Impress Media Australia, Adelaide's specialist IT PR agency - Information Technology Public RelationsImpress Media Australia is a green technology (clean tech) agency for companies from startups to multinationalshttps://impress.com.au/newsroom.feed2024-03-30T02:29:22+10:30Impress Mediajohn@impress.com.auUse ‘meditation microdoses’ to curb Christmas stress caused by rising prices and COVID cases2022-12-13T06:00:00+10:302022-12-13T06:00:00+10:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/lifeflow-meditation-centre/2325-use-meditation-microdoses-to-curb-xmas-stress.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 800px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; margin: initial; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Lifeflow/John_Burston_W_H.jpg" alt="" width="800" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">John Burston: <br />Microdoses of mindfulness free you from ‘fight or flight’ panic mode by connecting your mind with your body to calm your emotions and think more clearly. </span></span>While we celebrate Christmas as a time of families, fun and feasting, it’s also a tough time for many.</p>
<p>As well as the usual loneliness, it’s even easier this year to be overwhelmed by stress as <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/inflation/measures-cpi.html">inflation-fuelled price rises</a> and fear of the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/case-numbers-and-statistics">growing wave of COVID infections</a> assail families and individuals.</p>
<p>“While it’s hard to control what happens to you or your family during the Christmas season, you can learn how to respond more calmly to those events,” advises Lifeflow Mediation Centre Director of Teaching John Burston.</p>
<p>“Mindfulness can’t change how other people behave or the events that occur, but it can help you to manage your emotions better. Instead of being trapped in your worried thoughts, mindfulness frees you from ‘fight or flight’ panic mode by connecting your mind with your body to calm your emotions and think more clearly.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 800px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; margin: initial; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Lifeflow/John_Burston_W_H.jpg" alt="" width="800" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">John Burston: <br />Microdoses of mindfulness free you from ‘fight or flight’ panic mode by connecting your mind with your body to calm your emotions and think more clearly. </span></span>While we celebrate Christmas as a time of families, fun and feasting, it’s also a tough time for many.</p>
<p>As well as the usual loneliness, it’s even easier this year to be overwhelmed by stress as <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/inflation/measures-cpi.html">inflation-fuelled price rises</a> and fear of the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/case-numbers-and-statistics">growing wave of COVID infections</a> assail families and individuals.</p>
<p>“While it’s hard to control what happens to you or your family during the Christmas season, you can learn how to respond more calmly to those events,” advises Lifeflow Mediation Centre Director of Teaching John Burston.</p>
<p>“Mindfulness can’t change how other people behave or the events that occur, but it can help you to manage your emotions better. Instead of being trapped in your worried thoughts, mindfulness frees you from ‘fight or flight’ panic mode by connecting your mind with your body to calm your emotions and think more clearly.</p>
After pandemic divorce surge, Buddhist monk reveals how to ‘enrich your sexuality’ through meditation2022-10-25T14:02:11+10:302022-10-25T14:02:11+10:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/lifeflow-meditation-centre/2324-better-sex-through-meditation.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="float: right; max-width: 478px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="width: 100%; margin: initial;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Lifeflow/Graham_Williams_at_Tara_Hils_2_WEB_2.jpg" alt="Graham Williams at Tara Hils 2 WEB 2" width="478" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Lifeflow founder Dr Graham Williams</span></span>After Australian divorces surged during the pandemic, a Buddhist monk is showing South Australian singles and couples how meditation can enrich their sexuality at an Adelaide Hills event this weekend.</p>
<p>Dr Graham Williams, a Buddhist monk trained in the Tibetan and Burmese meditation traditions, said the pandemic, especially lockdowns, had placed extra stress on relationships since the start of 2020.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia reported it had received 47,016 divorce applications during the 2021-22 financial year, after 49,625 in the previous financial year. Both years marked a large rise on the 2018-19 financial year when there were 44,432 divorce applications.</p>
<p>Graham said stress was known to negatively impact both mind and body during sex. “Stress can increase your body’s production of cortisol, the stress hormone known to reduce libido,” he said.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="float: right; max-width: 478px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="width: 100%; margin: initial;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Lifeflow/Graham_Williams_at_Tara_Hils_2_WEB_2.jpg" alt="Graham Williams at Tara Hils 2 WEB 2" width="478" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Lifeflow founder Dr Graham Williams</span></span>After Australian divorces surged during the pandemic, a Buddhist monk is showing South Australian singles and couples how meditation can enrich their sexuality at an Adelaide Hills event this weekend.</p>
<p>Dr Graham Williams, a Buddhist monk trained in the Tibetan and Burmese meditation traditions, said the pandemic, especially lockdowns, had placed extra stress on relationships since the start of 2020.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia reported it had received 47,016 divorce applications during the 2021-22 financial year, after 49,625 in the previous financial year. Both years marked a large rise on the 2018-19 financial year when there were 44,432 divorce applications.</p>
