Victorian utility North East Water has announced plans to install solar and battery storage at its water treatment plant in the regional town of Yackandandah, with a tender for the job launched on Friday.

Regulators in Queensland have back-tracked on proposed rules that could have effectively banned the installation of all battery storage devices inside homes and garages, and hopes are rising that Standards Australia will also modify its proposed guidelines.

Silicon Module Super League (SMSL) member Canadian Solar exceeded fourth quarter 2016 shipment and full-year guidance, due to strong demand at the end of the year but profitability was impacted by lower ASP’s and revised US anti-dumping and countervailing duties.

The former head of Australia’s most notorious brown coal generator – the soon-to-be-retired Hazelwood plant – says solar PV and battery storage already represent a cheaper alternative to gas-fired generation.