Work on the long-awaited 280MW Cultana Solar Farm in South Australia appears set to begin with Simec Energy Australia announcing this week it is preparing to start construction on the ~$350 million project.

German-owned renewable energy developer Wirsol Energy has added another 313MW of solar to its Australian operation and maintenance portfolio, securing the contracts for three utility scale solar farms.

Australian solar technology startup SunDrive has announced “a breakthrough” in mass production compatible heterojunction technology after recording an efficiency result of 26.07% with a silver-free, commercial-size silicon solar PV cell.

Australian redox flow battery manufacturer Redflow’s push into the United States market has received a major boost with the company announcing it will work with California-based biowaste technology firm Anaergia on the installation of a solar and 5.5-6MWh battery energy storage solution.

Australia’s first astronaut believes advances in solar and space technologies and a growing capability to build and launch reliable satellites means it is now not only possible, but economically viable to build a solar PV farm based in Earth’s orbit.

Sun Cable’s ambitious plans to build the world’s largest solar PV and battery energy storage project in Australia’s remote far north are a step closer to fruition after two of the nation’s richest men provided their backing for a $210 million capital raise.

Just hours after Australia’s oldest solar farm was announced as the best performing utility scale solar asset in the country, construction firm Tranex Solar revealed the energisation of one of the nation’s newest clean energy developments is “well underway”.

A new generation of solar-powered cars is set to be tested in the harsh Australian outback next year after organisers of the World Solar Challenge confirmed the international car racing event will make its return in 2023.

Renewables developer X-Elio has unveiled plans to build a massive 300MW solar farm and battery energy storage system near Wagga Wagga in south-western New South Wales as it looks to further cement its place on Australia’s renewable energy landscape.

Australia has set renewable energy records for the fifth consecutive year with new data showing clean energy accounted for nearly one-third of the electricity produced in the National Electricity Market in 2021, with the continuing roll out of rooftop solar PV spearheading the switch away from traditional fossil-fuel generation.