<p>Graham said stress was known to negatively impact both mind and body during sex. “Stress can increase your body’s production of cortisol, the stress hormone known to reduce libido,” he said.</p>
Melbourne innovator unveils affordable battery-powered homes with zero energy bills2022-06-21T06:00:00+09:302022-06-21T06:00:00+09:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/enphase-energy/2323-zero-energy-homes-use-enphase.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 600px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Tom_and_Ingrid_Graze_Zero_Living_on_stairs_W.jpg" alt="ZERO Living co-founders Ingrid and Tom Graze " width="600" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">ZERO Living co-founders Ingrid and Tom Graze </span></span></p>
<p>As Australia’s energy costs soar, Melbourne-based company ZERO Living has launched five battery-powered houses with a breakthrough design that makes them more affordable to buy and live in, with zero energy bills and no blackouts.</p>
<p>Costing from $640,000 for a two-bedroom home, the fully engineered houses are in the western Melbourne suburb of Albion, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/vic/albion-3020/">where the median house price is more than $800,000</a>. Fitted with Enphase microinverter-equipped solar panels and Tesla batteries, each house generates more than twice as much energy as it consumes. This effectively reduces its energy costs to zero, saving its owner <a href="https://impress.com.au/#_xx9am7f4ufhn">an average of nearly $50,000 in energy costs over 20 years</a> (in 2021 costs) *.</p>
<p>ZERO energy homes are designed from the roof down for space, comfort and low energy use, with high-quality energy-efficient materials, appliances and insulation. Each home is individually tailored to its building site, maximising its liveable space while reducing the building footprint and property cost.</p>
<p>ZERO Living founders Tom and Ingrid Graze have collaborated for the past three years with Swinburne University of Technology’s School of Engineering to develop smart energy monitoring systems that can help homeowners become even more energy-efficient. Each home is wired to monitor major appliances in real-time, with Swinburne analysing the data and returning it to the homeowner or occupant via a ZERO smartphone app.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 600px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Tom_and_Ingrid_Graze_Zero_Living_on_stairs_W.jpg" alt="ZERO Living co-founders Ingrid and Tom Graze " width="600" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">ZERO Living co-founders Ingrid and Tom Graze </span></span></p>
<p>As Australia’s energy costs soar, Melbourne-based company ZERO Living has launched five battery-powered houses with a breakthrough design that makes them more affordable to buy and live in, with zero energy bills and no blackouts.</p>
<p>Costing from $640,000 for a two-bedroom home, the fully engineered houses are in the western Melbourne suburb of Albion, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/vic/albion-3020/">where the median house price is more than $800,000</a>. Fitted with Enphase microinverter-equipped solar panels and Tesla batteries, each house generates more than twice as much energy as it consumes. This effectively reduces its energy costs to zero, saving its owner <a href="https://impress.com.au/#_xx9am7f4ufhn">an average of nearly $50,000 in energy costs over 20 years</a> (in 2021 costs) *.</p>
<p>ZERO energy homes are designed from the roof down for space, comfort and low energy use, with high-quality energy-efficient materials, appliances and insulation. Each home is individually tailored to its building site, maximising its liveable space while reducing the building footprint and property cost.</p>
<p>ZERO Living founders Tom and Ingrid Graze have collaborated for the past three years with Swinburne University of Technology’s School of Engineering to develop smart energy monitoring systems that can help homeowners become even more energy-efficient. Each home is wired to monitor major appliances in real-time, with Swinburne analysing the data and returning it to the homeowner or occupant via a ZERO smartphone app.</p>
Solaray reports post-election solar PV sales surge as inquiries double and storage hits record highs2022-06-15T06:00:00+09:302022-06-15T06:00:00+09:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/enphase-energy/2322-solaray-post-election-storage-sales-surge.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="float: right; max-width: 450px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="float: none; width: 100%; margin: initial;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Jonathan_Fisk_Solaray_Energy_3_W_H.jpg" alt="" width="450" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Solaray director and co-founder Jonathan Fisk</span></span></p>
<p>Within days of the Australian Federal election, Sydney-based Solaray Energy saw solar photovoltaic (PV) system inquiries double with one in two new customers ordering batteries with their solar panels.</p>
<p>After first-quarter sales cruelled by Omicron, summer floods and the impending election campaign, Solaray’s recent solar sales have rebounded to levels closer to the record demand of 2020 and 2021.</p>
<p>Solaray, a five-time Enphase installer of the year that has installed more than 75,000 Enphase microinverters in Australia, is active in the premium end of the NSW residential solar market.</p>
<p>Solaray director and co-founder Jonathan Fisk attributed the rebound in the solar market to the election delivering a pro-renewable energy parliament and surging energy prices. “In the second half of May, our inquiries jumped by close to 100 per cent,” he said.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="float: right; max-width: 450px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="float: none; width: 100%; margin: initial;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Jonathan_Fisk_Solaray_Energy_3_W_H.jpg" alt="" width="450" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Solaray director and co-founder Jonathan Fisk</span></span></p>
<p>Within days of the Australian Federal election, Sydney-based Solaray Energy saw solar photovoltaic (PV) system inquiries double with one in two new customers ordering batteries with their solar panels.</p>
