Australia has no shortage of brilliant researchers or world-class science. Across energy storage, grid reliability, green hydrogen and beyond, our institutions are producing discoveries with real potential to reshape how we power our country and our economy. Yet too often, having worked across research translation for nearly a decade, I’ve seen that potential stall before it reaches the people and industries that need it most.

With data centre demand creating new challenges for network operators, Schneider Electric’s Farokh Ghadially outlines why the next phase of the transition isn’t just about adding more renewables, but managing a system that is more distributed, more data-heavy and less predictable.

Q4 2025 in South Australia saw grid-connected loads with spot price exposure actually being paid to use electricity about half the time (46%) – and that electricity was overwhelmingly (80%) supplied by renewables. This demonstrates a shift from managing demand to quietly needing it. Particularly in regions like South Australia, there is growing demand for demand.

Solcast, a DNV company, reports that March in Australia was unusually wet and disrupted, with frequent tropical cyclones, polar air intrusions, and repeated low-pressure systems causing widespread cloud, storms, and record cold in the southeast. Solar irradiance was mixed: below average in the south due to persistent cloud and storms, but near or above average on some northern and coastal regions where breaks between systems allowed recovery.

With a volatile global fuel and energy crisis continuing relentlessly, Australia holds a quiet but powerful advantage that provides cost-of-living energy relief to millions by allowing our cars and homes to run on sunshine instead of fossil fuels.

German inverter and battery manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has confirmed its withdrawal from the Australian residential and commercial market, with CEO Jürgen Reinert declaring the company will instead focus on large-scale infrastructure, grid-forming technology and hybrid integration.

Chinese PV technology manufacturer Trina Solar has launched an “Australia specific” variant of its Vertex S+ modules featuring a power output of 515 W and a maximum efficiency of 24.65%.

Indonesia’s PLN has launched a tender for a 1,225 MW solar project that will be spread across several regions of the country. The state-owned utility has not publicly announced a closing date.

New South Wales will introduce new legislation designed to accelerate the delivery of critical solar, wind, battery energy storage, and network projects to support the state’s transition from coal-fired power to renewable energy.

Global corporate funding in the solar sector reached $15.45 billion (USD 11.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, with debt financing at its highest level in more than 10 years, says Mercom Capital Group.

Chinese miner Citic Pacific has flicked the switch on a new solar and battery microgrid that is now helping power its Fortescue River mining accommodation precinct in Western Australia’s northwest.

The last of 330,000 PV panels has been installed at the Tauhei Solar Farm in New Zealand, marking a key milestone in the construction of what is set to be that country’s largest operational solar farm when it comes online later this year.

The Indian manufacturer said its new all-black panel series features a power conversion efficiency of up to 23.32% and a bifaciality factor of up to 85%.

The 204 MW Edenvale Solar Park in Queensland’s Western Downs region has been identified by energy consultancy Rystad Energy as the best performing large-scale PV asset in Australia last month.

Western Australia’s shift from coal and gas to renewables has taken a major step forward with the federal government backing more than 2 GW of new renewable energy and battery storage projects set to be built across the state.

A Qatari research team found that utilising bifacial 2P horizontal single-axis tracking PV systems in desert conditions produced up to 13.5% more electricity than fixed-tilt systems over long-term field testing. The study also showed strong seasonal and technology-dependent performance, with tracker advantages varying with irradiance and weather conditions.

China-headquartered solar panel and energy storage solutions manufacturer Risen Energy has announced its RisenStack Pro Modular ESS has passed Australia’s new C&I energy storage certification – covering electrical safety, EMC, and functional safety, and complies with Australian standards.

University of Queensland researchers have developed a safe and scalable vapour-based manufacturing process for fabricating high-quality lead-free perovskite material with fewer performance-limiting defects.

The federal government has reported that 350,000 households, small businesses and community organisations have installed battery energy storage systems in the past 10 months, under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.

Spanish researchers found that combining agrivoltaics with regulated deficit irrigation can cut tomato irrigation water use by about 50%, while improving land-use efficiency through simultaneous crop and solar energy production.

A Vietnamese research team has developed a low-cost passive cooling system for PV modules based on hydrogel-coated paper that combines water flow and interfacial evaporation to reduce operating temperatures. Outdoor tests showed temperature reductions of up to 14 C and efficiency gains of up to 16.8%, with stable operation achieved using both freshwater and natural seawater.

Sungrow has released a mining microgrid power solutions white paper in partnership with TÜV Rheinland and the China Electrotechnical Society covering application scenarios from 2.5 MW up to more than 100 MW.

The Clean Energy Council is phasing in new standards for its approved PV modules list with all new panel applications to meet an updated safety standard from 1 May.

Western Australian Firebird Metals has been awarded $2 million through ARENA and the Battery Breakthrough Initiative to develop a demonstration-scale facility that processes manganese concentrate into cathode materials for batteries.

China’s solar industry has launched its first TOPCon-focused patent pool, led by Trina Solar, JA Solar, and JinkoSolar, to streamline licensing, reduce disputes, and strengthen IP coordination at home and abroad.

In Q1 2026, grid-scale solar generation jumped 648 MW compared to the same period in 2025, recording an all-time quarterly high of 2,706 MW output, according to new figures released by AEMO in its Quarterly Energy Dynamics Q1 2026 report.

Atmoce has been granted Clean Energy Council (CEC) certification for its residential energy storage portfolio marking the full commercial availability of its M-ELV Battery and the M-Combiner Pro across Australia.

Results from a poll conducted by farmer-led advocacy organisation Farmers for Climate Action, show 63% of residents living in regional Renewable Energy Zones support the shift to clean energy, and just 17% oppose.

Construction starts shortly, and it’s the second project the pair of companies will have worked on in Australia.

Adding on 100 MW / 200 MWh to the Huntly BESS to double the size of the first stage of one of New Zealand’s largest batteries.