The solar boom that’s hit Queensland in the past year or so is showing policymakers the potential for renewable energy solutions. A common problem with solar, of course, is that you can sometimes end up with more energy than you can use. In Townsville, North Queensland, approval has been granted to install Queensland’s first community-scale battery to support the transition to renewables and provide back-up power to the local community.

In 2018, Australia reached a milestone in that two million homes across the country now have solar PV installed on their rooftops making it the largest uptake in the world.

The clean energy industry has come a long way in the last few years and continues to grow at a rapid rate. As with all fast-moving sectors, it’s vitally important to continually improve how we do things to maintain a high level of integrity, trust and reputation with the wider public.

Women electricians are a rarity, sure, but in an industry as dynamic as solar we should hope to see more of them, says Melbourne-based installer and trainer Billie Smith.