<p>After first-quarter sales cruelled by Omicron, summer floods and the impending election campaign, Solaray’s recent solar sales have rebounded to levels closer to the record demand of 2020 and 2021.</p>
<p>Solaray, a five-time Enphase installer of the year that has installed more than 75,000 Enphase microinverters in Australia, is active in the premium end of the NSW residential solar market.</p>
<p>Solaray director and co-founder Jonathan Fisk attributed the rebound in the solar market to the election delivering a pro-renewable energy parliament and surging energy prices. “In the second half of May, our inquiries jumped by close to 100 per cent,” he said.</p>
Enphase Energy Installers in Australia Expand Adoption of IQ Microinverters Due to Their Safe AC Architecture2022-06-07T11:31:56+09:302022-06-07T11:31:56+09:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/enphase-energy/2321-enphase-energy-installers-in-australia-expand-adoption-of-iq-microinverters-due-to-their-safe-ac-architecture.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><strong>MELBOURNE, Australia, June 6, 2022 — </strong><a href="https://enphase.com/en-us">Enphase Energy, Inc.</a> (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today that a growing number of Australian solar installers are now exclusively offering Enphase<sup>®</sup> products, as increased solar safety regulations and compliance standards come into effect across the country.</p>
<p>In May 2022, AS/NZS5033:2021, an update to installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays, came into effect nationwide in Australia. The revised regulations aim to support solar installers in meeting compliance requirements and promoting consumer and electrical contractor safety. The standard details new compliance measures for direct current (DC) central (“string”) inverter-based solar systems, including restrictive cable runs, IEC 62930 compliant DC cable, and high visibility DC voltage and warning signs. In contrast, alternating current (AC) decentralized inverter-based solar systems operating at extra-low voltage, such as installations with Enphase microinverters, are exempt from most new regulations. As a result, some Australian solar installers are exclusively leveraging Enphase technology to help insulate their businesses and customers from electrical risk and future regulatory changes.</p>
<p><strong>MELBOURNE, Australia, June 6, 2022 — </strong><a href="https://enphase.com/en-us">Enphase Energy, Inc.</a> (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today that a growing number of Australian solar installers are now exclusively offering Enphase<sup>®</sup> products, as increased solar safety regulations and compliance standards come into effect across the country.</p>
<p>In May 2022, AS/NZS5033:2021, an update to installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays, came into effect nationwide in Australia. The revised regulations aim to support solar installers in meeting compliance requirements and promoting consumer and electrical contractor safety. The standard details new compliance measures for direct current (DC) central (“string”) inverter-based solar systems, including restrictive cable runs, IEC 62930 compliant DC cable, and high visibility DC voltage and warning signs. In contrast, alternating current (AC) decentralized inverter-based solar systems operating at extra-low voltage, such as installations with Enphase microinverters, are exempt from most new regulations. As a result, some Australian solar installers are exclusively leveraging Enphase technology to help insulate their businesses and customers from electrical risk and future regulatory changes.</p>
Enphase calls for Energy Summit to harness distributed energy resources for faster path to net-zero 2022-05-23T14:00:00+09:302022-05-23T14:00:00+09:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/enphase-energy/2320-enphase-calls-for-renwable-energy-summit.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 600px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; margin: initial; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Wilf-Johnston_v1_H_W.jpeg" alt="Wilf Johnston v1 H W" width="600" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Enphase Energy General Manager ANZ & Pacific Wilf Johnston </span></span>Enphase Energy has called on Australia’s new Government to convene a renewable energy summit that can align national resources for a more coordinated drive to achieve carbon net-zero.</p>
<p>After Saturday’s Federal election elected a new parliament overwhelmingly committed to more aggressive action on climate change, Australia needs to harness all its resources to focus on accelerating the nation’s transition to a low-cost renewable energy economy.</p>
<p>Enphase Energy General Manager ANZ & Pacific Wilf Johnston said Australia could reap enormous economic benefits from getting all parties involved in the renewable energy sector into one room. “Bob Hawke did this successfully with the National Economic Summit in 1983,” he said.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 600px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; margin: initial; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Wilf-Johnston_v1_H_W.jpeg" alt="Wilf Johnston v1 H W" width="600" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Enphase Energy General Manager ANZ & Pacific Wilf Johnston </span></span>Enphase Energy has called on Australia’s new Government to convene a renewable energy summit that can align national resources for a more coordinated drive to achieve carbon net-zero.</p>
<p>After Saturday’s Federal election elected a new parliament overwhelmingly committed to more aggressive action on climate change, Australia needs to harness all its resources to focus on accelerating the nation’s transition to a low-cost renewable energy economy.</p>
<p>Enphase Energy General Manager ANZ & Pacific Wilf Johnston said Australia could reap enormous economic benefits from getting all parties involved in the renewable energy sector into one room. “Bob Hawke did this successfully with the National Economic Summit in 1983,” he said.</p>
