Ten indigenous communities in Australia are set to be powered by hybrid solar PV and diesel systems in the first phase of an AU$55 million (US$43.8 million) project.

India has officially started an investigation into the import of solar cells and modules from China, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Sunshine Coast Council on Monday formally opened its 15MW Valdora solar farm to become the first council in Australia to complete its own large scale solar plant, with the prospect of saving more than $20 million in electricity costs.

At the halfway point of the year, 2017 remains the second-hottest year to date — a surprise given the demise of the El Niño that helped boost temperatures to record levels last year.