university’s reputation as a global leader in the science of PV, and supervised numerous PhD-qualified graduates and solar entrepreneurs who are now spearheading commercial and scientific developments across the globe.

Way back in 1985 it was a highly focused Green team that successfully struck the first ever 20 per cent cell conversion efficiency, which captured global attention as well as admiration.

But in late 2014 he smashed that record by setting a new world high 40 per cent conversion efficiency for sunlight into electricity, as verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The UNSW research team used commercial solar cells “in a new way” and key to the prototype’s design is the use of a custom optical bandpass filter to capture sunlight that is normally wasted by commercial solar cells on towers and converting it to electricity at a higher efficiency than the solar cells themselves ever could.

This use of focused sunlight is particularly relevant to PV power towers being developed in Australia.

The next step of the project which was funded by ARENA and supported by the Australia-US Institute for Advanced PV is to progress from

Project manager Dr Mark Keevers on the roof of the UNSW Tyree Energy Technology Building testing the optical bandpass filter and conversion rates

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prototyping to pilot scale demonstrations. The achievement gets to the heart of ARENA’s mandate; CEO Ivor Frischknecht is a fervent supporter of more efficient commercial solar plants that make renewable energy cheaper and increase its competitiveness. Industry now keenly awaits developments.

Martin Green told Solar Progress the likelihood of pilot scale demonstrations in the near term was “Quite good … commercial partner RayGen Resources has a strong interest in the highest possible efficiencies for their systems, where they already have a lead.

“RayGen plans to complete a 10 MW PV power tower system in China during 2016. This will not use the new technology but systems further down the track may, if the development proceeds as well as expected. The strongest interest in concentrator PV systems is coming from China, USA, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, but I imagine the first demonstration would be here in Australia,” he explained.

We wondered when the ‘leap’ to 40 per cent efficiency was likely to become a reality, an affordable technology that translates into a readily available commodity at commercial scale.

“Our initial evaluation shows a clear economic advantage,” Green said.

“A solid investment would be required for its commercialisation which, in the best of cases, could occur by 2018.“

Easy as Apfelstrudel.

Alexander G., product manager at Bosch Power Tec

For us it’s the details that make the difference.

At Bosch we like to think: What would make your life easier? So our new BPT-S string inverters can be setup easily and fast with a unique RFID “e.Key” card and work with touchless gesture control for easy and reliable operation. The “hard facts” are convincing too: High efficiency rates, up to 2 MPP trackers, and an integrated data logger, just to name a few.

Taking it further, we introduce the BPT-S 5 Hybrid. It combines high efficiency inverter technology and lithium-ion batteries to store the power generated by the solar system.

That’s technology made by Bosch. Read more at bosch-power-tec.com or bosch-solar-storage.com

Solar science

Powering ambition Amazingly, despite marked differences in configurations the high conversion level of the sun-tracking system has triggered thoughts of spin-offs.

“The 40 per cent result for a sun-tracking system has got us thinking about how we might do something similar for a normal non-tracking, flat plate solar module such as used on Australian rooftops,” the Scientia Professor said. “We have plans to increase the best performance for such a module from 24 per cent to 30 per cent during 2015.”

How’s that for solar progress?

Pushing towards improved conversion efficiency is important for any photovoltaic technology, both academically and commercially, he says.

UNSW has gained a lead by harnessing curiosity and brainpower.

“We shot away from the field during the 1990s when we built up a critical mass of very competent researchers at UNSW. We are expecting another burst of activity as we hone in the approach giving us 40 per cent efficiency and apply similar ideas to the standard flat-plate modules,” said Green who in 2000 was pivotal to introducing the world’s first undergraduate degree in PV engineering.

“There’s a real buzz among the young researchers, because they can see what they are doing might make a real impact on the world. We tend to attract the brightest and most mature of the students entering university who’ve given some thought to what they really want to do with their lives.”

Results driven agenda Reflecting on four decades of solar science Martin Green nominated the team’s top technological milestones as the first demonstration of a 20 per cent efficiency silicon cell in 1985, followed by the first conversion of sunlight to electricity with efficiency above 20 per cent in an operational

UNSW Scientia Professor Martin Green: A lifetime of solar progress Martin Green is Scientia Professor at the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW and Director of the Australian National Energy Agencysupported Centre for Advanced Martin Green Photovoltaics. He was formerly has been at the a Director of CSG Solar, a helm of solar cell company formed specifically to developments for more than four decades commercialise the University’s thin-film, polycrystalline-siliconon-glass solar cell.

He recently co-authored a book on solar power with Lady Mary Archer in which world leading scientists detailed different cell technologies. Green penned the first two chapters: Limits to Photovoltaic Energy Conversion Efficiency and Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells. He has authored six other books on solar cells and numerous papers. International awards include the 1999 Australia Prize Green (along with his partner in scientific leadership Dr Stuart Wenham), the 2002 Right Livelihood Award (“the Alternative Nobel Prize”), the 2004 World Technology Award for Energy and the 2007 SolarWorld Einstein Award. NSW Scientist of the Year (inaugural) Award in 2010.

Prototype mechanical design: a custom optical bandpass filter captures sunlight that is normally wasted by commercial solar cells PV system in 1989, using sun-tracking and concentrated sunlight. The team subsequently demonstrated the first flat-plate photovoltaic module to exceed 20 per cent efficiency (in 1993) and the first 25 per cent efficient silicon solar cell in 2008. And then the mighty 40 per cent rate in 2014.

Key commercial milestones include the commercialisation of buried contact cell technology by BP Solar in the 1990s, “Pluto” technology

by Suntech in 2009 and the imminent transitioning of the whole PV manufacturing industry to PERC cell technology they invented and named in the 1980s.

Former students, led by Dr Zhengrong Shi, have spearheaded the manufacturing transition that has produced the dramatic decrease in PV prices over the past five years that is revolutionising the energy industry.

“With help from our team, Zhengrong showed how top-quality cells could be successfully manufactured in China, stimulating the movement of the manufacturing industry to Asia, from regions of the world where cell production was never going to be cheap,” Green explained.

“Just about all the major PV manufacturers have, or had at critical stages of their development, our former students as CTO or in other senior technical positions so I think we can legitimately claim a major role in this transition.”

Home grown innovation Martin Green maintains there are very real opportunities for Australia to become the technological and educational hub for photovoltaics in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We retain our technological lead with our strong industry connections ensuring our research is focused on the real needs of the industry.

Moreover, due to our initiative in establishing an engineering degree in photovoltaics at UNSW, we have the largest and strongest educational programs in photovoltaics of any university worldwide. Many of our present students have already come from overseas specifically to study photovoltaics at UNSW. “The stability of the Australian workforce also provides a rationale for companies to locate their research headquarters here since this removes many of the issues involved in unwanted technology and know-how diffusion due to staff moving between different companies.

Continues on page 48

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ReneSola Powering World-Class Medical Research ReneSola Virtus II (PID-Free) solar panels were installed at the prestigious Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research (WMIMR) At ReneSola we believe that access to renewable energy is for everyone. The WMIMR building, located in the Westmead Hospital Precinct, was opened by Prime Minister Abbot and Premier Baird in October 2014, and is a centre of world-class medical research.

We had the opportunity to power up its facilities with renewable power from the sun, so that more funding can go towards important and lifesaving medical advancements.

PID FREE

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Market intelligence

Finn Peacock is privy to high voltage solar intelligence

SolarQuotes is a well-known name in the industry. Here we talk to the ‘brains trust’ and founder Finn Peacock who logs and clocks trends in the uptake of solar energy and notes what customers tend to not know (which is a fair bit) to reveal more than a few interesting facts and figures.

The solar industry has one strong ally in SolarQuotes whose mission is to help Aussies buy solar for their homes or business. Founder Finn Peacock who characterises SolarQuotes as “a kind of love letter to solar panels” says the SolarQuotes Facebook posts alone get about a million impressions a week. Little wonder More than 200,000 Aussies have used SolarQuotes to get quotes for solar which translates into tens of thousands of conversions.

Scoring 500,000 page views a month SolarQuotes boasts more than 15,000 genuine reviews of solar installers, solar panels and inverters and the website presents a series of articles and blog posts presented in downto-earth terms and with liberal doses of humour.

Given this scale of solar involvement, Finn is strongly positioned to collect and collate significant levels of information that reveals a fair bit about consumer purchase patterns, and here he generously shares his knowledge with readers of Solar Progress. But first we asked Finn about his impressions of the market in recent times.

“We’ve seen the booms and busts (the ‘solar coaster’) that the rest of the industry has seen. All driven by government policy whether it is the federal rebate being changed or the state FiTs,” he said. “The last boom was in early 2014 when Abbott announced the RET Review. It really looked for a while as if he would scrap the STC scheme and a lot of people jumped into solar back then in case he carried out his veiled threats.

“The past six months has really steadied with lower yet steadier volumes.

This enables us to concentrate on medium term strategies to grow instead of just fire fighting the peaks and valleys.”

SolarQuotes’ growth depends on many aspects including a strong marketing strategy and the team has spent six years building up their Adwords account into “a very optimised machine”, and successfully targets the market through organic Google searches gains.

14 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

Meantime prospective installers undergo a full credit and director check, and products and company website reviews are checked. Not all cut the mustard; hundreds of companies have been turned away in the name of providing a robust service said Finn, who is fully tuned in to the complexities involved in navigating the solar power market and appreciates how daunting it can be for prospective purchasers.

“For example few understand how to quantify savings from selfconsumption or know the difference between a solar hot water panel and a PV panel,” he said.

“Don’t assume even the most basic solar knowledge in your customers.

That is not an insult to the public. Why should they know the difference between a kW and a kWh or Gross and Net metering? Some installers are probably losing a lot of sales because they make big assumptions about customers’ knowledge of solar and its payback.”

Sage solar advice Finn lists the top ten myths among solar energy novices: 1) The 6-8c feed-in tariff is gross 2) They can’t change their electricity retailer once they have installed PV 3) That the term “rebate” also describes the feed-in tariff 4) There is no solar rebate any more 5) They have to buy the most efficient solar panel 6) They will get 5 kW of power from a 5 kW solar system 7) A 5 kW solar system will output 5 kWh (thinking kWs are interchangeable with kWh) 8) If you use 20 kWh per day a 5 kW system will give you a $0 bill because it will produce 20 kWh per day average.

9) If a system has a simple payback of six years, they will be losing money for the first six years (they haven’t analysed the cash flows!)

Market intelligence

10) T hey need to find the money for the solar system upfront or use expensive finance. (Most folks can put it on their mortgage at 4 to 5 per cent and be in front from month one.) This also often takes priceshopping out of the deal. If a good quality system is only $1-2 per week extra, why get the inferior one?

“Make sure your sales process explains each of these misunderstandings and you’ll get the trust of the customer and a lot more sales,” Finn advises. “Assume nothing about customers’ solar or electrical or financial experience. And be aware that people want reassurance that the panel manufacturer is a good one. A Tier 1 ranking from a reputable source gives them that peace of mind.”

The solar savvy entrepreneur also notes a surge in people looking to divert excess solar to their hot water cylinders so that they can maximise self-consumption and he strongly recommends installers offer a device on every sale. And because people are keen to monitor their behind-themeter consumption so they can properly evaluate the savings, Finn highly recommends installing an energy monitor for the purpose then following up three months down the track and “walking them through their real savings”.

He’s keen on microinverters: “When the public reads about their pros and cons, most are keen to get micros if the cost difference is not too great,” and he’s a strong believer in grid connect (or hybrid solar).

From coals in Newcastle to the sunny path of SolarQuotes Finn launched SolarQuotes in early 2009 “back when a 1 kW system cost $10,000 and residential solar systems were rarer than rocking horse poo.”

He previously worked is Newcastle as an Advanced Control Engineer optimising the speed of coal being loaded onto ships for export but it did not sit well with his conscience. “The sheer scale of the mines and coal loading terminals that I worked on blew me away, with every lump of coal contributing to climate change, it’s bloody scary … [I later had] a ‘renewable energy’ epiphany during a wind turbine project and decided to find a way that might in some small way contribute to the solution, rather than be part of the problem.