Solaray 75,000 Enphase microinverter record shows how to evolve ‘stressed’ power grid to ‘solar-smart’ 2022-04-19T06:00:00+09:302022-04-19T06:00:00+09:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/enphase-energy/2319-enphase-solaray-75000-microinverter-record.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 450px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; margin: initial; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Jonathan_Fisk_Solaray_Energy_3_W_H.jpg" alt="Solaray Energy director Jonathan Fisk " width="450" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Solaray Energy director Jonathan Fisk </span></span>Sydney-based Solaray Energy believes its Australian record of installing more than 75,000 Enphase microinverters on solar panels provides a path for solar-enabling Australia’s “stressed” electricity grid.</p>
<p>In a global announcement, Enphase Energy reports that Solaray is its only Australian partner to have installed more than 75,000 Enphase microinverters since 2014 - most of them in the past three years. Three other Enphase partners were recognised for having installed more than 25,000 microinverters.</p>
<p>Solaray estimates that with each microinverter installed on an average 300-watt panel, they have a collective energy generation capacity of 22.5 megawatts (MW) – capable of producing 32.8 gigawatt-hours (GW-h) of energy annually - enough to power more than 5200 average Australian homes *.</p>
<p>Solaray Energy director Jonathan Fisk said the big problem with rooftop-generated solar energy was that the electricity grid was not designed for it. “The grid was designed to distribute electricity generated by large, centralised power stations,” he said.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 450px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; margin: initial; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Jonathan_Fisk_Solaray_Energy_3_W_H.jpg" alt="Solaray Energy director Jonathan Fisk " width="450" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Solaray Energy director Jonathan Fisk </span></span>Sydney-based Solaray Energy believes its Australian record of installing more than 75,000 Enphase microinverters on solar panels provides a path for solar-enabling Australia’s “stressed” electricity grid.</p>
<p>In a global announcement, Enphase Energy reports that Solaray is its only Australian partner to have installed more than 75,000 Enphase microinverters since 2014 - most of them in the past three years. Three other Enphase partners were recognised for having installed more than 25,000 microinverters.</p>
<p>Solaray estimates that with each microinverter installed on an average 300-watt panel, they have a collective energy generation capacity of 22.5 megawatts (MW) – capable of producing 32.8 gigawatt-hours (GW-h) of energy annually - enough to power more than 5200 average Australian homes *.</p>
<p>Solaray Energy director Jonathan Fisk said the big problem with rooftop-generated solar energy was that the electricity grid was not designed for it. “The grid was designed to distribute electricity generated by large, centralised power stations,” he said.</p>
With Qantas pilot on board, Melbourne’s Jet Solar soars from solar demand during lockdown boom2022-04-04T06:00:00+09:302022-04-04T06:00:00+09:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/enphase-energy/2318-enphase-partner-jet-solar-soars-in-melbourne.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 800px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; margin: initial; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Jason_Dickinson_Jet_Solar_2_W.jpg" alt="Jet Solar founder Jason Dickinson " width="800" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Jet Solar founder Jason Dickinson </span></span>Founded six months before the COVID-19 pandemic slammed into the Australian economy, Enphase partner Jet Solar has seen sales of solar PV systems soar in the three years since it was set up.</p>
<p>Melbourne-based Jet Solar, which recently became an Enphase Gold Partner, was founded by electrician Jason Dickinson with just one other employee. Now he heads a team of nine, which includes a Qantas pilot who left the cockpit for the rooftop due to the collapse of international travel.</p>
<p>“We have a great little team,” explains Jason. “We have a couple of apprentices, ranging from a teenager to a 46-year-old ‘mature age’ apprentice and a couple of school-based apprentices.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 800px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; margin: initial; width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Jason_Dickinson_Jet_Solar_2_W.jpg" alt="Jet Solar founder Jason Dickinson " width="800" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Jet Solar founder Jason Dickinson </span></span>Founded six months before the COVID-19 pandemic slammed into the Australian economy, Enphase partner Jet Solar has seen sales of solar PV systems soar in the three years since it was set up.</p>
<p>Melbourne-based Jet Solar, which recently became an Enphase Gold Partner, was founded by electrician Jason Dickinson with just one other employee. Now he heads a team of nine, which includes a Qantas pilot who left the cockpit for the rooftop due to the collapse of international travel.</p>
<p>“We have a great little team,” explains Jason. “We have a couple of apprentices, ranging from a teenager to a 46-year-old ‘mature age’ apprentice and a couple of school-based apprentices.</p>
East coast floods highlight the need for Australia to mandate rapid shutdown for safer solar systems2022-03-21T06:00:00+10:302022-03-21T06:00:00+10:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/safer-solar/2317-safer-solar-flood-warning.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="float: right; max-width: 300px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="float: none; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/SaferSolar/Wilf-Johnston_v1_H_W.jpeg" alt="Wilf Johnston, GM ANZ for Safer Solar member Enphase Energy" width="300" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Wilf Johnston, GM ANZ for Safer Solar member Enphase Energy</span></span>The flooding of thousands of homes on the East Coast has highlighted the need for Australia to mandate rapid shutdown technology on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, warns industry group Safer Solar. </p>
