Global-Roam and Greenview Strategic Consulting collaborated together recently to publish the Generator Insights 2021 report, taking a deep dive into historical generation performance across the national electricity market and considering what this means for the future. In this article, Marcelle Gannon shares some highlights around the increasing penetration of large-scale wind and solar generation, including historical changes in time-of-day earning patterns, the increasing importance of forecasting of renewable output, and some longer-term challenges.

The remote Northern Territory township of Jabiru, deep in the heart of the Kakadu National Park, has been powered 100% by solar PV during the final commissioning of the new Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Power Station.

Australian energy major AGL has fast-tracked the closures of its two biggest coal-fired power plants by several years as it pushes ahead with plans to demerge in response to the ongoing market shift towards renewable sources of electricity.

Mining giant Fortescue Metals Group has unveiled details of a massive 5.4 GW solar PV, wind and battery energy storage project it plans to build to power its iron ore mining operations in Western Australia’s north-west.

Australian electric vehicle charging powerhouse Tritium continues to make inroads in the international market with United States President Joe Biden providing his backing for the company after it announced it will develop a new DC fast-charger manufacturing facility in the southern state of Tennessee.

Standalone power systems utilising solar PV and battery technology continue to gain traction in the Australian market with New South Wales Government-owned network service provider Essential Energy announcing it will seek input from customers living at the “edge of the grid” as it seeks to expand its roll out of the off-grid technology.

Thai-owned Ratch Australia has revealed plans to develop a 70 MW solar PV and large-scale battery energy storage project in the heart of Victoria’s coal country after receiving planning approval from the state government for the $105 million Morwell Solar Farm.

Renewable energy investors’ appetite for large-scale development in Australia appears far from sated with the New South Wales Government revealing almost 50 new solar PV, wind and energy storage projects, totalling more than 34 GW, have been proposed for the South-West Renewable Energy Zone.

The Western Australian coastal town of Kalbarri can now be powered by an entirely renewable energy solution utilising rooftop solar and wind generation coupled with battery storage with state government-owned utility Western Power confirming the state’s largest renewable energy microgrid has been commissioned.

The majority of voters in Australia’s historical coal and gas heartlands of New South Wales and Queensland believe the states’ future economic prosperity lies in clean industries, including renewable energy manufacturing and exports, and mining for critical battery minerals.