Queensland’s pipeline of pumped hydro storage projects continues to grow with Victorian-based renewables company BE Power announcing plans to develop an 800 MW / 9.6 GWh project at Mount Alma near Gladstone.

After a near six-year delay, the 60 MW Kennedy Energy Park in north Queensland, hailed as Australia’s first fully integrated utility scale solar, wind, and battery project, has finally achieved full commercial operations.

Much like death and taxes are life’s guarantees, so are warmer days and nights with the Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast predicting Australia to have an 80% chance of above-average temperatures this Autumn.

Australian miner Liontown Resources has flicked the switch on one of the largest off-grid renewable energy hybrid power stations in Australia with the solar, wind and battery energy storage system helping to power operations at its $895 million Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia.

Climate change advisory and investment firm Pollination Group has launched a $150 million venture capital fund to invest in early-stage tech companies in Australia aimed at facilitating the renewable energy transition.

United Kingdom-based solar and energy storage developer Elements Green is seeking to develop one of Australia’s largest renewables projects with its application for a 696 MW solar farm and 1,332 MWh battery energy storage system lodged with the federal government for assessment.

International beverage company Suntory Oceania has started work on a 3.2 MW rooftop solar install that will help power its new $400 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Queensland.

Australia’s first large-scale solar and big battery storage installation – the Lakeland project in far north Queensland – has been placed on the sales block with MPower announcing it will use the proceeds to further expand its portfolio of PV and battery storage projects.

In Australia’s electricity system, more and more energy from sunlight and wind is being “spilled” – or not converted to electricity. In the past year, the amount of renewable energy spilled was roughly equivalent to the annual consumption of 750,000 typical households, or three months of consumption for the state of South Australia. Some have attributed these dynamics as being driven by a “solar power glut”.

Social licence commitments have been prioritised over commercial operation dates in the guidelines for Australia’s first national renewable electricity generation tender that is seeking to deliver 6 GW of renewable capacity across the National Electricity Market.