During a subsequent stint in CSIRO’s renewable energy division commercialising renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies he learned more about solar power and “quickly came to realise that solar was going to be huge in Australia, with prices of panels falling, their efficiencies rising and grid electricity getting more and more expensive.”

He also realised people craved independent advice on solar systems and reassurances that quoted prices were reasonable, hardware was good quality and installation safe. Settling with his young family in Adelaide he invested $100 in “a few good solar books” and set out to make a website that answered people’s questions about solar in an easy reading, straightforward and occasionally funny way. He also devised a form with some free software where people could ask for quotes.

He recalls one group selling a $10,000 system for $25,000. “There was an urgent need for people to get multiple quotes from honest installers and so this website was born and since then it has grown to become the most popular independent solar site in Australia.“ Working alongside Finn is his wife Chantal and technical wizard John who built and maintains the IT systems that run SolarQuotes. The balance of the small team works from their home offices in Sydney, Katoomba, Portugal, Maui and Romania.

And in case you are wondering, Finn and family live in a straw bale house topped with a 6 kW solar system. Their power bill averages $33.

16 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

Key market trends: What consumers want (numbers from a sample size >50,000 which provides confidence that they reflect the general public’s preferences) Off Grid/ Remote Area System

Battery Storage System (quite expensive!)

Microinverters

Finance/ Payment Plan

Jan-14

2.90%

3.28%

2.29%

32.59%

Feb-14

3.46%

4.08%

2.46%

33.08%

Mar-14

3.37%

3.35%

2.61%

30.93%

Apr-14

3.04%

3.60%

3.26%

30.66%

May-14

4.19%

4.95%

4.08%

29.97%

Jun-14

3.68%

4.09%

3.17%

29.16%

Jul-14

3.82%

5.28%

3.07%

30.38%

Aug-14

3.58%

5.46%

4.52%

29.74%

Sep-14

2.94%

4.71%

4.30%

27.92%

Oct-14

2.64%

4.05%

3.77%

27.46%

Nov-14

2.00%

4.63%

3.41%

28.51%

Dec-14

1.59%

4.47%

3.85%

31.21%

Jan-15

2.92%

5.11%

4.38%

30.12%

“I think the grid is an amazing asset that has already been built with a lot of embodied energy, and I think we should use it. Just because it is owned by corporations we don’t like – that doesn’t mean we should shun it. I advise city dwellers to stay on the grid so they can share their excess solar with their neighbours. If you have a grid connection at your door – use it. If you can get an almost zero bill with a large grid connected system, why go off grid?”

Market trends identified by SolarQuotes The table summarises key findings; here Finn elaborates on some aspects: • The average system size shot up to 3 kW soon after the STC multiplier ended now it’s around 5 kW. “People want bigger but grid connection rules are keeping the average size just below 5 kW.” • People asking for finance is 30 per cent and falling.

“I personally think that the rush to ‘innovative’ financing is not needed.

Most people buying solar own their homes and they can easily add $10,000 to the mortgage at 4 to 5 per cent interest. This is the cheapest money available and is simple and low risk.”

• Back in January 2014 just 2 per cent of people asked for micro inverters; one year on the figure is 4.4 per cent.

“Small but doubling in 12 months, and at that growth rate microinverters will comprise two thirds of the market within four years.”

• In January 2014 3.3 per cent of people asked for batteries (hybrid) and one year on it has almost doubled to 5.1 per cent.

“Again small but fast growing. Off grid requests are steady at three per cent and 15 per cent of people [in a sample size over 50,000] want to buy Solar Hot Water with their PV system. All PV installers should cater to these people as they generally are serious about low bills and don’t mind spending to do it! PV technicians who don’t want to do the installs could partner with a hot water business.”

For more information – and a great yarn – about the road to SolarQuotes visit http://www.solarquotes.com.au/about-us.html Stay tuned: SolarQuotes is soon launching a directory of solar installers who are happy to go into schools to talk about solar energy. To participate contact finn@solarquotes.com.au

6 Installers. 5 Days. 1 Unforgettable Experience.

10-15 September 2015 - California, USA

Explore the Frontier of Energy Management Technology with Enphase Energy’s Leading Visionaries.

Two representatives from each of three top-performing solar installer companies from across Australia and New Zealand will converge in San Francisco, California, for an unforgettable experience. Be our VIP guest with a personal tour through the inner-workings of Enphase Energy’s Global Headquarters in Petaluma. Enjoy wine tasting in the world-renowned Wine Country of Sonoma and Napa Valley. And finally, we’ll fly you to Los Angeles for North America’s largest trade show, Solar Power International 2015.

Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in the hub of solar innovation, and to discover how Enphase is Powering What’s Next™.

Find out more at www.enphase.com/au/dreaming Terms & Conditions apply, please see www.enphase.com/au/dreaming for details.

This competition only applies to installers buying through distribution partners across Australia and New Zealand.

E E FR O T ND E T AT Proudly presented by

Wednesday May 13 and Thursday May 14, 2015 at the MCEC at 2 Clarendon St, South Wharf

5 3r d An n u al E x h i b i t i o n a nd C o nf e r e nce

What’s on offer • A hall full of industry exhibitors and stands showcasing: Leading solar panels and inverters, solar hot water and solar heating, installer expertise, battery makers and solar storage, electric vehicles, LED lighting and low energy appliances, specialist building materials, renewable energy trading agencies, higher education providers, research posters and more • Energy Storage Council conference and pavilion co-located with Solar 2015 for delegates’ convenience • Industry and Policy sessions: Gain insights from policy makers and prominent industry specialists and scientists who shape, drive and influence solar energy advances in Australia and across the world • Professional Development and Training: Presented by leading, long-term and highly regarded solar specialists.

Note: Session attendees gain CPD points.

Solar 2015 is proudly sponsored by

“The energy revolution is here, the bright future for solar energy is inevitable … the sun is truly shining on a world set to capture its solar energy as never before ...”

Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne

Who will attend 4 PV Installers (commercial, residential, large scale) 4 Policy makers 4 Builders, electricians, architects 4 Consultants 4 Bureaucrats 4 Local and Global RE specialists, leaders 4 Trainers 4 Media

Now Featuring the Energy Storage Conference

R E G I S T E R N O W AT

www.solar2015.com.au

Featuring Energy Storage • Emerging ingenuity: a glimpse of the near future, the exciting and enticing world of energy independence • ESC Conference co-located with Solar 2015 for delegates’ convenience • A dedicated exhibition zone showcasing technology that transforms the energy sector • The latest and best storage technology solutions • Networking and business opportunities • Free to attend For further details on the ESC Conference see page 23, email Lorrae@energystorage.org.au or visit www.energystorage.org.au

“Solar power is an unstoppable force and all serious players will gather at the Australian Solar Council’s Solar 2015 to see, learn or present the latest developments in our fast-paced, game-changing industry.”

Your Solar 2015 contacts: Kirsty: 0411 415 442

kirsty@solar.org.au Sharon: 0418 202 870 sharon@solar.org.au Phone: +61 4 0980 2707 Email: info@solar2015.com.au Registration is essential – register at: www.solar2015.com.au

Among the prominent speakers at Solar 2015:

Grant Behrendorff

John Hewson

Mark Butler

Andrew Blakers

Ivor Frischknecht

Christine Milne

Kobad Bhavnagri

Glen Morris

Fiona O’Hehir

Giles Parkinson

Wayne Smith

Oliver Yates

Attend the Solar 2015 Show. Be in the know.

Support your industry body that is devoted to and resolutely supports the solar industry across all levels.

Solar 2015 speakers

Solar 2015’s top line-up of speakers Here we provide a snapshot of just some of the many high-profile speakers at the twoday Expo and Conference at the MCEC, Wednesday May 13 and Thursday May 14.

Shadow Environment Minister Mark Butler will address: “The ALP’s Approach to Solar” Mark Butler’s career in Parliament has spanned Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and Water.

Mark Butler has attended numerous Save Solar Forums staged by the Solar Council across Australia to express his staunch support for renewable energy and smart policy.

The topic of Former Liberal Party leader John Hewson is: “Good Policy makes Good Political Sense” John Hewson is one of Australia’s most experienced economists, financial experts and company directors. Since leaving politics he has forged a very successful career in investment banking and at elite levels of business including Global Renewables Ltd. Since meeting past US vice president and climate campaigner Al Gore, Dr Hewson has committed himself to environmental issues with involvement in ventures such as a Sydney waste recycling and methane extraction facility and for six years he chaired the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development.

Anna Skarbek, Executive Director of ClimateWorks Australia will focus on: “Meeting Emission Reduction Targets with Renewables” Harnessing the power of the market to help improve the environment has guided Anna’s entire career. The past government policy adviser has shaped ClimateWorks approach in analysing emissions

20 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

reduction opportunities and partnering with business and government in unblocking barriers to their implementation.

Anna is a director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, a trustee of the Sustainable Melbourne Fund, a former director of the Carbon Market Institute and participant in the NGO Roundtable on Climate Change.

Also taking to the podium at Solar 2015 are: • ANU Professor Andrew Blakers: “Technology Roadmap to Lower PV Prices.” Blakers is recognised as a leading industry commentator and has firm opinions on the sensible and sustainable future direction of renewables.

• Hugh Bromley of Bloomberg New Energy Finance: “The Evolution of Business and Financing Models for Distributed Technologies.” Hugh’s role at BNEF covers current and future energy system developments including solar and storage integration, business and financing models for distributed technologies, and the changing demand paradigm. He holds a BE (Hons) in PV and solar energy engineering from the UNSW.

Capture the flavour of Solar 2015 • More than 100 industry experts will be presenting updates in their field of specialty – technology, regulations, storage, PV, big solar – during the two-day Conference hosted by the Solar Council • Solar energy installers will be on the look-out for the latest in advances with a view to adopting new and emerging technologies • Exhibitors have the opportunity to meet thousands of “hands on” industry professionals and explain the merits of their products • The nation’s top solar and storage energy industry technical experts will present training sessions to bring industry up to date on standards and systems • Solar hot water, solar powered air conditioning, energy efficient products including LED lighting and building materials will be on show • Installation, design, storage and monitoring systems will feature prominently The industry is now poised to take on a bigger and broader role in the supply of energy and storage to homes and businesses.

Solar 2015 highlights the opportunities that lie ahead and how to embrace them to move forward.

With up to 4000 delegates expected to walk through the doors this is one golden opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow solar energy specialists. Gather over a coffee or lunch in the auditorium amid the many displays and presentations The Solar Council has staged an annual Expo and Conference for 53 consecutive years and over the decades has fine-tuned the program to reflect industry needs and wants.

For more information on Solar 2015 visit www.solar2015.com.au

The TRIO. Goes anywhere. That’s why it’s everywhere.

The ABB TRIO three-phase inverter is in more commercial installations than any other inverter nationwide. That’s because, now more than ever, installers in Australia value flexibility. And with a wide input voltage, four wiring box configurations, dual MPPT, system scalability from 20 KW to 30 MW plus easy installation and monitoring, the TRIO delivers that flexibility — even for the most challenging designs. Add our standard ten-year warranty backed by our local ABB service support network, and it becomes clear why the TRIO is designed for Australia’s solar future.

For more information call us at 1800-769-663 or visit: www.abb.com/solarinverters

Solar 2015 sponsor

The ABC of ABB Solar 2015 is delighted to welcome ABB as a key sponsor. Here ABB explains its products and services.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. Headquartered in Switzerland, the ABB Group of companies operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 150,000 people worldwide.

ABB provides one of the most the most comprehensive portfolios of products, systems and solutions along the solar PV value chain that enable the generation, transmission and distribution of solar power for both ongrid and off-grid applications.

ABB’s offering includes inverters, low-voltage and grid connection, stabilization and integration products, complete electrical balance of plant solutions as well as a wide range of services including operations and maintenance, and remote monitoring.

ABB offers one of widest portfolios of solar inverters available on the Australian market, ranging from small micro-inverters and three-phase string inverters up to megawatt-sized central inverters.

