A precinct of solar homes being launched in White Gum Valley today will generate and sell its own electricity through a new type of "citizens' utility". Eighty new homes at the site of the old Kim Beazley Primary School will feature solar panels and about half will have solar batteries.

A Queensland government-owned power company has installed the country’s first solar battery storage system from Tesla as it begins a year-long trial into how it can reward consumers who cut their reliance on the electricity grid.Energex, which has installed a Tesla Powerwall and another storage system from Californian company Sunverge at its Brisbane training facility ...

64GW of wind power and 57GW of solar PV was commissioned last year, a jump of nearly 30% over 2014 according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). Global total investment in clean energy also set a new record in 2015 – USD $328.9bn. This was up 4% from 2014’s $315.9bn and beat the previous all-time record set in 2011 by 3%.

There is confidence a proposed 15 megawatt solar farm near Temora in the New South Wales Riverina will get Federal Government funding to allow its development. Epho's $30m project at Gidginbung is one of three Riverina solar farm proposals to be shortlisted for funds from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.