Individual light-harvesting protein complexes have a remarkable ability. Light, which is normally effectively harvested, is also used to finely control how much of it should be harvested.
Nicky Ison, University of Technology Sydney and Chris Dunstan, University of Technology Sydney
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency is facing a $1.3 billion budget chop as part of the federal government’s savings measures. But sacrifice the lead agency for green energy development
The linchpin to Tesla’s proposed merger with SolarCity is the Gigafactory and whether it can lower costs and improve battery performance.
Tesla Motors
Critics don’t think Tesla can sell enough home batteries to justify its acquisition of SolarCity, but what they’re underestimating is the potential for innovation the Gigafactory brings.
Building enough solar panels will be much easier if energy efficiency policy is ramped up at the same time.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
There’s a wider trend towards linking the energy and climate portfolios, and not before time – the race is on towards a low-carbon economy, and joined-up policy gets faster results.
Peter C. Doherty, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
There are several areas where Australia could be a world leader in innovation. If we can identify them and focus our efforts there, we could generate some genuine benefits here and abroad.
CSIRO has the know-how to develop commercial-scale green energy, with a clear plan and enough money.
CSIRO
The Coalition has asked CSIRO to develop a “roadmap” towards commercialised clean energy. It’s a good idea as long as the plan is clear, and there’s enough money behind it.
When will residential solar be cheaper than the cost of power from the grid? This point of ‘grid parity’ is a moving target but moving closer in a number of places.
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, speaking on Q&A.
Q&A
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg told Q&A that Australia has the highest number of solar panels on people’s roofs per capita anywhere in the world. Is that right?
Our civilisation is built on chemistry, and the science has a bright future, with the launch of a new Decadal Plan that will steer the science into the future.
There’s a good reason to connected to the electricity distribution network.
Flickr/Indigo Skies Photography
If you’re worried about rising electricity prices, then going off-grid sounds attractive. But why not create an intelligent network of solar-powerd batteries that can reduce prices for all?
Utilities are pushing back against the spread of rooftop solar power and charging bigger fees to solar homes. Who is right in this solar-versus-utilities fight?
Before jumping into the home battery market, make sure you do your research.
Patrick Fallon/Reuters
The ‘early adopters’ of home battery storage will pay significantly more than those who come later, but it won’t be long until prices drop enough for many more to get on board.