The company’s extensive range of solar inverters is suitable for the smallest residential photovoltaic (PV) systems right up to multi-megawatt PV power plants.

Complementing this are various monitoring solutions as well as an Australia-wide service network, to enable customers to maximise return on investment.

ABB solar inverters tap into more than 40 years of experience and advances made in inverter and power converter technology that have contributed to ABB becoming the world leader in frequency converters, and also one of the largest suppliers of wind turbine converters.

When it is time for you to specify a solar inverter for your PV project, ABB, as one of the world’s leading power and automation technology companies, has the credentials and track record, to fulfil your requirements for many years to come.

For more information relating to ABB inverter specifications and warranties call 1800-769-663 or visit: www.abb.com/solarinverters Hilton rooftop solar farm

FR EE AT TO TE ND

13 – 14 May 2015 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre CO-LOCATED WITH SPONSOR

MEDIA PARTNERS

SUPPORTERS

Featured in

Telephone: +61 411 407 514 22 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

Email: info@energystorage.org.au

Website: www.energystorage.org.au

Founding members

The inaugural Energy Storage Council Conference will be held alongside the highly successful Australian Solar Council Conference & Exhibition on 13 and 14 May 2015 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Co-located with Solar 2015, the event enables participants from energy storage and associated industries to do business in one location. More than 4000 dedicated industry delegates will attend this combined event.

The Energy Storage Council Conference is a free to attend two-day program reviewing technology, applications and economics of energy storage. The program features more than 30 speakers and focuses on current market developments and trends, technology integration, policy making and industry case studies in Australia and globally. Some of the highlights include: • The Australian Energy Regulator, the Australian Energy Market Operator and leading Australian utilities will address the future of the Australian Energy Market with the adoption of storage technologies.

• International guest speaker, Dr Ali Nourai, the Energy Storage Segment Director from DNV GL will provide insights into the US utilities’ views on energy storage and integration into the grid. He will also discuss the DNV GL survey for the US Department of Energy revealing the readiness of the US utilities to accept energy storage.

• Panel discussion: ‘Optimising battery storage for the new energy economy’ led by sponsor Enphase Energy Co-founder & VP of Products and Strategic Initiatives, Raghu Belur.

• Regulatory and contractual arrangements for energy storage in Australia, including lessons from overseas markets by Jenny Mee, Partner at K&L Gates Law Firm • Effectively Evaluating the Cost of Storage: ‘It’s $/kWh Per Cycle, Not Just $/kWh’ by Sunverge Energy Australia’s General Manager of Australia & NZ, Philip Keogan.

• Presentations by industry pioneers: international guest speaker Martin Fronage, Co-founder & CTO of Enphase Energy; Australian industry leader Selectronic Australia, with Marketing Director Rod Scott discussing the benefits of energy storage. John Wood, CEO of Ecoult addresses Energy Storage in Remote Telecom Applications, Magellan Power’s Managing Director Masoud Abshar presents an industry case study and Schneider Electric’s Stace Tzamtzidis discusses Commercial Off-Grid Solutions.

• Representatives from energy storage companies including technology manufacturers, equipment providers, project developers, consultants, utilities and other energy industry leaders.

The Energy Storage Council Conference is being held in the same exhibition hall as Solar 2015. The exhibition includes a dedicated energy storage zone directly outside the ESC Conference.

Don’t miss this important FREE TO ATTEND industry Conference & Exhibition! This is your opportunity to be kept up-to-date on industry news, view trade displays, network with peers and hear experts address the future outlook of this exciting and emerging industry – all at no cost!

See pages 18-19 for more information on the Solar 2015 Conference & Exhibition.

More information on the Energy Storage Council Conference can be found at www.energystorage.org.au or contact Lorrae Ingham at Lorrae@energystorage.org.au

Gold members

Silver members Mitsubishi Australia Ltd

Bronze members Clean Energy Solar Dynamic Solar Energy Invest Australia Enervision Australia Pty Ltd EV Power Australia Pty Ltd Greenlink Solar I Want Energy Infinity Power

K&L Gates MyPower MP Off Grid Power Solutions Renewable Energy Installations Reposit Power Solar PV Commercial SolarQuotes

Standard Solar Sunjuice Solar The Green House Effect TKSolar Towards Tomorrow Energy Tropical Energy Solutions Pty Ltd Wayne Kaufline

Solar Progress | 23

Game ON

Batteries may not be the most aesthetically appealing of objects but when their power, their potential is such that they can reshape energy distribution they are a magnet for a host of innovators and early adopters. Here we capture some of the advances and attention surrounding the game changing technology, the storage revolution.

An enterprising guru once declared all advances are based on one part inspiration, three parts perspiration.

The observation falls a little short of an apt description of the fast emerging storage market which is being spurred on by a myriad of pioneering spirits, smart scientists and early adopters. The industry is gaining serious attention and attracting serious investment.

Among the big names helping drive the storage revolution are Musk of Tesla, Gates, Buffet, Sadoway, Lovins, Sony, Panasonic and Total among a host of entrepreneurs and companies that have a habit of recognising and backing future winners.

Plenty of big numbers are also being bandied around: the residential solar energy storage market is tipped to grow by a factor of 10 from 2014 to 2018, blossoming into a trillion dollar market.

Across the globe grid-connected residential PV solar installations coupled with energy storage is predicted to reach more than 900 MW in 2018, up from just 90 MW in 2014. So says leading research consultancy IHS Technology.

US based storage think tank Energy Storage Association (ESA) lists the three key variables that determine economic viability of adding energy storage to a residential PV system to increase self-consumption as the feed-in tariff, cost of grid power, and price tag of the energy storage products.

Growth spurt: By the time toddler Milo turns 25 solar energy and storage could be mainstream

24 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

“All of these metrics are moving in the right direction,” says Sam Wilkinson of ESA, “Each of these key parameters will have moved to such an extent that this situation will be reversed by

The world lights up at night – will the sun be the predominant after-dark source by 2030? Data courtesy Marc Imhoff of NASA GSFC and Christopher Elvidge of NOAA NGDC. Image by Craig Mayhew and Robert Simmon, NASA GSFC.

2016 [and] PV markets where self-consumption is particularly attractive include Italy, Germany, the UK and Australia.

“This expanding opportunity for PV companies and battery manufacturers largely will be driven by the increasing attractiveness of PV for self-consumption, as well as by subsidies and increasing interest from home owners in becoming more independent of the electricity grid.”

The Australian Energy Storage Council recently formed an official alliance with the ESA which represents more than 120 private companies, non-profit organisations, and individual experts working together to educate the public and inform regulators and legislators about the importance of energy storage technologies.

International collaboration will be valuable as storage technologies continue their rapid trajectory and drive the next energy revolution, transferring from technologies that are well past their use-by date to the superior and sustainable next level.

Storage may be at the starting block but it is poised for exponential growth.

Installers at the ready Richard Vargas of United Solar Energy echoes the common opinion among today’s installers: PV consumers are aware of the benefits of storage but also the costs involved, which puts it out of reach of many homeowners today but given the right mix, it will quickly take off.

“You need to confine the [battery] chemistry to earth abundant chemistry. If you need to make something dirt cheap, make it out of dirt. It must be easy to manufacture.”

26 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

With falling costs and improved technology including battery lifespan around the corner. Domenic Mercuri of Solargain is now releasing ‘storage-ready’ hybrid inverters which come with an option for battery storage to capture excess solar energy for use during peak times. The inverter dispenses with the need for inverter retrofit or accessories to be retrofitted in order to make them solar battery compatible which has deterred uptake.

Domenic notes predictions that by 2030 every second detached home in Australia could have solar panels, with many opting for a two-pronged solar/battery hybrid system.

Industry takes a grip Fast mover Enphase Energy is gearing up to “help solar innovate its way to mainstream … [and] meet the challenges of a multi-gigawatt, multi-million rooftop reality”.

Due for launch this year, the company’s four-part New Energy Management System is designed to “accelerate mass penetration of solar globally” and make access to clean, affordable energy a reality for many by integrating the necessary technologies to solve solar energy challenges at scale: smart grid intelligence, communications, big data analytics and storage.

The Fifth Generation Enphase Microinverter System is described as a huge leap forward in technology to meet the complexity of the evolving grid, by taking the value of a distributed network structure and applying it to storage.

As Enphase CEO Paul Nahi puts it, consumers will need storage to allow more control over their energy use and energy bills.

Austrian based inverter manufacturer Fronius is also planning to release a retrofit solution later this year.

Australian based Redflow Batteries is supplying the residential market and miners with its zinc bromide flow battery, which costs 40 per cent less than its first generation products and is nudging grid tariffs in some markets.

Redflow CEO Stuart Smith says “We believe we have a disruptive, scalable technology whose applications are continually expanding [and] the future where the grid progressively becomes a backup rather than the primary source of energy is fast approaching by integrating products with renewables such as solar and wind at a residential and commercial level.”

Company director Simon Hackett was the first to sign up for the commercial large scale energy storage system for his renovated office complex in Adelaide as part of longer term plans to take the office offgrid. The $1 million system will store energy from the existing 20 kW array of solar panels and allow a significant reduction in consumption from the grid, particularly in peak periods, and act as a back-up in power failures, Hackett says.

Redflow is confident this sale is just the start of a trend among commercial buildings in integrating solar and other renewable energy sources. The six metre container accommodates 60 zinc bromide - ZBM3 - battery modules providing up to 300 kW and 660 kWh of energy with a voltage output between 400V and 800V DC. The name Hackett will be familiar to many, past Internode boss and “ABC IT favourite” who last year invested $2.2 million in Redflow Batteries was one of the first in Australia to purchase a Tesla EV and describes its performance and potential in glowing terms.

“Energy storage technology is ‘breaking through’ as the technology cost falls … early energy storage projects in Australia are crucial because they provide industry with the confidence that well-designed energy storage solutions are technically stable, can be relied upon in all conditions and make financial sense.”

Big picture Storage does not stop at household and commercial battery banks; aspiring to 90 per cent renewables the ACT government is turning its focus to large scale solar plus storage installations by auctioning 50 MW of capacity later this year. The move paves the way for Australia’s first large scale solar plus storage plant.

Queensland’s new Labor government looks set to duplicate ACT’s successful reverse auction program to kick-start large scale solar in the state and has an ambition to reach 50 per cent renewables by 2030.

Storage progress is gaining momentum, ARENA is researching the longevity and cost effectiveness of storage technologies while funding a range of hybrid energy and storage projects including off grid generation and storage.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht recently stated ”At high levels of penetration - and this is one of the important things we are learning from off-grid systems where renewable energy penetration can be very high - a combination of clever control systems and some potentially expensive storage, such as battery, pumped hydro, compressed air, or thermal storage in a solar thermal system can eliminate the need for the last 20-30 per cent of fossil fuel energy, which by this stage would consist of relatively low emissions gas peaking plants.”

In February ARENA commissioned AECOM to conduct a short anonymous online survey on energy storage to help form its view on the fast emerging technology sector. Solar Progress followed up in early March and was told the results were “as expected” and that ARENA will be releasing more details when the report is finalised.

AER with an ear to the ground The Australian Energy Regulator is also reviewing developments in the energy sector with the release of the Issues Paper, ‘Regulating innovative energy selling business models under the National Energy Retail Law’.

In a comprehensive submission the Energy Storage Council (ESC) characterised the rapidly changing energy market among “fast emerging energy storage technology” and called on the AER to “take the lead on regulation that encourages innovation in energy delivery for consumers”.

Malcolm Turnbull goes for a spin

Tesla spin turns heads In early February Malcolm Turnbull got behind the wheel of the Tesla at its home plant in California. Eyes wide open he enthused “Batteries have the potential to revolutionise the energy market, reducing peaking power requirements, optimising grid utilisation of renewables and in some cases enabling consumers to go off the grid altogether.“ Solar Progress flicked Turnbull an email welcoming his support for renewables.

Despite a rather busy agenda (amid the leadership spill vote) he responded: “I certainly loved driving the Tesla! A very powerful car. I hope that similar innovation in Australia can drive jobs growth and I intend to pursue policies that encourage entrepreneurial endeavours like this one.”

