BayWa r.e. is seeking federal environmental approval for two proposed renewable energy projects featuring up to 312 MW of generation and a combined 1.2 GWh of battery energy storage capacity.

Small collections of electricity generators, or microgrids, have long been used in disaster recovery, when network supply falters during bushfires or cyclones. But now the technology is being used to provide secure, 24-7 supplies of clean energy in Australian communities where connection to the main electricity grid is but a pipedream.

Global renewables project developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures says its 5 MW solar and battery hybrid power plant near Dalby in southern Queensland has been completed and is now operational.

The majority of global companies have set ambitious public targets to reach net zero, but internally many believe there is insufficient effort being made to transform talk of decarbonisation to reality. The team at consulting firm Partners in Performance recently surveyed ~100 senior leaders at global companies to assess the efficacy of their emissions reduction programs.

Three pumped hydro projects that would deliver a combined 1,035 MW / 9,480 MWh of dispatchable capacity are among six projects that have been declared critical state significant infrastructure by the New South Wales government, potentially smoothing the way for their approval.

Construction has begun on a solar and battery-based microgrid that is to provide the northeast Victoria town of Corryong with crucial energy resilience, helping keep the power on during emergencies such as bushfires and storms.

The roll out of rooftop solar in Australia has slowed with a total of 248 MW of new capacity registered across the country in June, a 14% decline on the previous month and the lowest tally since January.

Australian flow battery specialist Redflow has struck a partnership with Queensland state-owned generation company Stanwell to work together on the development of a non-lithium long-duration battery energy storage solution for use in a 400 MWh project.

Renewables developer Lodestone Energy will build a 220 MW solar farm on one of New Zealand’s iconic high-country grazing properties with the landowners targeting the PV facility to help rehabilitate redundant land.

Scientists from Australia’s national science agency and the electricity research and development arm of global tech giant Google have developed a new ‘smart’ inverter they claim is almost twice as fast and about 50% more efficient than existing commercial inverters.