Australia’s transition to clean, renewable energy has reached a major milestone with AGL today commencing the process of shutting down the last of three coal-fired generating units still operating at its Liddell power station in New South Wales as it prepares to completely close the facility before the end of the month.

New Zealand’s large-scale solar market is set to shift up a gear with the government announcing two new projects with a combined generation capacity of more than 500 GWh per annum have been referred for fast-track consenting.

Energy and environment ministers from the Group of Seven nations have announced new targets for solar power and offshore wind capacity after vowing to drastically increase renewable energy development and accelerate the phase out of “unabated” fossil fuel use.

Australian mining and processing company IGO and billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo Metals will progress plans to build the nation’s first integrated battery material facility in Western Australia after the state government approved the allocation of land for the up to $1 billion project.

The federal government is increasing its investment in green hydrogen and low-emissions steel with $50 million in research and development funding to help progress the technologies as a new report warns that Australia must act quickly or risk being left behind in the race to become a renewable energy superpower.

Observations shared by solar data and forecasting provider Solcast have shed new light on the impressive performances of New South Wales solar farms which dominated the utility PV generation performance rankings last month.

Green energy investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure is spreading its reach into the “exploding” renewable fuels and biogas sectors with the acquisition of United States-headquartered developer PurposeEnergy which specialises in converting food and beverage residuals and wastewater into renewable energy.

After more than five decades, the last operating units of the Liddell coal-fired power station will close this month. The station’s owner, AGL, is Australia’s largest carbon polluter. Liddell’s closure will reduce the company’s emissions by 17%.

Australia’s biggest electricity ‘gen-tailer’ AGL is one step closer to energising its 250 MW/250 MWh grid-scale battery at South Australia’s Torrens Island after receiving the tick of approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator.

New Zealand renewables developer Lodestone Energy’s plans to develop an initial suite of five large-scale solar farms with a combined generation capacity of more than 365 GWh per annum has reached another milestone with construction beginning on the second of the projects.