For its part Tesla Motors is looking beyond EVs and intends to release an energy storage product for the US residential and commercial markets this year, which will take off on completion of its ‘gigawatt’ factory.

Solar Progress | 27

“We are at the starting point of a very exciting time as the energy market is transformed… It is the biggest business opportunity I have ever seen.”

The ESC – the peak industry body representing the energy storage sector in Australia – recommended that the AER define the ‘primary’ source of energy as the retailer providing a NEM network connection to the customer and said the Regulator should use the principle of differentiated responsibilities for NEM network-connected services and ‘behind the meter’ services including solar and storage.

The ESC on balance supports exemption for innovative or alternative energy selling, managing or storing models, and recommends that the AER require exempt sellers to become voluntary members of relevant Ombudsman schemes, and that the Regulator monitor industry

Assertive submission Energy Storage Council Chief Executive John Grimes recently submitted Energy Storage in Australia - a view from the ground as the market takes off for an international online blog. Following is the abridged version of the article, which outlines the scope and importance of current projects and presents the compelling case for exponential growth in Australia: For the past decade diesel prices have been increasing approximately 5 per cent per annum in Australia, with many remote areas paying more than AU$2.50 a litre. Add the cost of maintaining generators, the noneconomic impact of noise and pollution and the business case quickly stacks up for renewable energy coupled with energy storage in off grid Australia.

King Island has been using renewable energy for many years. Recently Hydro Tasmania created King Island Advanced Hybrid power station by integrating an Ecoult UltraBattery storage system, capable of 3 MW of power contribution and storing 1.6 MWh of useable energy into the local network. The battery is the largest ever installed in Australia and will increase the amount of time the network can operate on 100 per cent renewable energy.

In 2014 ARENA announced funding for a range of hybrid energy and storage projects including off grid generation and storage in 32 remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and R&D into the longevity and cost effectiveness of storage technologies.

The Lord Howe Island Hybrid Renewable Energy System will add 1 MW of renewable generation to their existing diesel power generation system through a proposed combination of 450 kW of solar PV, 550 kW of wind and 400 kW of battery storage, and slash the Island’s diesel needs by up to 70 per cent. ARENA hopes this project will be used as an example for other remote communities in Australia to consider sustainable ways of generating energy.

Australian mining companies are also looking toward hybrid solutions including storage … [with] solar-plus-storage proving more cost effective than diesel powered generation. Project developers are being urged to invest more upfront in these projects … and some sites are beginning to test storage solutions, using solar with battery storage for lighting.

We can expect that as they gain confidence with the technology, energy storage will be used in many more [mining] applications.

Another ARENA funded project is the feasibility study into a solar thermal power station in remote Western Australia: a solar thermal tower and a molten-salt energy storage system potentially supplying power to an entire mining operation and a remote community. Coober Pedy is home to another ARENA funded project designed to meet 70

28 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

In 1799 Italian physicist Alessandro Volta developed the first electrical battery the Voltaic pile, his invention proving that electricity could be generated chemically rather than just by living beings. This sparked the field of electrochemistry and Volta’s name has since been immortalised.

developments with respect to the desirability of imposing conditions for the development of hardship plans.

To view the full AER submission visit www.energystorage.org.au per cent of the town’s power needs with a renewable energy/diesel hybrid project also integrating short term (duration) energy storage technology.

Photon Energy has moved into Australia’s rooftop PV market and developed the Muswellbrook communications tower project.

Following an initial trial the facility is due to move from on-grid to going completely off grid. In an innovative project the broadcast tower will be run entirely on solar power coupled with advanced battery storage technology, with a small emergency generator to provide backup power in the event of rare climatic events. With stringent operating parameters, providing reliable and consistent power supply in this application is crucial.

It is also an example of remote electricity customers taking themselves off-grid as grid costs escalate, and cost-effective on-grid support cannot be guaranteed in the future.

Another Australian with an eye on the lucrative communication market is Ecoult, which uses CSIRO invented technology ‘UltraBattery’ in their power management solutions. Ecoult’s solutions realise immediate system and economic benefits when applied to telecom and other remote off-grid applications.

Company project projections demonstrate that energy storage can save 40 to 60 per cent in fuel costs in many remote base station installations and signs are very positive for the international market.

Ecoult’s success in reducing diesel consumption is achieved through enhancing the operation of the diesel generator. The UltraBattery system smooths variability in fluctuating loads and intermittent solar so the generator can be operated at peak efficiency. To accomplish this mode of operation, the unique UltraBattery cells are charged at high rate and cycled multiple times per day. The combined power system reduces generator run time hours, and optimises generator operation, which in turn reduces maintenance intervals and prolongs generator life.

Energy storage technology is ‘breaking through’ as the technology cost falls.

These early energy storage projects in Australia are crucial because they provide industry with the confidence that well-designed energy storage solutions are technically stable, can be relied upon in all conditions and make financial sense.

We are at the starting point of a very exciting time as the energy market is transformed.

It is the biggest business opportunity I have ever seen…

Originally published on PV-Tech Storage website, January 2014: http://storage.pv-tech.org/guest-blog/energy-storage-in-australia-a-view-from-theground-as-the-market-takes-off

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Will electric vehicles take a slice of the small-scale storage industry?

Nigel Morris of Solar Business Services combines the enticing world of storage with the thrill of a motorbike ride. Developments in the fast lane.

Anyone working in solar will tell you that we are at the start of an exciting but tumultuous energy revolution. The way electricity is generated, transported, used, metered, sold and stored has already started evolving and if history is anything to go by, it’s all going to happen very fast.

Ironically, when I started in solar more than two decades ago, it was all about storage and we have come full circle it seems, with a new revolution in the way storage is used.

When I cut my teeth in solar, storage was part of every single system sold. Most were simple, and unsophisticated, relying on users to balance their generation and load. As time passed, interactive inverters made life a lot simpler and the best batteries demonstrated life expectancies beyond ten years.

However, in the subsequent twenty years not too much changed in terms of affordable storage technology.

Until recently.

Today, high quality LiPo storage and bafflingly intelligent control and monitoring systems are on the cusp of affordability and economic viability, with improved performance. In some markets the growth of storage is driven by ambitious policy directives. In others, there are financial incentives to help storage along.

In Australia, apart from some pilot trials and some early policy development work we have an entirely different set of drivers and

“I can make my investment work twice, once as storage and once as transport. As storage, that saves money at home when you are there.

As an electric vehicle, it’s also cheaper to own than its counterpart.

Frankly, it’s more fun too.”

30 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

dynamics at play. As usual, we are just a little bit different to the rest of the world.

What makes Australia absolutely fascinating and unique is a set of circumstances that have coincidentally aligned with the fall in the price of storage and this is going to create a market just a little different from others.

The first issue is that we now have around two million small-scale solar systems, mostly on homes. No other country comes close to this number or has such a proliferation of small systems.

Secondly, a significant number of these homes receive little if anything for exported solar energy, which is also highly unusual compared to most countries. Importantly, the time at which they export energy is arguably a bigger issue than the volume of excess energy, in the majority of cases.

Thirdly, we have seen extreme rises in electricity prices in recent years which has made solar owners even more besotted with their systems but has also made bigger enemies of the incumbent utility companies. Never has the desire for energy independence been so strong.

Fourthly, we have excess national generation capacity and more renewables coming on line every day. This is putting further pressure on the price dynamics (via the death spiral), stressing the economics of past models.

Enter small-scale storage Today, a high quality storage system that can run or shift around half the load in a house seems to be the sweet spot for homes. So, depending on integration costs, features, technology, warranty and quality for most homes needing around 10 kWh they are going to spend between $10,000 and $20,000, we estimate. Consumers are already doing it.

These consumers will save more but on a longer investment time frame – just like solar’s early adopters.

However, if they proliferate in the same way of distributed pool of solar, all the utilities will see is reduced load in the majority of cases where storage is installed. They are unlikely to buy excess in the short term, but this will come.

So, it is a tough time for early adopters and for utilities.

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Our personal, quirky take on how to solve this problem is the driver behind the launch of a new business unit, called motoelectro.

Our theory is that a proportion of the two million solar owners will have someone in the house with a motorcycle licence. For almost the same cost as a stationary storage system we can provide a comparable mobile storage system in the form of an electric motorcycle, something electric cars have been unable to achieve to date.

This has pros and cons.

On the positive side, I can make my investment work twice, once as storage and once as transport. As storage, that saves money at home when you are there. As an electric vehicle, it’s also cheaper to own than its counterpart. Frankly, it’s more fun too.

So it’s a better investment.

Utilities should love me, because I now also represent a load which can be controlled easily and cheaply, so they get some revenue growth. I already remotely program my electric motorcycle to charge when I want and I would be happy to work into a program that works for both of us.

Sometimes I’ll need to pay a premium for energy (so build me some recharging stations!), but at others I’ll make the energy myself and I might even store some to despatch when I arrive home, thank you very much.

The downside in the near term is that my mobile storage may not be at home when it’s needed, but publicly available bi-directional charging

An electric-powered bike, fresh sea breezes, jaw dropping cliff top scenery – life could not be better for Nigel Morris who wants more people to take a slice of the EV action

32 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

stations could solve that. It is also largely unproven territory and everyone is nervous about hybridising vehicle and stationary storage.

We have a lot to learn, but it is real Right now we are working towards the installation of a number of exactly this type of system and working with some of the best people in the world on making it happen. The technology, simplicity and reliability of the equipment required will be upon us before we know it, if the people I‘m working with are any gauge. They can see it too.

So, will electric vehicles take a slice of the small-scale storage industry?

Yes they will.

Solar carshade and EV charger available for public use at Macadamia Castle

EV kingpin Macadamia Castle near Byron Bay is home to Australia’s First Public EV charging station in Australia powered by a solar car park structure.

The solar carshade will generate half of the Macadamia Castle’s energy needs and charge visitors’ electric vehicles.

Smart Commercial Solar was the Project Developer of the 45 kW system, which features 180 panels arrayed on a durable, purpose-built car canopy structure.

Castle owner Tony Gilding told Solar Progress that given the shortage of EVs on Australia’s roads the carshade is yet to reach full potential but the noble intent is there.

“I am setting an example of what is possible for small business despite the best attempts of fossil fuel companies to slow this inevitable swing to renewables,” he said. “Leaving aside the obvious environmental benefits, the business case for a solar car park is incredibly strong. I want this launch to inspire people so that we start seeing these amazing and practical structures in our local shopping centres and next to our roads, powering our businesses and our vehicles.”

Little’s large agenda The vision of Phil Little of the self-funded not-for-profit foundation www.plsdf.com is to deliver rooftop solar homes which also power electric cars for Clean Energy Communities “as we move to total solar … and the ideal is to have no emissions, no poles, no wires for housing and EVs. “The best brains in the world are developing electric storage for offgrid housing hence we are now able to build and develop clean energy sustainable communities.”

Phil says “Our mission is to make these homes affordable by adopting and adapting the global emerging technology to Australian conditions. The global challenge is delivering solar housing and electric cars at a lower cost and gaining government and industry support for innovation.”

Utility agility AGL Energy has created a new division called New Energy to manage the transition to battery storage, rooftop solar market, digital meters, and home management systems. The utility casts battery storage as “already an interesting” proposition for consumers, and anticipates “radical changes” in the home energy market.

“We are at the point where we have got big changes going on (in energy markets),” AGL Energy managing director Michael Fraser told media representatives, “We see battery storage technology going ahead in leaps and bounds [which] in conjunction with rooftop solar and home energy management systems, would cause a “significant” and “fundamental” change in the way the energy market operates.

History shows that (such technologies) start slow, but then take off faster than anyone expects … we are positioning ourselves for that.”

AGL Energy is allegedly discussing battery storage and digital meters with suppliers.

Origin Energy is also muscling in on the market by offering householders and small business an enticing no-deposit pay as you go rooftop PV, anticipating rooftop solar will blossom five-fold over the next 15 years with battery storage also taking off.

