2023

Independent power producer Alinta Energy expects work on a 45 MW solar farm and 35 MW/35 MWh battery energy storage system planned for Western Australia’s Pilbara region will commence inside two months following the appointment of contractors to construct and connect the hybrid project.

Mauritian researchers have developed a solar tracker prototype that increases current by around 37%. The device uses a simplified and mechanical tracking system.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown that while renewable generation in Australia has increased significantly year on year, the country’s progress towards net zero is stymied by the failure to reduce consumption.

While many forecasting tools have been developed to improve forecasts of renewable generation, their accuracy is limited by the inherent predictability of the data used – that is, how predictable the renewable resource is in different regions and times of the year. University of Adelaide researcher Sahand Karimi explains why predictability matters and how considering it can save consumers and investors millions of dollars.

Australian researchers have developed a novel adaptive decentralised control strategy for electric vehicle (EV) integration, incorporating both microgrid and EV-side conditions into the primary frequency control. They have proposed new indices to evaluate the charge and discharge capabilities of EV batteries, as well as the satisfaction levels of EV owners.

The successful projects from the first tender conducted under the New South Wales government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap have been announced with two large solar farms, a wind farm and an eight-hour battery energy storage system to be built as the state looks to manage the exit of coal-fired power generation from the grid.

Almost four million small and medium-size businesses are set to share in more than $300 million (USD 199 million) in tax cuts with the federal government announcing a new initiative for Australian businesses that invest in electrification and more sustainable and efficient energy systems, including solar and battery energy storage.

Swiss solar module maker Meyer Burger plans to grab a share of the booming Australian PV market, announcing it will start selling a series of high-performance solar panels that the company says deliver higher energy yields when compared to conventional technologies.

GoodWe will target low load-bearing and commercial rooftops with a new frameless solar panel that the manufacturer says is 60% lighter than conventional modules to be launched in the Australian market.

Fraunhofer ISE scientists have optimised a technical concept for a hydrogen plant at sea. They claim that their design is “technically and economically viable.”