FORTITUDE VALLEY SHINES UP TO SILICON VALLEY

CALIFORNIAN solar pioneer Sunverge has selected Brisbane for its Australian headquarters, and is now shining a mega-deal with Ergon Energy.

The Australian electricity company will run a $2.6 million solar battery trial with the US renewable energy company, aligned with the Queensland Government's vision.

Energy minister Mark Bailey says Labor's commitment to one million solar rooftops by 2020 is becoming more likely.

Bailey met Sunverge co-founder Ken Munson on Thursday as he opened the company's Australian headquarters in the Fortitude Valley.

"Queensland is already one of the world's highest per capital users of solar energy with more than 400,000 residential solar rooftops and the next big shift is combining this with batteries for home storage," says Bailey.

North Queensland will play a major role in Ergon Energy Retail's 12-month trial involving 33 homes that have four or more bedrooms. "

A 4.9kW SunPower PV array and a 12kWh/5kW Sunverge battery storage and control system will be installed at each trial site.

Ergon Energy Retail will own and maintain them and is contributing $2.2 million for the trial.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is putting in $400,000 to explore a new approach for providing solar PV and battery storage systems to residential customers.