BP Solar receives order close to 2 MW from Australian distributor  
On Sept. 26, RFI Industries Pty Ltd of New South Wales, Australia, announced that it placed a $10 million AUD ($7.62 million USD) order for about 1.8 MW of panels from BP Solar Australia.

Australia's Solar Cities initiative receives 23 proposals  
An expert panel was expected to recommend a shortlist of candidates for the Australian government's Solar Cities initiative by the end of September.

Australian dye solar cell firm wraps up IPO  
With four deals for large-scale manufacturing of TiO₂-based PV building cladding in Europe going sour, Australia's Sustainable Technologies International shifts operations back home to carry out a successful IPO for a new entity, Dyesol. But instead of producing BIPV modules, the newly publicly listed firm wants to make and sell the equipment for others to play the do-or-dye game – and a Canadian firm is first in line.

Australian business scheme to aid start ups but not PV deployment

Australia's Department for Industry, Tourism, and Resources (DITR) announced a $100 million AUD ($75.6 million USD) fund to support »cutting-edge renewable energy technology« on June 8.

Start up dreams of installing 1 GW PV system in Western Australia

A Perth, Australia-based start up says it wants to construct a 1 GW PV installation in Western Australia's desert, as well as set up silicon, wafer, cell, and module production. 

Australian PV Roadmap expected to push on-grid systems

Following a Sept. 3 workshop, the consultant hired to head the development plans for a federally-funded Australian PV roadmap predicts the final report will push on-grid PV.

Cap on Australian PV program drastically reduces PV rebate approvals

Following a monthly cap put on money available for an Australian government PV rebate in February (see PI 4/2003, p. 46), approvals for on- and off-grid systems fell 90 percent from 180 in January to just 18 in February. 

Origin Energy claims new cell reduces silicon content by 90 percent

A new crystalline silicon cell technology has been developed by a joint venture between the Australian National University (ANU) and Australian energy provider Origin Energy Ltd.

Despite delay in profitability, SES pushes distribution of pumps

Solar Energy Systems Ltd. (SES), a Western Australia-based manufacturer of solar-powered water pumps, announced first-quarter results in late November for the period through September.

First commercial installation with Graetzel cell technology

Sustainable Technologies International Ltd. (STI), a solar module start-up based in Queanbeyan near Canberra, Australia, began sales of its dye solar cell technology nearly one year later than expected (see PI 6/2001, p. 22).

Call for bids announced for Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market

On April 6, the city of Melbourne put out a public call for expressions of interest in the first stage of a 200 to 250 kW grid-connected PV installation on the roof of the Queen Victoria Market, a well-known Australian landmark. 

Industry lobby calls for extension of PV program

Following the Australian elections a renewable industry lobby calls for government to increase PV support

Expanding Eurosolare increases stake in Pacific Solar 

The Italian cell and module manufacturer Eurosolare, a full subsidiary of the Eni group, has added to its stake in Pacific Solar, an Australian company that is developing proprietary silicon thin-film cell technology.

New round of renewable energy grants announced 

The Renewable Energy Commercialisation Program (RECP), which provides government grants for Australian companies, organizations, and institutions, has announced that applications for the sixth round of funding will open on March 6 and close on April 24. 

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