There was excellent news at the weekend on Australia’s accelerating progress in slashing consumers’ skyrocketing energy bills and transitioning the community to cheap, clean, reliable firmed renewables. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement of a $2.3 billion program to subsidise the purchase of household batteries will deliver a 30% rebate on the price of battery systems from 1 July 2025, with small business and community facilities also eligible.

Every commercial solar system ever built, or ever to be built, will inevitably require maintenance. Yet, across Australia’s renewable energy sector, maintenance remains chronically overlooked – often treated as an afterthought rather than an essential part of solar asset management.

Australia’s solar rollout continues to reach new heights with a combined total of 4.7 GW of small- and large-scale PV installed across the country in 2024 but shifts in the rooftop market suggests diversification of services will be key for the nation’s installer community going forward.

Queensland-based electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider EVOS has stepped up expansion plans after reaching agreement with Japanese manufacturer FKK to produce its chargers for sale in Japan, Southeast Asia and other high-growth markets including India.

Renewables developer Lightsource BP is pushing ahead with the construction of the 450 MW Goulburn River Solar Farm in the New South Wales Upper Hunter region after striking a long-term offtake agreement with the operators of one of Australia’s major coal export terminals.

Renewable energy asset management outfit Omnidian has strengthened its presence in the Australian market with the acquisition of Queensland-based PV installer and service provider Solar Service Guys.

Global renewables developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures has boosted its Australian portfolio with the acquisition of a 190 MW hybrid solar and battery energy storage project being constructed in central Victoria.

AusNet has connected the first stand-alone community battery to its Victorian electricity distribution network with a 120 kW / 300 kWh energy storage system now helping the Yarra Junction community make better use of locally generated solar energy.

United States-headquartered energy storage solutions company Energy Vault has inked an agreement to purchase the 125 MW / 1,000 MWh Stoney Creek battery energy storage project from Victoria-based renewable energy developer Enervest.

Australia’s largest planned renewable energy zone has reached another milestone with the New South Wales government launching the search for a network operator to help deliver the New England REZ that is to provide at least 8 GW of new network capacity.