Is the NEM on the cusp of a “Bactrian camel curve” in which small-scale behind-the-meter storage splits the evening peak? Within just six months of Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, small-scale storage is already at a point where it could be supplying up to half of the output of Australia’s largest coal plant, Eraring, during peak load.

Perth-headquartered energy storage and battery-based power systems specialist Magellan Power has teamed with specialist investment manager Viburnum Funds to boost its manufacturing capabilities and fund expansion in Australia and internationally.

A record five large-scale renewable energy generation projects totalling 1.2 GW of capacity reached financial close across Australia in the last quarter but industry figures say more needs to be done to ensure that investment momentum continues.

The first stage of Quinbrook’s massive Supernode battery energy storage project in southeast Queensland has achieved commercial operations with full power export to the grid.

Solcast, a DNV company, reports that most of Australia experienced above-average solar irradiance in January 2026 due to a hot, dry airmass and clear skies, boosting PV generation despite operational challenges from elevated temperatures, bushfire smoke, and dust. In contrast, northern Queensland and far northern regions saw significant irradiance deficits.

Curtailment remains one of the clearest signs of the challenges that face both existing and new solar and wind projects in the NEM. Rising levels of curtailment are increasingly shaping development decisions for both greenfield and brownfield projects across the solar and wind fleet. While interest in ‘hybrid’ projects is growing, they still represent only a small share of current installed capacity.

The New South Wales government has approved a new copper mine it says will support the state’s renewable energy transition and reinforce its place in global clean energy technology supply chains.

Australia’s rooftop solar fleet continues to expand with a combined 28.3 GW of generation capacity commissioned by the end of 2025 with approximately 4.3 million installations across the country.

Plans to build a 26 GW solar, wind, and green hydrogen project in Western Australia’s Pilbara are set to accelerate with the federal government providing a $21 million funding injection to further advance the project.

Cargill, the world’s largest agricultural commodities trader, has launched its first utility-scale renewable energy project in Australia, switching on a 2.58 MW solar array at its Newcastle oilseed processing facility.