<p>With solar panels installed on one in four Australian homes, many systems lack a quick and easy way to shut down solar panels in the event of a fault or emergency, creating a serious safety threat for homeowners, first responders and tradespeople. Solar panels that were not shut off before the floods may begin generating electricity when the sun shines, potentially without the safety systems designed to protect people from uncontrolled high-voltage electrical currents.</p>
<p>More than 90 per cent of rooftop solar PV systems installed in Australia include high voltage Direct Current (DC) wiring that is live whenever the sun is shining. This 600-1000 volt current, which cannot be shut off during daylight, can jump a 100mm gap between a system component and any earthed conductive material. Any break in wiring insulation or weather sealing of components can allow an electrical arc to form. Approaching 1000 degrees Celsius, this arc is hot enough to ignite fires - and does so more than twice every day in Australia. It can also deliver a lethal electric shock.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="float: right; max-width: 300px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="float: none; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/SaferSolar/Wilf-Johnston_v1_H_W.jpeg" alt="Wilf Johnston, GM ANZ for Safer Solar member Enphase Energy" width="300" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Wilf Johnston, GM ANZ for Safer Solar member Enphase Energy</span></span>The flooding of thousands of homes on the East Coast has highlighted the need for Australia to mandate rapid shutdown technology on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, warns industry group Safer Solar. </p>
<p>With solar panels installed on one in four Australian homes, many systems lack a quick and easy way to shut down solar panels in the event of a fault or emergency, creating a serious safety threat for homeowners, first responders and tradespeople. Solar panels that were not shut off before the floods may begin generating electricity when the sun shines, potentially without the safety systems designed to protect people from uncontrolled high-voltage electrical currents.</p>
<p>More than 90 per cent of rooftop solar PV systems installed in Australia include high voltage Direct Current (DC) wiring that is live whenever the sun is shining. This 600-1000 volt current, which cannot be shut off during daylight, can jump a 100mm gap between a system component and any earthed conductive material. Any break in wiring insulation or weather sealing of components can allow an electrical arc to form. Approaching 1000 degrees Celsius, this arc is hot enough to ignite fires - and does so more than twice every day in Australia. It can also deliver a lethal electric shock.</p>
MIMP delivers affordable gigabit-speed Internet services for businesses in Whyalla and Mount Gambier2022-03-28T06:00:00+10:302022-03-28T06:00:00+10:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/mimp/2314-widenetworks-gigcity-whyalla-mount-gambier.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-left: 10px; float: right; max-width: 213px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="margin: initial; float: none; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/mimp/allan%20aitchison%204.jpg" alt="MIMP CEO Allan Aitchison" width="213" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">MIMP CEO Allan Aitchison</span></span>Businesses in Whyalla and Mount Gambier can now access ultra-fast download speeds at affordable prices from $49.90 per month using the GigCity Internet service, deployed by MIMP connecting solutions.</p>
<p>Launched earlier this month, the first regional deployments of the GigCity network, in Whyalla and Mount Gambier, are great news for businesses in both cities. About 40 businesses already use GigCity for gigabit-speed Internet access across the two regional centres. In metropolitan Adelaide, the GigCity network is now used by more than 500 businesses at 23 South Australian business and innovation precincts.</p>
<p>Funded by the South Australian Government, infrastructure for GigCity network in Whyalla and Mount Gambier was designed and delivered by SA company MIMP connecting solutions. This regional GigCity network is operated by WideNetworks <a href="http://widenet.com.au">http://widenet.com.au</a> .</p>
<p>MIMP connecting solutions CEO Allan Aitchison said the gigabit-speed regional networks were based on the latest micro-wave technology, with a 10-gigabit wireless ring around each city and fibre-optic links back to Adelaide. “The GigCity networks make Internet access much faster and less expensive for businesses in both Mount Gambier and Whyalla,” he said.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-left: 10px; float: right; max-width: 213px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="margin: initial; float: none; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/mimp/allan%20aitchison%204.jpg" alt="MIMP CEO Allan Aitchison" width="213" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">MIMP CEO Allan Aitchison</span></span>Businesses in Whyalla and Mount Gambier can now access ultra-fast download speeds at affordable prices from $49.90 per month using the GigCity Internet service, deployed by MIMP connecting solutions.</p>
<p>Launched earlier this month, the first regional deployments of the GigCity network, in Whyalla and Mount Gambier, are great news for businesses in both cities. About 40 businesses already use GigCity for gigabit-speed Internet access across the two regional centres. In metropolitan Adelaide, the GigCity network is now used by more than 500 businesses at 23 South Australian business and innovation precincts.</p>
<p>Funded by the South Australian Government, infrastructure for GigCity network in Whyalla and Mount Gambier was designed and delivered by SA company MIMP connecting solutions. This regional GigCity network is operated by WideNetworks <a href="http://widenet.com.au">http://widenet.com.au</a> .</p>
