A “major influx” of new renewable generation and storage capacity is poised to connect to Australia’s main grid with the energy market operator revealing almost 150 projects representing more than 31 GW of new capacity are in the application and pre-registration stages.

Australia’s largest electricity transmission project has hit a snag with a major union alleging transmission line workers delivering the New South Wales stretch of the $2 billion-plus (USD 1.32 billion) Project EnergyConnect electricity interconnector have been working in unsafe and non-compliant conditions.

Victorian network operator AusNet has commenced construction of a transmission network upgrade that is expected to reduce generation constraints and improve network stability in the state’s southwest, unlocking 1.5 GW of additional renewable energy generation capacity.

EnergyAustralia has released the concept design for a 335 MW pumped hydro energy storage and generation project it plans to develop at Lake Lyell near Lithgow in central western New South Wales.

Australia ranks as the fifth most attractive destination for green investment and development opportunities according to multinational consultancy EY’s latest renewable energy country attractiveness index.

Another small-scale solar farm has connected to the grid in Victoria with developer Bison Energy announcing that the 4.95 MW Cosgrove Solar Farm near Shepperton has powered up, marking the commencement of its commissioning phase.

Australia stands at the forefront of a remarkable opportunity to revolutionise the reduction of global carbon emissions and potentially reap billions in export earnings. The key lies in harnessing green hydrogen to produce environmentally friendly alternatives such as green steel, ammonia, cement, eFuels and mining explosives.

Australian energy giant AGL will install a nickel-hydrogen battery at its Torrens Island power station site in South Australia as it seeks to explore the potential opportunities that the technology can provide for stationary energy storage applications.

Global mining giant Rio Tinto has approved a new 12.4 MW solar farm and 2.1 MWh battery energy storage system to help power its Amrun bauxite operations near Weipa in far north Queensland.

Construction of the 380 MW Aldoga Solar Farm being developed near Gladstone on the central Queensland coast is to commence in the first quarter of 2024 with energy generated at the facility to go towards powering the state’s largest green hydrogen project.