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"These maps are based on data from the Clean Energy Regulator, the Australian Government agency tasked with the administration of the Renewable Energy Target. For each postcode and local government area, the map shows the estimated percentage of dwellings that have a PV system and the total photovoltaic capacity installed. Most of the PV systems in Australia are small-scale rooftop installations; however there are a number of larger-scale PV power stations with a capacity of more than 100 kW. These power stations are indicated by individual markers. Live performance data is available for systems in the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs, and at the University of Queensland."

Australia: Infigen to build PV integrated energy storage demonstration project. Infigen has begun work on a one MW photovoltaic and energy storage plant in Australia's New South Wales. A first for both the company and the country, the demonstration project aims to pave the way for future utility-scale projects.

ARENA is pleased today to highlight a new solar map website, which tracks the contribution of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Australia's energy mix and provides a guide to the location and capacity of PV installations across the country.

"The recent start of construction on the first of two large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in outback New South Wales shows the importance of renewable energy targets and funding. The first, currently being built at Nyngan, will be the largest solar PV farm in the southern hemisphere, producing 103 megawatts at peak capacity. "

"Australia is set to get more solar power into the grid with two new large scale PV farms. AGL Energy Limited recently announced that two large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects have managed to secure funding thanks to agreements with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the New South Wales (NSW) Government. The projects are expected to produce approximately 360,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year, which is enough to meet the needs of over 50,000 average homes in the Australian region of New South Wales."

"The plunging cost of solar PV means that it may now be half the cost of grid-based electricity, according to some industry estimates."

"The timing was appropriately perverse. On the day that most listed Australian solar companies had finalised the release of a massive splash of red ink on their accounts, the result of a series of boom-bust cycles inspired by various state governments, Victoria decided to trigger another mini boom-bust cycle by becoming the latest, and presumably the last, to slash its solar feed in tariffs."

"Consumer guide to solar PV"

"The fundamental transformation of energy markets brought about by the growing incursions of renewables such as wind and solar has been underlined in a new report by the European energy analysts at Macquarie Group, who have concluded that the plunge in costs for rooftop solar PV has fallen to such an extent that its continued rapid deployment may be unstoppable."

"Australia's solar landmark Australian solar is celebrating a major milestone, with one million households now equipped with solar PV systems. By the end of 2008 we had less than 20,000 systems installed, illustrating the rapid proliferation of solar across the country. Since then the number of systems installed by year has surged ahead, with 63,378 installations in 2009, 196,308 in 2010, 335,067 in 2011 and 322,447 last year."

"Australia is on the cusp of a solar energy revolution. First, a recent study suggests that the country could power its entire national domestic infrastructure using only solar (while slashing the price of home electricity by 70 percent). Now, the University of Melbourne has introduced a new organic PV cell printer that rolls out a functional binder page-sized sheet of solar panel every two seconds, making the production of all those cells cheaper and a whole lot faster."

"2012 was another bumper year for renewable energy worldwide with solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity surpassing 100 gigawatts for the first time and wind energy capacity expanding by almost one-fifth."

"By Giles Parkinson on 20 April 2012 California-based Sungevity is set to become the first solar company in Australia to offer zero-cost rooftop solar, teaming up with local company Nickel Energy to offer pay-as-you-go leasing deals that have proved enormously popular in the US."

"By the end of this decade, it estimates that onshore wind will be the cheapest source of energy we have. At an average cost of $90 per megawatt-hour (MWh) and in some cases as cheap as $60/MWh it will be cheaper than coal and cheaper than gas. By 2030, the cheapest option will be solar PV, which could cost as little as $50/MWh, followed closely by wind and landfill gas."

"The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells has declined an incredible 99% since 1977. Consequently, a growing number of solar markets are very close to hitting grid parity, Think Progress has reported."

"Eco Energy Solutions recently completed the installation of one of Australia's largest ground mounted, flat plate, grid-connected medium-scale Solar PV projects at Ballarat Airport. "

"Rooftop solar winners and losers, Published 9:35 AM, 6 May 2011 * Tags Australia, photovoltaics, rooftop solar, solar credits, solar PV, SRECs, Smart Energy - Giles Parkinson"

"By Giles Parkinson on 14 August 2012 Demand management has finally entered the political lexicon, as politicians to the left and the right realise that a 20-lane wide power grid has been built to service our energy demands, when one half that size might just as easily fit the bill."

"It has been known for more than 150 years that light can have an effect on the electrical properties of some materials. This is called the photoelectric effect. In 1921, Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his work explaining this. Photovoltaic cells are based on a related phenomenon called the photovoltaic effect, and they convert light directly into electricity. Let's look at how."