Big batteries now dominate the provision of the frequency control ancillary services required to maintain power system security in Australia’s main grid but demand side services company Viotas says there is room for more players in the increasingly lucrative market.

The South Australian government has struck a deal with GFG Alliance to explore a green hydrogen offtake agreement as the company seeks to phase out coal-based steelmaking at its Whyalla iron and steel plant in the state’s Upper Spencer Gulf.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales have rejected suggestions that end-of-life solar panels will create a “waste mountain” in Australia, saying instead that they could serve as valuable material reservoirs for future production.

Global energy storage technology company Fluence has more than 1 GW of battery projects operating or under construction in Australia and it is now broadening its strategy beyond hardware to include optimising asset performance and servicing.

Commonwealth Bank-backed energy retailer and technology company Amber Electric has raised $29 million (USD 18.9 million) in capital that is earmarked to scale the business in Australia and to take its battery and electric vehicle automation software offshore.

The economic benefits of integrating battery energy storage solutions in commercial settings have been highlighted by Relectrify which has released data showing that a recently commissioned 120 kW Revolve battery has reduced the customer’s import of energy from the grid by more than 94%.

The severe heatwave that moved across Australia in recent weeks, initially in Western Australia, Queensland and then New South Wales, highlights that it is only going to get tougher to maintain a secure, reliable electricity system as our climate warms and demand for energy continues to increase.

Genex Power has tapped PCL Construction as its preferred engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the up to 775 MW first stage of the Bulli Creek solar project being developed in southeast Queensland.

A slowdown in large-scale solar farm development has not been enough to derail near record annual growth in Australia’s solar market with data from SunWiz showing 4.6 GW of PV capacity was installed across the country in 2023.

Australian renewables developer Edify Energy has been tapped by the federal government to lead the development of a hydrogen hub in the north Queensland city of Townsville as it looks to take advantage of growing global demand for green hydrogen.