High-tech storage sage You may or may not agree with the viewpoint attributed to Donald Sadoway of AMBRI: “Everything we value in the modern world is predicated on the existence of electricity” but there is no denying the basic need for power.

(One power blackout and your freezer contents are history. Worse there’s no means of charging mobile phones and laptops.)

In his address The Missing Link to Renewable Energy Sadoway noted the number of visionaries clustered around battery technology.

Sadoway himself is focusing efforts on a battery miracle – an inexpensive, highly efficient, three-layered battery using “liquid metal”.

“Storage has not yet fully arrived [become mainstream] as it’s all about costs … today’s Li-ion batteries fail badly and are far too costly, the only thing that really works is pumped hydro, other batteries are too costly and need to be below $500/kWh. “You need to confine the chemistry to earth abundant chemistry. If you need to make something dirt cheap, make it out of dirt. It must be easy to manufacture.”

He says change will not be driven by the battery industry such as Sony and Li-ion batteries but possibly by individual innovators and institutions.

“Building batteries is cool” he says, “it’s a trillion dollar industry and many are getting in on the act with big backers – Gates, Total. But in the great battery race, cost and reliability are the two big issues.

It’s about money and patience and viable outcomes – results,” says the man with a grand plan for storage loads the size of shipping containers.

“Some say that refrigeration changed the supply chain in a big way – now it’s the turn of batteries to drive change … the race to produce the perfect battery is in full force.”

Early bird’s final word Energy visionary Amory Lovins who many years ago authored energy policy papers and was the first employee of Friends of the Earth is now keenly observing the unfolding energy revolution.

“Since 2008, half the world’s added electrical generating capacity has been renewable. Renewables have scaled up incredibly fast,” he says. “Worldwide it is faster than mobile phones. More Kenyans now get first electricity from solar than the grid.

“In the future I see radically cheap renewable energy and storage, new types of battery, super-windows, cheap ways to instal LEDs in large buildings to eliminate wiring, many advances in insulating materials, smart thermostats that learn what comfort you want and buildings that do not need heating or cooling.

“The energy revolution is under way but there are decades of playing out to be done. It’s both encouraging and frustrating that it’s not going faster. This work requires relentless patience.”

We agree – patience as well as perseverance, a healthy competitive spirit and a serious commitment by financial backers.

Please email editor@solar.org.au

Solar Progress | 33

Positive steps

Continuous Quality Assurance…

Raise standards, reduce risk, grow business How do I know I am getting what I paid for when I buy solar panels? This is the question the Solar Council’s Positive Quality™ program is designed to answer. Solar panel manufacturers with widely varying quality will all tell a customer ‘we only supply high quality panels’. For the first time Australian consumers have an easy way to see that an independent, solar expert group has actively checked the manufacturers claims, to make sure they getting what they paid for. Here we take a closer look at the rigorous testing standards underpinning the Positive Quality™ scheme.

Why is Positive Quality™ so important for the Australian solar industry?

Who benefits most? Can all Solar Council panel makers participate?

These are just some of the questions leveled at the Solar Council since last year’s launch of Positive Quality™, the due diligence program undertaken on solar PV panels at the point of manufacture.

And in short the answer to these questions is that Positive Quality™ creates greater certainty and grows the market for the entire solar industry.

Any solar panel manufacturer can participate, and as long as they meet the high quality standards they can also become a Positive Quality™ supplier.

With customers now asking for Positive Quality™ panels, there will be growing market pressure for companies to participate.

OK, that sounds good, but what is really being checked?

To learn more, Solar Progress reviewed the stringent factory tests conducted during the three-step audit process by the Solar Council’s team of highly trained Positive Quality™ Inspectors.

Solar Scoreboard: 60-point Checklist The first step is the comprehensive Certificates Audit Report in which the company’s business license, tax registration, ISO9000 certification, IEC61215 compliance, OHS certificates and other official records are checked, validated and photocopied. The audit team then clearly knows what products, components, and processes have been certified for manufacture.

The second critical step is the Factory Audit Report covering Quality Assurance and Control, a thorough review of the company’s own Standard Operating Procedures and Incoming Materials Control. Detailed inspections

“Positive Quality™ is easy for the public to identify, and is a great tool to boost confidence in our industry. It is a simple way to answer the question ‘which panels should I buy?’ Buy Positive Quality panels.”

34 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

of preparations, cell sorting, soldering, lay-up, pre-lamination and lamination, frame and curing, junction box installation, cleaning process and current voltage (IV) plus electrical and electro-luminescence (EL) tests, final packing and more. All backed up with photographic evidence.

Also under the microscope are employee training records, materials environment control procedures, batch numbering, serial numbers, temperatures, simulators and insulation. Devices and equipment control, and micro crack checks. Machines are also checked to ensure correct calibration. Here’s a good example of a bad find: the absence of an antistatic measure on a solder junction box with potential for electric shock.

Completing the process is the all-important PV Panel Verification Audit Report in which panel appearance and performance are scrutinised and results of EL test, IV test, Hi-Pot test, Wet leakage current test and packing processes are accompanied by images contained in a detailed report.

Small yet vital aspects do not go unnoticed: whether the glue on the module is cured, or the panel has smudges, or discoloured cells have been used. Topping the list of items that do not pass muster are panels with micro-cracks (which severely compromise the panel).

Together the three Audits form the 60-point checklist which is conducted quarterly. If a major fault is found a fail mark is awarded. Even if minor faults are found points are lost and only those scoring 85 or more become certified and can display the Positive Quality™ logo for the coming quarter.

Accountability extends to warranty conditions, company environmental controls and procedures including waste minimisation, OHS standards and humanitarian employment.

Note: Scrupulous attention to detail does not end at the factory. A random but comprehensive battery of tests is conducted on the contents of panels packed up and ready for export down under.

Before Positive Quality™, panels listed as 250W were flash-tested which revealed they achieved just 235W. A salient reminder that under Australian law the importer is legally liable for the product, and labeling must be truthful.

Raising the bar “In the absence of regular checks panel makers can get away with producing lower quality, potentially faulty or even dangerous goods

‘Under the microscope’ – no matter how small, no detail is left unturned

Yingli Solar was the first panel manufacturer to successfully meet Positive Quality™ criteria and is now receiving requests for its Positive Quality™ certified Panda panels, pictured here leaving the factory

The sharp clean clinical look of a Positive Quality™ certified process plant engenders confidence

“Testing PV panels at the point of manufacture, every three months and on a random basis, gives peace of mind to consumers, installers, all levels of government and project developers that the panels they select deliver what they claim to deliver.

Why would anyone take the risk of not demanding Positive Quality panels?” which impacts negatively on the industry,” said Solar Council Chief Executive John Grimes.

“Our Positive Quality™ program mitigates the process. Customers – in particular big customers such as local governments – really want certainty and to be confident in their product choices,” he said.

“The Australian market is a bit unusual because most solar systems installed are small. How can a householder installing a small system be expected to tell what is a quality panel. Even the experts cannot tell just by looking at a panel. That’s why our ongoing due diligence is so critical, so important.”

Positive Quality™ provides customers with confidence. When the panels arrive in Australia, installers along with commercial and residential customers can be assured of a sound purchase. This has drawn comparisons with the ‘heart tick’ – a means of knowing that a manufacturer’s quality claims have been independently checked and verified and bearing a symbol that everyone is familiar with.

“We strive to produce good outcomes, develop a strong industry, a growing solar market. Positive Quality™ is just the ticket.

“Positive Quality™ is synonymous with high standards which is extremely important to industry – it reduces uncertainty, boosts workmanship and confidence levels. Positive Quality™ is the missing link, the point of difference that customers look for. “

Widespread advantages

Exhibit your excellence, step up to Positive Quality™

The Solar Council is confident that panel makers who take pride in their workmanship will embrace Positive Quality™ as a symbol of manufacturing excellence.

“We are eliminating the chance of product flaws while boosting quality and consistency … we are doing it all very thoroughly and taking it very seriously,” John Grimes said. “The industry knows we have to raise the bar, and if the industry does not lead the process, government will impose programs on us.”

It is no great secret that some companies provide a ‘golden sample’ for IEC certification but down the track export sub-standard goods, which of course impact negatively on the industry.

“That is precisely what we aim to avoid by conducting ongoing checks and random visits. Some companies may need to change their processes to meet Positive Quality™ criteria, this is a consumer protection scheme and the majority of consumers cannot differentiate between good and bad and as a third party the Solar Council is acting as an independent expert to provide due diligence and assurances,” said John Grimes.

What’s next?

Several high profile top brand manufacturers have signed up for Positive Quality™ certification and the Solar Council is keen to maintain momentum.

You can do your part to encourage manufacturers to join the scheme.

Demand and use only Positive Quality™ panels. If you do, standards will go up across the board and Australia will be better for it in the long run.

The Solar Council is about to launch a mass marketing campaign to spread the word further still.

To sign up for the Positive Quality™ program and be showcased as an outstanding industry best practice manufacturer contact Quality Products Manager Paul Prince on 0414 867 802 or email paul@solar.org.au

Heightened awareness More than 130 organisations have endorsed Positive Quality™ to date. If you import solar panels, can you afford not to have ongoing due diligence of quality through Positive Quality™?

In late 2014 the first load of Positive Quality™ certified panels landed in Australia, from Yingli Solar. Since then JA Solar and Jinko Solar have also passed the program.

Expect to see many more such announcements about top brand manufacturers.

Solar Progress | 35

Solar Council Advocacy

Positive action

The Solar Council’s President and Chief Executive met with New Zealand regulators, government officials and utilities to discuss the potential for solar energy in the region and benefits to the community.

Solar Council Chief Executive John Grimes continues to promote the interests of the solar energy industry at every opportunity and across all levels.

With the crucial support of Save Solar heroes he helped steer the best possible outcome for the solar industry in the sunshine state of Queensland.

Sunny side up

Across the South Pacific

The state election in Queensland was remarkable not just for the massive turnaround in voters’ preferences but also the fact that solar energy played such a vital role.

Last year we launched the New Zealand Pacific Solar Council and in early March this year Solar Council President Steve Blume and Board Member Barbara Ellison and I enjoyed a productive week in New Zealand meeting with government officials, regulators, utilities and the solar industry itself.

There is a high level of interest in progressing the NZPSC which can reap the benefits of our experiences in Australia where we have installed about 1.4 million PV systems. At this scale of development you learn a lot and our objective is to build capacity across the Pacific.

We will be providing training resources and other support services to enable the NZPSC to become self-sufficient and promote the uptake of solar energy in the region.

The election was called on January 4 which meant the Save Solar team had to cut short plans for a break and instead get back on the campaign trail. We staged a strong and highly focused campaign, which newly elected Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk credited as “pivotal” to her party gaining a majority and securing office.

The newly installed Labor Government has a detailed and strong prosolar position and we are looking forward to working with them to open up better business opportunities for all our members.

That said we will support any party that has good solar policy… we welcome the day the federal Coalition agrees to a good solar policy and we will stand strongly alongside them if and when they do.

Darker moments The Government’s current policy position however is to close down the renewable sector in Australia and while that is the case we will stand with determination against it.

Their tactic is to use delay and uncertainty, they know that in the absence of bipartisan agreement over the Renewable Energy Target it is not possible for large-scale projects to proceed, so they are deliberately going slow as it meets their objectives in opposing the renewable energy industry.

The current position means there is no change to the Target for small scale solar so my message to rooftop and commercial PV installers is “go and sell more and be hugely successful” because all the government will have done is mobilise a four billion dollar a year industry which is absolutely intent on seeing them removed from office.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has declared we are “close to a deal” and appears to be trying to help but in the absence of support from his industry colleagues I do not see renewable targets being resolved any time soon.

36 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

Positive position We are looking toward 2015 becoming the year of Positive Quality™ and higher industry standards.

Our industry regulated Positive Quality™ program is an important step.

Three major panel suppliers are now involved in the program and we are talking to several more while also highlighting the importance of the scheme.

This will be the year Positive Quality™ takes off and becomes the standard – the symbol of quality – that installers and businesses look for when determining their supplier. (See pages 34 and 35 for more.)

