Industry News
Modular wiring company opens Melbourne office
Apex Wiring Solutions has opened its first Australian office in Melbourne. The company says the investment is a result of growing demand for preassembled modular power and lighting systems around the world. [ + ]
Government funding will support local manufacturing jobs, says AMWU
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) has praised the federal government’s announcement that it will help communities and families buy energy-efficient hot water systems and household goods, saying it will support local cleantech manufacturing jobs. [ + ]
AuSES calls for conference papers
The Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) is calling for papers for its 50th annual conference at the Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn Campus on 6 and 7 December 2012. [ + ]
New workplace regulator for the construction industry
Fair Work Building and Construction (FWBC), the new regulator of workplace laws in the building and construction industry, begins operations today. FWBC was created by the Fair Work (Building) Act 2012 (FW Building Act). The agency is headed by the Acting Chief Executive, Leigh Johns, who was appointed by Bill Shorten MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on 30 May 2012. [ + ]
Price reform and smart metering required for electric vehicle charging, says ENA
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has said electricity pricing reform and investment in smart metering will be required for a smooth transition to electric vehicles. [ + ]
Ingenero launches Energy Access solar lease
Solar leasing company Ingenero has launched its Energy Access solar lease, signing up its first customer in Queensland. [ + ]
Research breakthrough improves solar panel technology 30%
Researchers have discovered a breakthrough in solar panel technology using dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) that improves the panels’ efficiency by at least 30%. [ + ]
NECA finds new placements for Hastie Group apprentices
The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has found new placements for 60 out of 80 apprentices that had been placed with the Hastie Group. [ + ]
Jinko Solar achieves high-yield performance results
Solar product manufacturer Jinko Solar has announced that its mono- and multicrystalline solar modules achieved high-yield performance results in Photon Laboratory’s outdoor field tests in January 2012. [ + ]
ETU urges FWA to reverse standdown of Watters Electrical workers
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) Victorian Branch has urged Fair Work Australia to reverse the standdown of electrical workers by Watters Electrical, part of the Hastie Group that recently entered into voluntary administration. [ + ]
Clean Energy Council pushes for CEFC establishment
The Clean Energy Council has called on the Australian Parliament to establish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) “as soon as possible”. The peak body for Australia’s renewable energy industry urged the government to pass laws establishing the $10 billion CEFC so new clean energy technologies can access support. [ + ]
Sydney Water awards water metering contract to Elster
Sydney Water has selected NYSE-listed Elster as one of its suppliers to deliver V100 volumetric water meters and Helix water meters over the next three years, commencing 1 July 2012. These meters will help Sydney Water to manage its water resources more efficiently, by providing accurate measurement of water usage and control over water leakage and wastage. [ + ]
Metronode signs $182m data centre contract with NSW Government
Metronode, a subsidiary of Leighton Contractors, has signed a $182m contract with the New South Wales Government under the Data Centre Reform project for the provision of two managed data centres in NSW. The company will build two new large-scale, energy-efficient data centres in NSW - one located in Sydney’s inner west at Silverwater and the other in the Illawarra region at Wollongong’s southern suburb of Unanderra - as a part of the contract. When fully developed, each data centre will be capable of supporting up to 9 MW of IT load. [ + ]
Rittal officially opens its Data Centre Container at CeBIT
Rittal launched its Data Centre Container (DCC) yesterday at CeBIT, with Senator Kate Lundy cutting the ribbon to officially open the DCC. [ + ]
Schneider and Krohne collaborate on automation and instrumentation solution
Schneider Electric has announced a partnership with Krohne that the companies say will provide customers with a complete automation and instrumentation solution, which will include Schneider’s PlantStruxure process automation architecture and Krohne’s instrumentation offer. [ + ]