With battery energy storage systems playing an increasingly critical role in the nation’s renewable energy transition, fledgling lithium-ion battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance has welcomed a Federal Government initiative designed to boost processing of critical minerals needed for batteries, solar panels and wind turbines and build the country’s manufacturing capability.

LG Energy Solution is facing consumer concerns with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) confirming a recall notice for some of the company’s battery energy storage systems (ESS) due to potential defects which can cause overheating and fire.

ASX-listed Province Resources is pushing ahead quickly with its plan to develop a 1 GW hybrid solar PV and wind farm in Western Australia as part of a proposal to produce renewable hydrogen for domestic and foreign markets.

Sun Cable’s ambitious $22 billion Australia-ASEAN Power Link, which would export solar energy from the Northern Territory to power Singapore, continues to shine bright with the Australian Government including the megaproject on its Priority Initiative List.

The Queensland and New South Wales state governments have reaffirmed their commitment to the solar, wind and hydrogen industries with the establishment of new bodies which will help guide the states in their transition toward a renewable energy future.

Utility-scale solar energy investor New Energy Solar has confirmed it will sell off its Australian portfolio, declaring the policy and regulatory environment for renewables in Australia is not conducive to growing the business and achieving economies of scale.

Battery technology company Relectrify has turned its focus to the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector with the launch of a 36 kW / 120 kWh commercial-scale modular battery energy storage system (BESS) which utilises second-life electric vehicle (EV) battery packs.

Australia’s largest energy retailer, AGL, is working towards net-zero emissions by 2050 but it can not come soon enough for some with new government data revealing the energy giant is the nation’s biggest polluter, emitting more than 42 million tonnes of carbon emissions in the past year.

A “tidal wave” of new solar and wind energy in Australia is poised to wipe out several coal-fired power stations in the National Electricity Market (NEM) with a new report suggesting the financial viability of the fossil-fuel generators will be so severely compromised within five years closure will become an attractive or even unavoidable choice.

Construction has commenced on the 300 MW / 450 MWh Victoria Big Battery storage facility near Geelong after the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) provided French renewable energy developer Neoen with a $160 million funding injection.