Singapore-based developer Vena Energy has announced it will investigate opportunities to manufacture solar panel components and battery energy storage systems in Indonesia to support a hybrid megaproject featuring up to 2 GW of solar capacity and more than 8 GWh of energy storage.

American investment giant BlackRock has teamed with the New Zealand government to launch a NZ$2 billion (AUD 1.86 billion) climate infrastructure fund to accelerate the growth of green energy technologies like solar, wind, green hydrogen and battery storage to fuel a low-emissions economy.

The average size of rooftop solar systems installed in Australia has climbed to a new high with data analysis from the Australian Energy Council showing the typical unit size is now averaging more than 9 kW.

The size of Australia’s first coordinated renewable energy zone is set to be increased with the New South Wales government announcing the network capacity of the declared Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone will be expanded to better meet the state’s future energy needs as coal-fired power stations progressively retire.

Developers of large-scale PV projects in Australia are being told it is of the utmost importance that they plan for increased frequency of sudden solar power fluctuation events – known as ramps – with new research suggesting that climate change may affect the future stability of grid-connected solar power systems.

Investors have lodged bids for 3.1 GW of wind and solar projects, along with 1.6 GW of long-duration storage projects, in response to the New South Wales government’s latest tender for renewable energy generation and storage capacity as it prepares for the exit of coal-fired power generation from the state’s electricity grid.

Scientists in India have proposed using solar modules at the end of their lifecycle as a building material for low-cost small housing units. With solar module recycling currently not viable economically, the researchers said their approach makes conventional solar panels into BIPV products without any modifications.

Traditional owners in the Northern Territory have teamed up with South Korean power provider Korea Midland Power and a Perth-based renewables company to progress plans for a 300 MW solar farm to be developed on land adjacent to the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct on Darwin harbour.

Vast arrays of solar panels floating on calm seas near the Equator could provide effectively unlimited solar energy to densely populated countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa.

The Australian government needs to commit up to $138 billion (USD 90 billion) over the next decade to support manufacturing of renewable energy-related equipment or risk the country being left behind in the race to develop the technologies and manufacturing capacities needed to prosper from the global energy transition.