2023

Greek industrial and energy giant Mytilineos expects the 40 MW Kingaroy Solar Farm being built in southeast Queensland will be operational before the end of the year following the formal execution of a long-term offtake agreement with SmartestEnergy Australia.

New PV capacity additions in Southeast Asia are expected to bounce back this year for the first time since 2020, according to the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association. The market is expected to grow by 13% in 2023, for 3.8 GW of new installations.

South Korea is opening what it claims is the world’s first hydrogen power generation bidding market, while the Queensland government has approved funding to assess water use in Gladstone’s hydrogen industry.

The value of critical minerals companies listed on the ASX has hit $86.2 billion (USD 58.3bn), just scraping above the value of companies within the All Ordinaries Gold Index. Australia risen to the booming demand for these minerals, but experts have urged caution.

As many as 60 renewable energy projects are expected to lodge environmental impact statements in New South Wales over the next 12 to 18 months. As the transition accelerates, the state’s new Energy Minister has told renewable proponents they must substantiate what’s in it for hosting communities.

The Hazelwood big battery has been commissioned at the site of the retired Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria. A collaboration between Engie, Eku Energy and Fluence, the 150 MW battery claims a number of Australian firsts.

Samsung and SMA are using a new cloud-to-cloud system that allows PV systems with SMA inverters to be integrated with Samsung heat pumps.

SolarEdge has released new optimisers for residential PV applications with a DC power rating of 500 W, a maximum efficiency of 99.5%, and a weighted efficiency of 98.6%. The optimiser for commercial and industrial applications offers 1.4 kW of rated DC power.

The world installed 239 GW of new solar capacity in 2022, according to SolarPower Europe. The rooftop PV segment accounted for 49.5% of additions – the highest share in the past three years. The rooftop sectors in Brazil, Italy, and Spain grew by 193%, 127%, and 105%, respectively.

Queensland’s government has allocated $19 billion (USD 12.9 billion) to deliver on its energy transition plan, with a heavy focus on public ownership of energy assets. Queensland’s flush financial position was enabled by recent change to increase coal royalties, which injected an extra $10.5 billion into the budget.