Australia’s east coast has been plunged into an energy crisis just as winter takes hold, which will see many people struggle to heat their homes due to soaring gas bills.

Just days after declaring a climate emergency, the South Australian government has axed a renewable energy policy that was designed to help more homeowners access residential battery energy storage systems.

Prefabricated solar array manufacturer 5B has completed a $30 million Series B capital raise with their existing shareholders to help fund continued development of the company’s flagship modular Maverick solar array and accelerate the progress of the company’s pipeline of multi megawatt projects.

With industry figures warning Australia is on the “precipice” of an energy crisis, federal, state and territory ministers will meet next week to discuss the situation with skyrocketing gas, petrol and electricity prices being described as a “perfect storm”.

Western Australia’s City of Stirling has fast tracked its investment in an estimated $6 million solar PV program in a bid to maximise potential savings and reach its goal of sourcing 100% of the city’s electricity needs from renewables by 2030.

Australian redox-flow battery specialist Redflow has upped the ante on its plans to expand into the United States market, announcing it has completed testing that will pave the way for its battery energy storage system to be used in conjunction with hybrid inverters manufactured by United States solar engineering company Sol-Ark.

With some of the highest rooftop solar PV penetration in Australia the outback town of Alice Springs will soon play host to the Northern Territory’s first resident Virtual Power Plant with the project partners exploring how best to bolster the reliability of the local grid and pave the way for the increased penetration of renewable energy.

Australian engineering firm UGL has begun building the 125MWp Glenrowan Solar Farm in Victoria’s northeast after solar-focused developer Esco Pacific announced it had finalised the sale of the project to Australia-based contractor Cimic Group.

New South Wales transmission network owner Transgrid has commenced construction on its section of the $2.3 billion Project EnergyConnect, the high-voltage electricity transmission interconnector that will link power grids across three states, unlocking gigawatts of planned renewable energy projects.

The Australian Hydrogen Council is calling on the newly elected Federal Government to provide policy certainty, new investment and “targeted transition deadlines” to help create a market for green hydrogen and allow Australia’s emerging industry to thrive.