Energy utility AGL has reaffirmed its ambition to have 850 MW of new large-scale battery storage in its portfolio by the end of 2024 after announcing falling power prices and an outage at the coal-fired Liddell Power Station in New South Wales had wiped out more than a quarter of its half-yearly profit.

The highly successful Western Australian community battery rollout continues with the expansion of the PowerBank trial, run by the state’s biggest generator and retailer Synergy in conjunction with state-owned network operator Western Power.

Long-standing solar PV manufacturer Suntech is set to expand its offerings in the Australian market with the imminent release of sister company Sunways’ range of single-phase inverters.

Oil and gas exploration and development company Real Energy continues to pursue its hydrogen ambitions, entering into a key partnership with Port Anthony Renewables to build and develop a large-scale hydrogen production facility in eastern Victoria.

Australian engineer Daniel Westerman has been chosen to head the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) as the nation continues to navigate a rapid transformation of the generation mix.

A lengthy battle over land use is set to be reignited with renewable energy developer Infinergy Pacific lodging a revised planning application with the Victorian Government for a 200 MW solar farm and battery storage facility in the state’s southwest.

Australia’s record-breaking uptake of small-scale rooftop solar and growing interest in home battery systems almost guarantee virtual power plants (VPP) will play a key role in the nation’s energy system into the future and Energy Networks Australia (ENA) has identified the “blueprint” for their successful integration into the grid.

Australian Gas Networks (AGN) has revealed detailed plans to introduce renewable hydrogen into the existing natural gas networks in both Victoria and Western Australia after the first production of green hydrogen at its $11.4 million Hydrogen Park South Australia.

Sydney-based developer Genex Power has secured a $147 million funding package from the Queensland Government to finance a new transmission network link which will connect the proposed 250 MW Kidston pumped hydro storage project in northern Queensland with the main grid.

The rise and rise of rooftop solar PV has established Australia as a renewable energy powerhouse with new figures from the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) revealing the nation achieved a record in renewable capacity in 2020.