<p>MIMP connecting solutions CEO Allan Aitchison said the gigabit-speed regional networks were based on the latest micro-wave technology, with a 10-gigabit wireless ring around each city and fibre-optic links back to Adelaide. “The GigCity networks make Internet access much faster and less expensive for businesses in both Mount Gambier and Whyalla,” he said.</p>
Horses are Better than Unicorns says Ecommerce entrepreneur Brad Moran2022-02-28T12:21:34+10:302022-02-28T12:21:34+10:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/citrus/2316-horses-are-better-than-unicorns-says-ecommerce-entrepreneur-brad-moran.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: 5px; float: left; max-width: 300px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="float: none; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Citrus/Brad_Moran_2022_W.jpg" alt="CitrusAd CEO and co-founder Brad Moran" width="300" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">CitrusAd CEO and co-founder Brad Moran</span></span>Check out this interview with former AFL footballer and eCommerce entrepreneur Brad Moran, who last year sold his four-year-old business CitrusAd for $205 million. In the hour-long chat with <em><strong>Add to Cart</strong></em> podcast host Nathan Bush, Brad explains how CitrusAd became a $200M+ acquisition target by enabling retailers like Woolworths and Coles in Australia and Tescos and Target internationally to monetise the “digital shelves” on their eCommerce retailing sites.</p>
<p>In an episode called <em><strong>Horses are Better than Unicorns</strong></em>, Brad explains how he grew CitrusAd by listening and responding to retailers and equipping them to earn from $5000 a month to $10 million a month in extra advertising revenue. He also reveals how growth stalled for CitrusAd during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic and warns that Australian retailers need to embrace digital retail media systems within 12 months in order to defend themselves against an onslaught by the “Amazon ecosystem” within the next three to five years.</p>
<p>You can listen to Brad Moran’s <em><strong>Add to Cart</strong></em> interview at <a href="https://shows.acast.com/add-to-cart/episodes/horses-are-better-than-unicorns-the-citrusad-story-164">https://shows.acast.com/add-to-cart/episodes/horses-are-better-than-unicorns-the-citrusad-story-164</a>.</p><p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: 5px; float: left; max-width: 300px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="float: none; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Citrus/Brad_Moran_2022_W.jpg" alt="CitrusAd CEO and co-founder Brad Moran" width="300" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">CitrusAd CEO and co-founder Brad Moran</span></span>Check out this interview with former AFL footballer and eCommerce entrepreneur Brad Moran, who last year sold his four-year-old business CitrusAd for $205 million. In the hour-long chat with <em><strong>Add to Cart</strong></em> podcast host Nathan Bush, Brad explains how CitrusAd became a $200M+ acquisition target by enabling retailers like Woolworths and Coles in Australia and Tescos and Target internationally to monetise the “digital shelves” on their eCommerce retailing sites.</p>
<p>In an episode called <em><strong>Horses are Better than Unicorns</strong></em>, Brad explains how he grew CitrusAd by listening and responding to retailers and equipping them to earn from $5000 a month to $10 million a month in extra advertising revenue. He also reveals how growth stalled for CitrusAd during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic and warns that Australian retailers need to embrace digital retail media systems within 12 months in order to defend themselves against an onslaught by the “Amazon ecosystem” within the next three to five years.</p>
<p>You can listen to Brad Moran’s <em><strong>Add to Cart</strong></em> interview at <a href="https://shows.acast.com/add-to-cart/episodes/horses-are-better-than-unicorns-the-citrusad-story-164">https://shows.acast.com/add-to-cart/episodes/horses-are-better-than-unicorns-the-citrusad-story-164</a>.</p>Underwriters Laboratories Selects Redflow for Flow Battery Research Program at Stress Engineering2022-02-24T15:00:00+10:302022-02-24T15:00:00+10:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/redflow/2315-redflow-ul-testing.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="max-width: 800px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Redflow/Redflow_UL_ESRI_testing_W.jpg" alt="Underwriters Laboratories, SES and Redflow at Stress Texas Facility 24th January 2022. Left to Right: Judy Jeevarajan, Ph.D., vice president and executive director of Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI), Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Daniel Juarez-Robles, Ph.D., research scientist, ESRI, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Steven Kinyon, Ph.D., P.E., principal, SES; Steve Hickey, CTO, Redflow; Carlos Lopez, P.E., senior associate, SES; Tim Harris, CEO Redflow " width="800" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Underwriters Laboratories, SES and Redflow at Stress Texas Facility 24th January 2022. Left to Right: Judy Jeevarajan, Ph.D., vice president and executive director of Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI), Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Daniel Juarez-Robles, Ph.D., research scientist, ESRI, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Steven Kinyon, Ph.D., P.E., principal, SES; Steve Hickey, CTO, Redflow; Carlos Lopez, P.E., senior associate, SES; Tim Harris, CEO Redflow </span></span></p>
<p>Underwriters Laboratories Inc. has selected Redflow ZBM batteries to carry out research to characterize the operating and safety profile of redox flow batteries under nominal and off-nominal conditions. </p>
<p>The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute at Underwriters Laboratories has undertaken the test program in collaboration with Stress Engineering Services Inc. (SES) and Redflow to understand key technical attributes of redox flow batteries, study their cycle life and aging properties and to understand how the batteries behave under off-nominal conditions of overcharge, over-discharge and external short-circuit conditions. Six Redflow batteries were purchased by Underwriters Laboratories in 2021 and arrived at the SES facility in Texas in December. The test program commenced in January 2022 and will run for a number of months.</p>