In other developments, the Energy Storage Council is fast gaining traction, which reflects the speedy growth of the sector. Storage solutions will feature prominently at Solar 2015.

Industry Exhibition and Conference May 13 and 14 I look forward to our solar industry gathering at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on May 13 and 14 for Solar 2015 where we can all view exhibitors’ products and learn more from our top line-up of guest speakers.

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Industry comment

And the forecast is… sunny Giles Parkinson and Sophie Vorrath relay the bright outlook for solar and storage identified by the Deutsche Bank, which describes the solar market as “massive” and likely to generate $5 trillion in revenue by 2030. The bank describes solar plus storage as the next killer app and says India will achieve 25 per cent solar energy by 2022.

A new dawn: Deutsche Bank on why solar has already won In early March Deutsche Bank produced another major report that suggests solar will become the dominant electricity source around the world as it beats conventional fuels, generates $5 trillion in revenue over the next 15 years, and displaces large amounts of fossil fuels.

In a detailed, 175-page report, the Deutsche analysts led by Vishal Shah say the market potential for solar is massive. Even now, with 130 GW of solar installed, it accounts for just one per cent of the 6,000 GW, or $2 trillion electricity market (that is an annual figure).

But by 2030, the solar market will increase tenfold, as more than 100 million customers are added, and solar’s share of the electricity market jumps to 10 per cent. By 2050, it suggests, solar’s share will be 30 per cent of the market, and developing markets will see the greatest growth.

“Over the next five to ten, we expect new business models to generate a significant amount of economic and shareholder value,” the analysts write in the report. Within three years, the economics of solar will take over from policy drivers (subsidies).

The rise and rise of solar energy (Image: ET Solar)

38 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

Their predictions are underpinned by several observations. The first is that solar is at grid parity in more than half of all countries, and within two years will be at parity in around 80 per cent of countries. And at a cost of just 8c/kWh to 13c/kWh, it is up to 40 per cent below the retail price of electricity in many markets. In some countries, such as Australia, it is less than half the retail price.

Storage led boost The case for solar will be boosted by the emergence of cost-competitive storage, which Deutsche describes as the “next killer app” because it will overcome difficulties in either accessing the grid or net metering policies.

“We believe a reduction in solar storage costs could act as a significant catalyst for global solar adoption, particularly in high electricity markets such as Europe,” it writes.

“As we look out over the next five years, we believe the industry is set to experience the final piece of cost reduction – customer acquisition costs for distributed generation are set to decline by more than half as customer awareness increases, soft costs come down and more supportive policies are announced.

“While the outlook for small scale distributed solar generation looks promising, we remain equally optimistic over the prospects of commercial and utility scale solar markets.”

At utility scale, parity is also drawing near. Just four years ago, the ratio of coal-based wholesale electricity to solar electricity cost was 7:1. Now, says Deutsche Bank, this ratio is less than 2:1 and it could likely approach 1:1 over the next 12-18 months. In some markets, it already is cheaper.

And in India, that ratio could fall to 1:1 this year, with major ramifications for coal projects such as those in the Galilee Basin.

“We believe utility-scale solar demand is set to accelerate in both the US and emerging markets due to a combination of supportive policies and

“By the year 2050, we expect global solar penetration rates to increase to 30 per cent [and] the case for solar will be boosted by the emergence of cost-competitive storage, which Deutsche describes as the “next killer app” because it will overcome difficulties in either accessing the grid or net metering policies.”

ongoing solar electricity cost reduction. We remain particularly optimistic over growth prospects in China, India, Middle East, South Africa and South America.”

Competition heats up Deutsche Bank reported that while it is becoming increasingly clear that solar is now competitive with conventional electricity generation in many global markets, there is still some policy uncertainty that could impact investor sentiment and overall supply/demand fundamentals.

“That said, we believe the dependence on subsidies has decreased significantly compared to a few years ago and demand drivers are also increasingly more diverse as well as sustainable.

“We expect solar sector’s dependence on subsidies to gradually decrease over time, policy outlook to become more supportive and economics to take over politics over the next three years.”

Deutsche Bank said that despite the 30 per cent compound annual growth over the past 20 years, the solar industry is still roughly one per cent of the 6,000 GW or $2 trillion electricity market.

Global penetration “Over the next 20 years, we expect the electricity market to double to $US4 trillion and expect the solar industry to increase by a factor of 10.

During this timeframe, the solar industry is expected to generate $5 trillion of cumulative revenue.

“By the year 2050, we expect global solar penetration rates to increase to 30 per cent. We also see solar penetration rates increasing more rapidly in developing economies. India for example has recently announced targets to reach 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022.”

Another two of the big markets are in the Middle East and central and South America. There, solar is already at grid parity in the wholesale market, and in areas where there is no grid, then solar is the obvious option.

“Even today, about one fifth of the world’s population does not have access to grid electricity,” it notes. “Due to declining costs and ability to deploy the technology without really developing the grid, we expect policy makers in developing countries to proactively promote solar.”

Energy Storage to achieve cost holy grail mass adoption within five years The Deutsche Bank report predicts that energy storage – the “missing link of solar adoption” – will be cheap enough and technologically ready to be deployed on a large-scale within the next five years, stating that while costs for the greater majority of available battery technologies remained prohibitive, economically competitive batteries were the “killer app” and the “holy grail” of solar penetration.

But with many costs already lower than published literature would suggest, Deutsche Bank believes this ultimate solar and renewable energy goal might not be far out of reach.

“Using conservative assumptions and no incentives, our model indicates that the incremental cost of storage will decrease from around 14c/kWh today to around 2c/kWh within the next five years,” the report says.

“When overall system cost decreases are considered, we believe solar + batteries will be a clear financial choice in mature solar markets in the future.”

Today’s cost of a typical lead-acid battery may be as low as ~$200/kWh, while best in class lithium-ion technology is producing commercial/utility packages in the ~$500/kWh range at end 2014 – half the cost of the ~$1000/kWh 12 months prior.

“Using conservative assumptions and no incentives, our model indicates that the incremental cost of storage will decrease from around 14c/kWh today to around 2c/kWh within the next five years.”

“We believe 20-30 per cent yearly cost reduction is likely (for lithium-ion batteries), which could bring (them) at commercial/utility scale to the point of mass adoption potential before 2020,” the report says.

Commercial market Deutsche points to the commercial-scale market as one of the first areas where battery deployment will flourish, due to clear economic rationale.

“Commercial customers are often subject to demand based charges, which can account for as much as half of the electric bill in some months,” Deutsche says.

“We think companies with differentiated battery solutions coupled with intelligent software and predictive analytics that work with the grid to avoid these charges and smooth electric demand will pave the way for mass adoption.”

The report also points to utilities as a major market for batteries on a large scale, as costs drop and distributed renewable energy generation deployments increase.

On the residential level, the report said households were still unlikely to go down the energy storage path in the short term, without proper pricing mechanisms in place, or access to solar plus storage energy packages.

But again, Deutsche sees this as a major, untapped opportunity for utilities: “Over the next decade, we see a substantial opportunity for utilities to use smart grids through residential battery aggregation.”

Properly incentivised, the report says, utilities could begin to aggregate neighbourhoods of solar plus batteries to behave as a single source of load reduction.

“Batteries could be dispatched as needed to reduce peak demand across the system. In a high grid-penetration scenario, this could reasonably lower the necessary capacity from conventional generation sources. In turn, we think it is reasonable to hypothesise that lowered capacity needs from lowered peak demand would simultaneously lower the need for large up front capital investment in peaker plants.”

Deutsche cites two likely scenarios that would enable this sort of utilitydriven household battery deployment: Third party leasing companies and individuals work with the utilities; or a shift in regulatory framework that allows utilities to include residential solar in their rate base.

“Both of these scenarios would likely significantly improve reliability, enable microgrids to function as needed, and improve grid resiliency during emergency situations,” the report says.

Authored by Giles Parkinson and Sophie Vorrath, these articles are reproduced from RenewEconomy. Giles Parkinson is founding editor of Renew Economy www.reneweconomy.com.au

neweconomy Tracking the next industrial revolution

Solar Progress | 39

VIEW

from

Solar Progress invited a selection of installers to share their impressions of current market dynamics and relay their concerns, observations and strategies employed to keep the wheels of industry spinning.

Smarter Green

turn around in policies and then international companies will come in and run everything in and around the Clean Energy Industry in Australia taking Tony Devlin of Smarter Green is very much tuned in to the impact of the all their profits off-shore. political agenda and RET Review on his business and the industry as a “This would be just like all the other industries that have experienced whole. our Government’s ethos to give everything away and forsake our future for During 2014 his business reduced its staff by approximately 80 per cent some short-term gain or to benefit those with special interests.” which he says leaves little potential But Tony is sticking with the for further cuts. industry for the foreseeable “Unfortunately we see little future, saying “It’s not very confidence in the industry at the often that someone can say moment. It’s hard to fathom a they are passionately connected lack of commitment to Renewable with their chosen field.

Energy and a Clean Energy Future “I want to work in the at this time, when this is an Industry clean energy Industry for that should be forging forward for the benefit of myself and the benefit of every living being.” the communities that I can Located on Melbourne’s assist. There is a future outskirts, his business specialises for us all if we set about in commercial PV installations but developing a strong clean as Tony says “If I was solely relying energy Industry.

National Centre for Synchrotron Science on the solar industry for business “I’m fortunate to have we could not survive in the current different skill sets and have climate. If I did not have other business areas that we have provided for choices for personal security and stability financially, but I’ve been hanging many years in the building industry we could not maintain a position to be on to the clean energy industry and trying everything to ensure I don’t available for renewable energy projects. become another statistic on the government driven ‘solar coaster’.

“We do have some prospective works in the pipeline though it’s hard to “If I did not have the passion for a clean energy future we would not be predict where we will be in the future if things change and all is possible operating within this industry.” given the government’s lack of commitment to the RET. “My personal expectation is that when all the skilled and reputable www.smartergreen.com.au businesses in Australia can no longer survive, there will then be a massive

Green Valley Solar “Sparky” Mike Phyland of Green Valley Solar reckons the entire industry and all customers are anxious about rebates and subsidies and they want to know what is going on with feed-in tariffs.

“We say ‘Get in while you can’ and it does help. Solar buyers want to see payback in three to seven years. Commercial systems make more sense in most cases as power is consumed during the daytime.”

Not unlike the Smarter Green model his business is in a fortunate position because during slow solar times Mike picks up building renovation work. He recently spent a week in

40 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

One of many quality installs

by Green Valley Solar

the

ROOF TOP

MPV Group

“On the other hand the uncertainty has hastened decisions by customers who see the value of the STCs. Overall, as a business owner, we’ve been in limbo since the announcement of the review. You can’t invest in the future if it’s unclear!

“Liberal governments have always given business the confidence to move forward.

Unfortunately with this government this has not been the case.

“There is just one main challenge in business today – and that is certainty about the RET.”

Next we head north to Gladesville in Sydney which is home to Matt Vella of the MPV Group which has installed well over 5000 solar systems ranging from 1.5 kW to 10 kW in domestic, rural and commercial applications including the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.

Matt recently installed a ballast mounted 100 kW system at an office block (“rather heavy on air con use”) in Gordon on Sydney’s North Shore.

The aerial shot he supplied was taken using drone photography – an increasingly common tool for installers. He has since commenced a project for Sydney Water.

Solar Progress managed to catch up with Matt between projects to hear about his market experience, which is relatively upbeat.

“We are seeing a growing uptake in the commercial sector while the residential sector remaining steady,” said Matt whose customers range www.mpvgroup.com.au from small businesses to large public utilities who “know a bit about the benefits of solar energy but generally they still need educating on how it all comes together. But solar energy is now becoming MPV Group’s mighty 100 kW system accepted and mainstream for most customers.”

How are you finding the current market, and what is your vision of the future? Perhaps you could share your views or showcase one of your significant solar installations. We’d love to hear from installers right across Australia.

Please email editor@solar.org.au

MPV Group is starting to actively offer storage to customers.

