Leading polysilicon producer GCL-Poly Energy Holdings has announced plans to invest around US$823 million to expand production by 40,000MT and relocate and upgrade a further 20,000MT of capacity.

Newly introduced limits on rooftop solar and battery storage capacities for households are likely to spark innovative solutions that will effectively accelerate the so-called “network death spiral”, according to one of the leading lights in the Australian solar and storage business.

Michael Mobbs has been involved in sustainability for more than two decades, leading public discourse with his “sustainable house” blog, cutting his connections to mains water and sewer more than two decades ago, and finally cutting the electricity wires to his inner-Sydney terrace home in March, 2015.

The world’s biggest solar and battery storage plant – and Australia’s biggest solar farm – could begin construction this year, after the project was formally launched in Adelaide on Thursday.