Solar installers are to play a key role in a unique ‘reverse logistics’ model which researchers from the University of New South Wales believe can help deliver an economically viable national recycling strategy as the number of decommissioned solar PV modules coming off Australian rooftops continues to grow.

Netherlands-based renewables developer Photon Energy has reaffirmed its commitment to Australian tech company RayGen Resources’ innovative ‘solar-hydro’ technology, offloading its majority stake in the 160 MWdc Maryvale Solar Farm so it can focus its future development activities in Australia on large-scale projects featuring the solar-plus-storage technology.

Anglo-Australian multinational Rio Tinto has invested in European-based battery technology and manufacturing company Inobat Auto with the mining giant aiming to extend its operations throughout the electric vehicle battery value chain in Europe.

The latest estimates of electricity generation costs in Australia have confirmed solar and wind continue to be the cheapest sources of new-build electricity generation, even when factoring in additional integration costs such as storage and new transmission infrastructure.

New South Wales-based development company Greenspot has lodged a planning application for a massive 500 MW/1,000 MWh battery energy storage system to be built at the site of the shuttered coal-fired Wallerawang Power Station near Lithgow in the Central Tablelands.

Coal is likely to be completely gone from Victoria’s electricity system by 2032 with most other parts of Australia not far behind, a report from the Australian Energy Market Operator declared last week.

The Australian arm of United States-based multinational food and beverage corporation PepsiCo has made the switch to 100% renewable electricity after partnering with Engie and the owners of the 10 MW Northam Solar Farm in Western Australia’s wheatbelt region to access power purchase agreements.

Australian waste management company Cleanaway has turned to rooftop solar in its search for energy efficiency, investing almost $5 million in a national rooftop solar PV program which it predicts will slash its electricity bill and reduce its reliance on the grid.

Western Australian renewable energy company Plico Energy’s bold ambition to develop a grid-scale virtual power plant has received a major financial boost with Swiss investment firm SUSI Partners committing to provide capital for the rollout of 10,000 integrated solar-plus-battery systems.

In an Australian first, up to 100% of daytime operations at two major iron ore mines have been powered entirely by renewable energy after power utility Alinta Energy switched on the 60 MW Chichester Hub Solar Farm in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.