“Homeowners and businesses are becoming more aware of the potential of storage and are certainly very interested but it’s a cost issue.

“For us commercial demand remains stronger than residential but once storage becomes affordable I think we will see the residential sector grow faster than it did with feed-in tariffs.”

As for the solar outlook Matt stated that with some certainty on the RET solar has a bright future, especially with the move to storage transforming the use of electricity.

But the RET Review has been “a double edged sword”.

“In early 2014 we were pessimistic about the outcome of the RET Review and made the difficult decision to downsize our business and had to let go of some valuable employees.

Ballarat upgrading the electrical wiring of an 80-year-old house before

quite ready. As for system size we educate them on what they need

returning home to Melbourne’s Dandenong ranges.

– generally 3 to 4 kW though it’s hard to draw an average – and we

Each week is different, he says but the main priority and effort is toward “being noticed as an installer”, Mike told Solar Progress.

“Advertising is costly and does not always pay off, magazines, online,

always tell them to manage their energy use as best they can, that is where possible run appliances during the day-time.”

What about storage? “People know it’s expensive, but better

Google and pamphlets. There’s so much competition it’s hard to get

systems keep coming onto the market and they are more costly again,

noticed. Door knocking would probably be best but it’s time consuming.

while the older systems reduce in price. Customers only invest in

“You put in so many quotes and then homeowners take a while getting finance approved. A Green Loan from the bank is one of their best options in my view as in most cases the interest rate is a lot lower than other finance products on offer.

storage if they really need it but we know many will install batteries in future.

“It all gets down to the dollar value and subsequent savings or returns.”

“Sometimes [after we provide the quote] prospective customers just sit and think about if for a long time – they are interested but not

www.greenvalleysolar.com.au

Solar Progress | 41

Allied forces

Harnessing Renewables “Renewable energy is essential to Australia’s future economic growth and prosperity in a carbon-constrained world and to helping lower Australia’s carbon emissions.” No dispute. On this page we scope the significance of projects and progress driven by ARENA and the CEFC.

Inside ARENA Snapshot: To date the Australian Renewable Energy Agency has invested $1 billion in more than 230 projects, fellowships and scholarships which are described as “paving the way for a more diverse energy future … producing valuable knowledge and outcomes that are being shared with the energy industry to help overcome challenges and advance renewable energy in Australia.”

ARENA’s funding has contributed to: • A University of Newcastle project which created a working prototype thermionic energy converter to directly convert heat generated by concentrated sunlight into electricity • The CSIRO and Abengoa exploration of cost-effective ways to collect and store solar thermal energy at high temperatures • The 57 MW Moree solar plant in NSW, which will be the first large scale

Image courtesy ET Solar which has secured CEFC funding for commercial projects

plant with solar tracking ($101,700,000 funding from ARENA) • Next gen SLIVER cells, organic solar cells and plasmonics • The 155 MW AGL solar plants at Nyngan and (underway at) Broken Hill ($166,700,000) • UNSW striking 40 per cent cell efficiency (see page 10), and, among many others • Geelong based IXL autoparts manufacturer, which has morphed into frame maker for solar panels on a large scale: 1.35 million of which are destined for the AGL Nyngan solar farm.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht’s mission, he says, is to reap value from investing in Australia’s renewable energy ingenuity, oversee project maturity to commercialisation and deliver more efficient large scale solar plants to make renewable energy cheaper and more cost-competitive.

Ideals we might add that are shared by the Solar Council and renewables industry at large. www.arena.gov.au

Clean Energy Finance Corporation steers transformation By mid 2014, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation had contracted investments of over $900 million in renewable energy, energy efficiency and low emissions technologies projects with an aggregated value in excess of $3 billion.

42 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

Programs are expected to achieve an average financial yield of 7 per cent and more importantly when operational projects should abate 4.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The CEFC has also developed financing models to facilitate business access to finance for renewables projects. A new solar Power Purchase Agreement enables CEFC to finance $20 million of ET Solar’s commercial property solar program targeting high-energy users, including shopping centres, mining and manufacturing businesses, under which ET Solar owns, operates and maintains the PV systems with the customer agreeing to purchase electricity at an agreed (and lower than current) rate.

“There is huge scope to expand and deepen the solar PV market in the commercial sector,” CEFC CEO Oliver Yates says. “We see the PPA finance model as a way to remove the barrier of the upfront capital requirement which should enable many more Australian businesses to benefit from solar, reducing energy costs and lowering emissions.”

The Energy Efficient Loan program is the $100 million initiative of the CEFC and Commonwealth Bank to finance technologies that reduce energy costs. Participants include a Goulburn Valley-based fruit supplier and Wangaratta-based fresh produce supplier which are installing PV systems to slash energy costs.

CEFC is also investing $75 million in NAB Climate Bonds that finance a portfolio of renewable energy assets and facilities. www.cleanenergyfinancecorp.com.au

People and perspectives Arc tic circle of life

Time ticks on

During a hiking holiday student backpacker Colin Duggleby struck up a conversation with a Norwegian local and heard about the remarkable longevity of wooden houses in and around Oslo, some having withstood the elements for 800 years without needing any repair. Due, he was told, to the dry climate of Norway. However during “the past” 50 years the climate had progressively become much wetter and warmer, causing many wooden buildings to deteriorate more quickly.

The date of the conversation? September 1957.

“The 50-year period that the Norwegian boy referred to was actually the first half of the twentieth century. If a Norwegian boy was aware of climate change 57 years ago, why is it that a supposedly intelligent Rhodes Scholar, who happens to be the current Prime Minister of Australia, and many of his followers continue to deny climate change today?” asked Colin.

In January 2015 two minutes were added to the Doomsday Clock, taking it to three minutes to midnight (23.57). The reason: continued lack of global political action to address climate change and issues of nuclear weapons and waste.

Initially set in 1947 at 23.53 (seven minutes to midnight) the clock has since been adjusted forwards following wars, security threats, the Cuban missile crisis and nuclear tests, or backwards when arms limitations agreements or test bans are agreed.

In 1949 the clock was set at 23.57 in response to Soviet Union atomic bomb testing, and in 1953 rose to 23.58 – the highest ever – due to thermonuclear testing by the US and Soviet Union.

Climate change first appeared as a time determining factor in 2007 after the dangers posed to civilization were assessed along with the prospect of nuclear annihilation as the greatest threats to humankind. Two minutes were added (23.55).

The year following the 2009 UN Climate Change conference the clock was adjusted back one minute to 23.54.

Adjusted forward in January this year, 23.57 reflects the threat of climate change and modernisation of nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia along with problems of nuclear waste. Three minutes to midnight – or doomsday itself – is the second highest since 1947.

The Clock resides on a wall in the University of Chicago and the Board helping determine time shifts includes 18 Nobel Laureates.

Obituaries Early this year the renewables industry said farewell to two outstanding industry contributors.

Professor Michael Raupach Distinguished climate scientist Professor Michael Raupach was inaugural co-chairman of the Global Carbon Project and had a long career at CSIRO. He studied the natural and human influences on the global carbon cycle and made a “tremendous contribution” to climate research. The Climate Council’s Will Steffen described Raupach as “brilliant at connecting his science with the community”.

Professor Stephen Kaneff Emeritus Professor Kaneff founded the Energy Conversion Group within the ANU Department of Engineering Physics, which had the objective of assessing feasibility of the mass use of solar energy.

Kaneff led the first major flagship project undertaken in solar energy in Australia, the White Cliffs* facility. The White Cliffs project led directly to the 400 square metre ANU “Big Dish” in the 1990s, and another in Israel, as well as several other major projects. When it was commissioned in the 1990s the Big Dish was the world’s largest solar dish collector.

Kaneff was inducted into the Solar Council’s Hall of Fame which recognises and celebrates those making great contributions to solar energy. *Authored by Robin Tennant-Wood Following the Sun charts the lead-up to the current period of solar energy research and development and documents the fascinating story of White Cliffs whose progress often teetered on the brink and would not have materialised without Kaneff’s tenacity.

44 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

Fronius Australia’s new Managing Director Earlier this year Adrian Noronho took over the helm as Managing Director of Fronius Australia.

Adrian who studied mechanical engineering at Monash University and has extensive knowledge and experience in the Australian solar industry has been with Fronius Australia since its inception in 2010 and has successfully led the sales and marketing operations.

Klaus Kramler returned to Fronius International in Austria.

Need a technical editor?

Good writing not only saves time, it is accurate, without ambiguity and clear.

Easier said than done. Few engineers and scientists receive any training in writing.

Maybe you need an editor to help? I have more than twenty years of experience in the solar industry, mining, oil and gas and biological work. Call Dr Bill Parker on 0403 583 676 or email editor@westnet.com.au

EMISSIONS TALLY: Dirty stuff 542.6 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions = Australia’s emissions (2013-2014)

25.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions = per capita Australian average (2013)

12.47 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per capita = OECD average (2012)

State by state State NSW QLD VIC WA SA NT TAS ACT

Megatonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions 149 135 129 76 30 15 8 1

Tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions per person 20.4 29.5 23 31.2 18.1 63 15.2 3.5

Department of the Environment 2014 and Climate Council (2014): The Australian Renewable Energy Race: Which States are Winning or Losing?

5,062 MW = Large-scale renewable capacity installed 2001-2014 in Australia State SA VIC QLD WA NSW TAS ACT NT

15,762 MW = Total installed RE capacity in Australia State NSW TAS VIC QLD SA WA ACT NT Source: Clean Energy Council 2014a

Percentage of dwellings with solar PV State SA QLD WA NSW ACT VIC TAS NT

MW 1478 1285 682 642 599 344 26 5

Source: Commonwealth of Australia 2014, based on data provided by the Clean Energy Regulator current at 16 July 2014

MW 5,681 2,695 2,432 2,219 1,735 936 47 16

% 26.1 24.9 18.4 11.8 11.7 11.4 10.4 5.1

Source: Australian PV Institute 2014

Sunny state of SA 4 4 4 4

$5.5 billion invested in renewable energy in SA since 2003 36% of SA electricity from renewable sources ‘33% by 2020’ renewable energy target of SA smashed 50% by 2025: SA’s new target

** Honourable mention: The ACT has struck a 90% renewable energy target by 2020 **

Special tribute

Take a bow Bill Parker

Editor, Solar Progress 1995 to 2014 Here we salute the achievements of the well-known Dr Bill Parker who steered Solar Progress for almost two decades. In that time “Parker’s Pen” played a significant role in reporting the leaps and bounds of solar energy in Australia.

The name Dr Bill Parker and the words solar career in microbiology took him from the ranks energy seem to be inextricably linked and for of technician, teacher, and research assistant to good reason: in the two decades to December laboratory director in various UK universities.

2014 Bill was editor of Solar Progress. In that In the early ‘70s Bill gained a BSc (Hons) in role he championed the rise and rise of the Applied Biology in London and later he migrated solar industry from fledgling player to serious to Western Australia to study microbiological game changer. aspects of the disposal of septic tank effluent in We asked Bill about some of the more sand soils. On gaining his PhD from the UWA in memorable episodes in those years and it 1983 Bill completed a postdoctoral fellowship turns out that - winding the clock back to at Murdoch University and in 1991 picked up a 1995 when he took the reins from Trevor Graduate Diploma in Media Studies. But it was not Lee - his first edition of Solar Progress was not all about academia, along the way Bill launched a without “issues”. With a heavy focus on solar private consultancy servicing all aspects of applied hot water the lines were somehow blurred microbiology and environmental management between company self-promotion and editorial and was a partner in Living In the Comfort Zone “We might now call that advertorial but then Productions co-producing videos on sustainability. it caused a backlash from some readers,” Bill Bill is a long-term Technical and Scientific Writing recalled. “How dare I allow this promotional tutor and boasts numerous Professional Service Dr Bill Parker in his role as CFA Brigade Equipment Officer stuff? Oops. First edition and getting that sort Roles, he is a director of Proteomics International of response!“ and proprietor of Renew Editors and Writers.

