Covid-19

The unstoppable growth of Australia’s rooftop PV fleet continues to eat into the pie previously reserved for coal and gas, a new audit of the National Electricity Market shows. Meanwhile, the nation’s electricity consumption has remained mostly flat despite a Covid-19 pandemic-induced economic slowdown.

New analysis from Green Energy Markets (GEM) and community-led group Solar Citizens suggests that more than 51,000 jobs could be created in Queensland (QLD) if all the large-scale renewable energy projects currently in the pipeline were given the green light.

Last week the Morrison Government launched the revamped version of its energy price comparison website, Energy Made Easy. The website carries new features installed by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) designed to help Australians get a better deal on their energy bill.

New research out of Monash University has revealed that Australian states and territories are lagging behind in COAG Energy Council commitments to improve energy productivity by 2030. Modelling shows that national objectives will only be half met.

Between 460 and 480 MWp in size, Western Downs will become the largest solar farm in Australia, bringing significant regional economic benefits to South West Queensland.

A study by the International Energy Agency into the chilling effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on energy demand states renewables will be ‘the only energy source likely to experience demand growth for the rest of 2020’. The slower the economic recovery, the more the fossil fuel industry will suffer.

WA’s McGowan Government has set up a $9 million Clean Energy Future Fund which it will top up with the royalties of ‘unconventional onshore oil and gas projects’, a euphemism for fracking.

In the face of the Covid-19 economic crisis, companies and investment firms are looking to buyback existing solar systems from businesses in exchange for ready cash and decent terms.

The Arrowsmith Hydrogen plant is the first of many green hydrogen projects across Western Australia being developed by Perth-based company Infinite Blue Energy.

In a bid to boost the state’s economy and create jobs amid the Covid-19 crisis, the New South Wales government will accelerate the assessment of 24 projects, including the $4.6 billion Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro storage project.