Employment

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.

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.

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

With 4.4 GW of new renewable energy capacity installed and almost a quarter of Australia’s electricity supply now coming from renewable energy sources, 2019 was another year of extraordinary growth, according to the latest edition of the Clean Energy Australia report. As rooftop solar continued its record-breaking streak, big PV made up more than two-thirds of Australia’s large-scale renewable energy capacity installed last year. Meanwhile, the battery storage sector started to gain momentum.

The Australian Energy Regulator has called on Australian energy businesses to take its customers doing it tough at this time into consideration. The AER has set out 10 expectations for energy businesses.

The CSIRO recently told its Energy Business Unit that shortfalls would see approximately 20% of jobs cut despite the Government’s much-awaited Carbon Reduction Roadmap pinning our hopes on technological innovation.

The impact of COVID-19 will leave its mark on our society and economy while a sliding Australian dollar is likely to make imported goods more expensive. In its webinar held on Thursday, the Smart Energy Council is discussing business tips on how to weather the storm over the next six months. And a question arises: Can residential and commercial solar and storage buck the trend against the economic recession which is on the way?

Grupo Energia is the latest renewable energy company to set up shop in Australia and it has chosen Melbourne for its local headquarters.

Tasmania has committed to being 100% renewable by 2022 and remains well on track to meet this target ahead of schedule. But the island state says it is well placed to set a more ambitious goal, which would see it double its renewable production and help mainland Australia reduce its emissions.

Horizon Power has launched its Reconciliation Action Plan to strengthen relationships with Indigenous peoples. Among the many-faceted mandates in the Plan is a recognition of the utility of solar in remote communities.