Magazine production moved from Canberra to Bill’s hometown of Taking a shine to solar Perth where the team “doubled” in size with the employment of a graphic designer. Otherwise it was entirely Bill’s responsibility to write and source Back to the origins of solar. Bill’s interest was sparked in 1989 when he content as well as design the magazine. was appointed director and manager of the Solar Energy Information “The ensuing years were challenging and rewarding and gave me Centre in South Perth and produced the two-colour four page newsletter relationships with a friendly crowd of diverse people interested in anything Helios. From there he spent almost twenty years tracking solar energy solar,” he said. Bill encountered many visionaries and pioneers and has enterprises and entrepreneurs to produce Solar Progress – no small feat. always taken particular interest and indeed pride in the many outstanding In the five years from 2009 he was a director of the Australian Solar achievements of Australia’s solar movers and shakers, too numerous to list Council. here.

Today Bill gallantly offers his services as a volunteer fire fighter. He’s a He says “My role has also been a social one and having attended every keen photographer, clarinet and saxophone player, a Life Member of the annual conference since 1991 the overriding memory of most has been WA Rowing Club, Member of the Perth Morris Men and when time permits one of a strong camaraderie. A meeting of solar minds both in technical he enjoys mucking around with vintage sports cars. Like we said, his life sessions and socially.“ spans a remarkable array of interests and achievements. Enthusiasm and Equipped with his own pioneering spirit, Bill was the first homeowner energy abound which help explain his widespread popularity. in Western Australia to install a grid connected rooftop PV system, this The final word goes to Bill. Reflecting on recent decades he said: “Have atop the two-storey passive house he built: “Rammed earth, north facing we made solar progress? Absolutely. PV is now a consumer product. Yet windows, small vent windows to south west corner. Ceiling fans in all we have another step to make in the domestic sector wherein affordable rooms. No heaters, no coolers. Running about 6 kWh each day. Year-round groups of homes (designed for the climate) are placed and managed such comfort except for a few very hot days in summer,“ said the man whose life that the grid is not needed. And if you can afford a Tesla car, the energy story is a kaleidoscope of colour and variety. picture is complete.“

Documenting the Good Doc’s life It’s not possible to do justice on this page to the full gamut of Bill’s roles as a microbiologist, scientist, company director, consultant, tutor, author, editor, musician, fire fighter and solar pioneer since his early days as an apprentice flute maker and musical instrument salesman in London. His

46 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

His words echo the mind-set of the entire solar energy community – people with vision who embrace sustainability as the way forward.

The Solar Council would like to congratulate and thank Dr Bill Parker for his outstanding contributions over a lengthy period reporting solar energy developments and heightening awareness about renewable energy.

Solar science Continued from page 12

“However, the present government’s aggressively antagonistic attitude towards renewables does not help in forward-looking initiatives like this, instead locking us into things that have worked in the past but are unlikely to be important in the future.” Fortunately the inspirational role model is rarely daunted.

“Things that seemed impossible so far in the future are now doable and feasible” Martin Green who predicted last year that the 60c/watt manufacturing cost would reduce to 30c/watt some time before 2025 says it is all but certain solar will be the cheapest form of electricity generation by 2030, for greenfield sites.

“Costs will decrease by at least a factor of two by then, while costs of competing technologies will increase. It will clearly account for a large fraction of the new electricity generation capacity installed until 2050.

Solar is already the biggest source of energy sustaining life on earth, but I think it could become also the largest single source of commercial energy by the end of the century.”

He’s always been confident that the costs of PV could be brought down to a level where they were competitive with conventional generators, even without applying the full costs of environmental impact to the latter.

“The rate of progress over the past five years, however, has been quite surprising, even to me. Part of our success comes from us being able to keep the group together during the low funding era of the 1980s, between Ronald Reagan’s election and Chernobyl, making us one of the few groups that have continuity stretching back to the 1970s.”

Winding the clock back to the 1970s, it was US President Jimmy Carter who had a major impact on Green as well as the industry itself through his leadership and the progressive programs he introduced.

Green – who met Carter in 1993 when the past president was awarded the Karl Boer Medal for ‘Significant pioneering contributions to the

“It is now almost certain that solar will be the cheapest form of electricity generation by 2030, for greenfield sites …

Solar is already the biggest source of energy sustaining life on earth, but it could become also the largest single source of commercial energy by the end of the century.” promotion of solar energy as an alternative source of energy’ – was awarded the very same medal himself several years later. A momentous and somewhat special occasion for the Professor who in 2013 was elected into the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal Society which comprises just 1450 of the world’s most distinguished scientists, among them Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking.

It’s heartening to acknowledge good old Aussie home-spun achievements are hailed on the world stage, but as Green said the path was not always easy. If it were not for some key players within the space cell manufacturing industry – he identifies Gene Ralph and Peter Iles, Lou Davies, Michael Mack and Arnold Holderness – for “supplying bits and pieces that we needed but could not really afford” the story may have been a little different.

Climate heats up - the critical decade:

Great potential:

• 2014 = hottest year on record globally; Australia’s third hottest • 0.69°C above the 20th century average = world’s average temperature for 2014 • 2014 = 38th consecutive year with above average global temperature • 1998 onwards = the world’s top 10 warmest years • 2013 = Australia’s record hot year “virtually impossible without climate change”

• 500 times greater than NEM demand/current power generation capacity = potential renewable generation • 50 GW = current NEM (actual installed capacity and annual generation, all technologies) • 18,500 to 24,100 GW = Max installable generation capacity of solar (CSP/T and PV) (followed by geothermal at 5140 GW, offshore wind 680 GW and onshore wind 660 GW (plus biomass and wave) • 21,000 = Number of Australians employed in renewables (2013) • 32,000 = potential number of RE jobs in 15 years under strong/ consistent policy Source: AEMO 2013

Source: Climate Council – Quantifying the impact of Climate Change on extreme heat

Public views over the link to climate change and extreme weather: • 7 6% = people polled in November 2014 • 5 2% = January 2014 poll Public opinion polling by Essential Media Communications

48 | ISSUE 1 • 2015

Solar Council Corporate Members For full listing of Solar Council Corporate Members see www.solar.org.au

Diamond Members Greenbank Environmental

Hareon Solar Technology Co, Ltd

Silver Corporate Members Alternergy Power Systems Australia Pty Ltd

MaxiSolar Pty Ltd R F Industries Pty Ltd

BYD Europe B.V.

CO2 Markets

DKSH Australia Pty Ltd

Rheem Australia

Electroy Solar

Gold Corporate Members ABB Pty Ltd

Shanghai JA Solar PV Technology Co Ltd

Energy Matters

Solar Depot Pty Ltd

Enphase Energy Inc ®

Solar Freedom Australia Pty Ltd

EnviroGroup

Apricus Australia Pty Ltd

Solar World WA Green Energy Trading

Australian Ethical Investments

Go Energy

Risen Energy (Australia) Pty Ltd

ReneSola

Suntech

Trina Solar (Australia) Pty Ltd

Solargain PV Pty Ltd Solari Energy Pty Ltd

HID Europe Infinity Solar

SOLIMPEKS

L&H Solar + Solutions

SunPower Corporation Australia

LG Electronics Australia Pty Ltd

True Value Solar

Yingli Green Energy Australia Pty Ltd

Stage a presence in Solar Progress Solar Progress is the flagship publication of the Australian Solar Council.

Delving into cutting-edge developments from the nano-scale to big solar, and industry solar advocacy to commentary and all in between, the magazine is created by and for the solar community. It is your industry magazine.

A snapshot of Solar Progress: • Four issues a year • Circulated to 5000 solar specialists across Australia • Read by up to 18,000 industry devotees Solar Progress is circulated to manufacturers, distributors, installers, designers, project managers, politicians, engineers, consultants, and the increasingly aware consumer. Firmly positioned on the radar of the entire solar community, Solar Progress is the ideal vehicle in which to promote your company service or product.

Branding boost Solar Progress Online – extend the reach of your marketing budget.

Companies signing up now for a full-page advert in Solar Progress will enjoy the benefit of a free online ad in Solar Progress Online, the Solar Council’s news and industry section of www.solar.org.au. Your online ad will make your marketing dollar go further with increased visibility and links directly to your website. With online exposure at 16,000 page views/month, this is an opportunity not to be missed!

To participate, contact Solar Council Business Development Manager, Joanna Joustra on 0402 938 401 or email Joanna@solar.org.au

Joanna Joustra is your contact for advertising in Solar Progress, now syndicated with the Solar Council website. With previous leadership positions within the publishing and events industries Joanna has a proven record of establishing highly effective relationships that support growth initiatives. Joanna lives in a solar powered home in an off grid co-operative.

Solar Council Programs

Solar Installer and Sales Training In early February the Solar Council staged a series of Compliant Design and Installation workshops.

Held during February in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide the Solar Roadshow, which delivered training in the AS/NZS 5033:2014 Compliance update, attracted hundreds of installers.

Solar Council Vice President Glen Morris presented the update, including the changes for micro inverters and DC power conditioning units, as well as changes to cabling requirements and signage.

Glen also focused on how to expand business to meet the fast emerging energy storage market.

As Glen notes: “Energy storage and distributed generation is the greatest revolution since the invention of electricity.”

This free event was supported by sponsors, including Selectronic, Ecoult, Robert Bosch, Suntech, CO2 Markets, Supply Partners and Envirosure. The sponsors supported the days’ training by delivering engaging presentations that covered energy storage configurations and their functions; an informative history of PV; solutions for smart home energy use and how to source the best insurance for a solar business.

The Solar Council will be presenting further compliance roadshows for the AS 4777.2:2015 in the second half of this year. This roadshow will deliver an understanding of inverter requirements and inverter approval for connection to the utility grid. The new AS 4777.1 will be presented early 2016 and will cover grid connection of energy systems via inverters. These standards now include information about the requirements of hybrid systems.

All attendees gained 50 CPD points.

Solar Gold and Solar Essentials The Compliance Roadshows also featured an update on Solar Gold best practice training from

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Hundreds of installers across Australia attended the Solar Council’s Solar Essentials Roadshow for updates on industry standards and Solar Gold.

Quality Products Development Manager Paul Prince. The best practice initiative for installers and businesses in the solar industry centres on integrity, ethics and high quality standards in workmanship and customer service.

“Installers and businesses offering a high quality of service can be acknowledged and distinguished,” Paul said. “The gold standard for solar PV design and installation, symbolised in the Solar Gold trust mark, is awarded to companies that commit to meeting and maintaining this best practice standard.

“This provides consumer confidence in their long-term investment.”

Paul Prince also launched Solar Essentials, the Solar Council’s new online training package that is offered free with Small Business and Corporate memberships. Solar Essentials is the stepping-stone to Solar Gold training; delivering a body of knowledge that is considered essential for solar installers and other people working in the industry.

Solar Essentials offers 40 CPD points.

Solar Gold offers a further 55 CPD points.

Visit www.solargold.com.au for further information.

SolarPlus: the Solar PV Design Tool “The best solar CRM, design, sales and documentation solution at the touch of a button.”

The Solar Council regularly presents webinars for new SolarPlus users across Australia.

These workshops cover the following: • Setting up business settings and system defaults • Adding components and using the inventory • Creating system designs to save as prebuilt templates • Creating a customer and producing a quote and performance report, and • Creating a system manual Hosted by Laurie Kane the SolarPlus User Forums cover solutions to user issues such as inventory component refresh and, moving with the times, updates such as the new groupings for micro-inverters on the Performance Report.

Laurie is constantly fine-tuning SolarPlus to incorporate improvements and reflect industry updates – especially in the fast moving world of battery storage – to ensure all SolarPlus users gain the maximum benefit from this comprehensive CRM tool.

Contact Laurie Kane on 0448 550 270 or email laurie@solar.org.au or visit www.solarplus.org.au for a onemonth no obligation trial of SolarPlus for your business.

Solar Heroes The Solar Council would like to acknowledge these prominent supporters whose generous donations have contributed to the strength of the Save Solar campaign. Visit www.savesolar.com.au to find out more and see the feature on pages 7 and 8.

SAVE MONEY. SAVE SOLAR.

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