5,056 MW of large scale solar and wind are currently being built in Australia. The latest figures from Green Energy Markets shows that the total passed the 5 GW milestone for the first time in February.

Fluence says that Australian governments, regulators and grid operators are ‘learning-by-doing’ in their application of large-scale battery storage. The technology provider on the new 30 MW/30 MWh utility-scale battery at Ballarat indicates that the approach could deliver significant savings when compared with grid upgrades that could be considered “not optimal” as battery technology rapidly improves.

UK-Dutch renewables developer Infinergy has sold the Metz Solar Farm, currently under development. While developer Infinergy Pacifc, a subsidiary of UK-based Infinergy, has not disclosed the buyer, the project’s website now lists it as a Clenergy project.

Varta Storage will hold its official launch into the Australian marketplace at an event tonight in Melbourne. As it joins an increasingly crowded marketplace, it expects that the installer will hold the key to sales in Australian homes.

Carnegie Clean Energy will rely on Large-scale Generation Certificate (LGC) and WA capacity market payments on top of wholesale electricity prices on the SWIS to make its 10 MW Northam solar project work. The company broke ground on the project yesterday, in a ceremony attended by WA treasurer and energy minister Ben Wyatt.

Major Australian brewer Cartlon United Breweries (CUB) has signed a 12-year PPA with BayWa r.e. to purchase 74,000 MWh a year from the 112 MW Karadoc solar farm in Mildura. The move will cut emissions and reduce power costs for the brewer.

Carnegie Clean Energy has been awarded a $471,000 grant to develop a solar and battery storage solution for the supply of offshore oil and gas platforms. The grant has been provided National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), a body that aims to enhance the competitiveness of Australia’s non-renewable energy sector.

The National Energy Guarantee (NEG) is looking more likely to be implemented with the swearing in of Steven Marshall as the South Australia’s 46th premier today. While the change of government, a of the Liberal party’s victory in Saturday’s election will undoubtedly lead to a departure from some of the Weatherill government’s pro-renewables policies, it also silences a vocal opponent to the NEG at the negotiating table.

Market analysts IHS Markit believes Australia installed some 7,000 – 8,000 residential storage systems in 2017. “Really strong growth” is expected this year as the economics continue to improve.

WA grid operator Western Power has launched a tender to provide stand-alone power systems in up to 60 locations. Building on a trial program, the systems will include solar and battery storage supported with backup diesel generators.