<p>“We are delighted to be working with industry leaders Underwriters Laboratories and SES to verify the performance and safety characteristics of flow battery storage using our Redflow batteries,” said Tim Harris, managing director and CEO of Redflow. “Redflow’s CTO Steve Hickey and I were able to meet the Underwriters Laboratories and SES teams at their Texas facility last month to advise on the setup of the Redflow batteries and provide broader input on the test program.”</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="max-width: 800px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="width: 100%; float: none;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Redflow/Redflow_UL_ESRI_testing_W.jpg" alt="Underwriters Laboratories, SES and Redflow at Stress Texas Facility 24th January 2022. Left to Right: Judy Jeevarajan, Ph.D., vice president and executive director of Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI), Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Daniel Juarez-Robles, Ph.D., research scientist, ESRI, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Steven Kinyon, Ph.D., P.E., principal, SES; Steve Hickey, CTO, Redflow; Carlos Lopez, P.E., senior associate, SES; Tim Harris, CEO Redflow " width="800" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Underwriters Laboratories, SES and Redflow at Stress Texas Facility 24th January 2022. Left to Right: Judy Jeevarajan, Ph.D., vice president and executive director of Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI), Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Daniel Juarez-Robles, Ph.D., research scientist, ESRI, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Steven Kinyon, Ph.D., P.E., principal, SES; Steve Hickey, CTO, Redflow; Carlos Lopez, P.E., senior associate, SES; Tim Harris, CEO Redflow </span></span></p>
<p>Underwriters Laboratories Inc. has selected Redflow ZBM batteries to carry out research to characterize the operating and safety profile of redox flow batteries under nominal and off-nominal conditions. </p>
<p>The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute at Underwriters Laboratories has undertaken the test program in collaboration with Stress Engineering Services Inc. (SES) and Redflow to understand key technical attributes of redox flow batteries, study their cycle life and aging properties and to understand how the batteries behave under off-nominal conditions of overcharge, over-discharge and external short-circuit conditions. Six Redflow batteries were purchased by Underwriters Laboratories in 2021 and arrived at the SES facility in Texas in December. The test program commenced in January 2022 and will run for a number of months.</p>
<p>“We are delighted to be working with industry leaders Underwriters Laboratories and SES to verify the performance and safety characteristics of flow battery storage using our Redflow batteries,” said Tim Harris, managing director and CEO of Redflow. “Redflow’s CTO Steve Hickey and I were able to meet the Underwriters Laboratories and SES teams at their Texas facility last month to advise on the setup of the Redflow batteries and provide broader input on the test program.”</p>
Adelaide skills-building centre unveils volunteer auction to fund move into post-pandemic life2022-02-21T06:00:10+10:302022-02-21T06:00:10+10:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/innovation/2313-makerspace-adelaide-auction.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="float: right; max-width: 255px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="float: none; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/innovation/Laura_Gransbvury_W.jpg" alt="Makerspace Adelaide Operations Manager Laura Gransbury " width="255" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Makerspace Adelaide Operations Manager Laura Gransbury </span></span>Makerspace Adelaide, a volunteer-run organisation that equips people, from teens to retirees, to share and build old and new skills, will hold a fundraising auction this Friday, February 25, to fund its post-pandemic life.</p>
<p>At the auction, from 7pm, people will bid for volunteers to undertake projects using equipment at Makerspace Adelaide, ranging from laser cutters and sewing machines to 3D printers and traditional hand tools. One item for auction is access to a smoke ring machine, which normally rents to events such as parties for $500, while another is a Cosmic Ray Detector. Only 50 public tickets are available for the Save Our Makerspace auction. <a href="https://events.humanitix.com/save-our-makerspace">Click here for details</a>.</p>
<p>After two years of planning, Makerspace Adelaide opened the doors of its 700-square-metre premises at 100 Franklin Street, Adelaide, in January 2020 - just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia. Despite lockdowns, social distancing and other COVID concerns, Makerspace Adelaide has attracted more than 1000 people to use its facilities in the two years since. </p>
<p>This community fabrication workshop provides members with affordable access to a range of tools and equipment and volunteers who help members learn how to use them safely. A strong focus on sustainability includes a textile reuse program to transform old clothing into new items or turning old plastic into 3D filament. </p>
<p>Makerspace Adelaide Operations Manager Laura Gransbury said the volunteer-run organisation had to leave its current premises because it could not afford to pay commercial rent. “Despite strong community support, we’ve been unable to thread that cashflow needle, so we need to move at the end of March,” she said.</p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="float: right; max-width: 255px; width: 100%; display: inline-block;"><img style="float: none; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/innovation/Laura_Gransbvury_W.jpg" alt="Makerspace Adelaide Operations Manager Laura Gransbury " width="255" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Makerspace Adelaide Operations Manager Laura Gransbury </span></span>Makerspace Adelaide, a volunteer-run organisation that equips people, from teens to retirees, to share and build old and new skills, will hold a fundraising auction this Friday, February 25, to fund its post-pandemic life.</p>
<p>At the auction, from 7pm, people will bid for volunteers to undertake projects using equipment at Makerspace Adelaide, ranging from laser cutters and sewing machines to 3D printers and traditional hand tools. One item for auction is access to a smoke ring machine, which normally rents to events such as parties for $500, while another is a Cosmic Ray Detector. Only 50 public tickets are available for the Save Our Makerspace auction. <a href="https://events.humanitix.com/save-our-makerspace">Click here for details</a>.</p>
<p>After two years of planning, Makerspace Adelaide opened the doors of its 700-square-metre premises at 100 Franklin Street, Adelaide, in January 2020 - just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia. Despite lockdowns, social distancing and other COVID concerns, Makerspace Adelaide has attracted more than 1000 people to use its facilities in the two years since. </p>
<p>This community fabrication workshop provides members with affordable access to a range of tools and equipment and volunteers who help members learn how to use them safely. A strong focus on sustainability includes a textile reuse program to transform old clothing into new items or turning old plastic into 3D filament. </p>
<p>Makerspace Adelaide Operations Manager Laura Gransbury said the volunteer-run organisation had to leave its current premises because it could not afford to pay commercial rent. “Despite strong community support, we’ve been unable to thread that cashflow needle, so we need to move at the end of March,” she said.</p>
Enphase donates microinverters for $1.3M rebuild of Kangaroo Island hall destroyed by Black Summer bushfire2022-02-09T06:00:00+10:302022-02-09T06:00:00+10:30https://impress.com.au/newsroom/enphase-energy/2312-enphase-microinvertsers-for-rebuilt-kangaroo-island-hall.htmlJohn Harrisjohn@impress.com.au<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 800px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Rebuilt_Stokes_Bay_Community_Hall_W.JPG" alt="Enphase microinverter-equipped solar panels on the CFS to provide energy for the rebuilt Stokes Bay Community Hall" width="800" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Enphase microinverter-equipped solar panels on CFS harvest energy for the rebuilt Stokes Bay Community Hall</span></span></p>
<p>Eighteen Enphase microinverter-equipped REC solar panels will provide energy for the $1.3 million reconstructed Stokes Bay Community Hall, which was destroyed by catastrophic bushfires in 2020.</p>
<p>Located on the north coast of Kangaroo Island, Stokes Bay has a population of more than 200 people, for whom the 60-year-old hall is the heart of the community. In January 2020, a bushfire badly damaged the hall and destroyed a recently completed adjacent kitchen building, as well as 17 houses in the community. Across Australia, the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 caused 33 deaths, destroyed 3094 houses and burned more than 17 million hectares.</p>
<p>As part of the rebuilding project supported by the Prince’s Trust, Enphase Energy has provided 18 IQ7+ microinverters for 18 370-watt REC solar panels, which were installed on a nearby Country Fire Service (CFS) shed by Enphase partner Energy SA. </p>
<p>The 6.66 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar system, with a retail value of about $12,000, will provide energy for the rebuilding project this year and for the entire hall when it’s completed in the second half. As Stokes Bay lacks fixed-line Internet access, Energy SA installed a 4G modem at the hall to enable remote monitoring of the system using the Enphase Enlighten web-based solar energy monitoring software. Enphase also donated five years worth of monitoring data for the system.</p>
<p>Stokes Bay Community Hall Committee Treasurer Michael Stanton said the hall was the heart of the small community. “We use it every week for everything from tennis club meetings and church services to sports tournaments and Christmas shows,” he said. </p>
<p><span class=" wf_caption" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block; max-width: 800px; width: 100%;"><img style="display: block; width: 100%;" src="https://impress.com.au/images/stories/Enphase/Rebuilt_Stokes_Bay_Community_Hall_W.JPG" alt="Enphase microinverter-equipped solar panels on the CFS to provide energy for the rebuilt Stokes Bay Community Hall" width="800" /><span style="text-align: center; display: block;">Enphase microinverter-equipped solar panels on CFS harvest energy for the rebuilt Stokes Bay Community Hall</span></span></p>
<p>Eighteen Enphase microinverter-equipped REC solar panels will provide energy for the $1.3 million reconstructed Stokes Bay Community Hall, which was destroyed by catastrophic bushfires in 2020.</p>
<p>Located on the north coast of Kangaroo Island, Stokes Bay has a population of more than 200 people, for whom the 60-year-old hall is the heart of the community. In January 2020, a bushfire badly damaged the hall and destroyed a recently completed adjacent kitchen building, as well as 17 houses in the community. Across Australia, the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 caused 33 deaths, destroyed 3094 houses and burned more than 17 million hectares.</p>
<p>As part of the rebuilding project supported by the Prince’s Trust, Enphase Energy has provided 18 IQ7+ microinverters for 18 370-watt REC solar panels, which were installed on a nearby Country Fire Service (CFS) shed by Enphase partner Energy SA. </p>
<p>The 6.66 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar system, with a retail value of about $12,000, will provide energy for the rebuilding project this year and for the entire hall when it’s completed in the second half. As Stokes Bay lacks fixed-line Internet access, Energy SA installed a 4G modem at the hall to enable remote monitoring of the system using the Enphase Enlighten web-based solar energy monitoring software. Enphase also donated five years worth of monitoring data for the system.</p>
<p>Stokes Bay Community Hall Committee Treasurer Michael Stanton said the hall was the heart of the small community. “We use it every week for everything from tennis club meetings and church services to sports tournaments and Christmas shows,” he said. </p>