Saturday read: China’s path to 100 GW
China is once again the focus of attention across the global solar PV industry. The country’s manufacturers have had a turbulent 2021, but domestic demand remains strong, particularly from the booming residential rooftop segment. Despite the supply challenges, China will likely reach 50 GW this year and possibly even 100 GW next year. Given the dynamic market and policy landscape, pv magazine publisher Eckhart K. Gouras recently caught up with long-time China solar expert Frank Haugwitz, the founder of the Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) Advisory (AECEA).
Enel X unveils first Australian battery storage project
The energy transition and innovation arm of Italian energy company Enel Group is set deliver its first battery energy storage system in Australia, a “landmark project” which it said will help South Australian water utility Central Irrigation Trust “intelligently manage” its energy use.
Tesla signs offtake deal with Genex for Bouldercombe battery
Australian renewable energy developer Genex Power has penned an offtake agreement with Tesla that will smooth the way for it to secure finance for the 50 MW/100 MWh Bouldercombe Battery Project being developed near Rockhampton in central Queensland.
New solution to store residential, commercial PV electricity as green hydrogen
Germany’s Home Power Solutions has developed a hydrogen storage solution with a capacity of up to 15,000 kWh. The Picea system stores excess electricity from rooftop PV systems in the form of green hydrogen.
5-minute settlement, battery smarts make Hazelwood battery a reality
The impression of another big battery being installed on the site of one of Australia’s recently decommissioned “coal clunkers” was lost on few. Battery system provider Fluence says the Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System’s business case was bolstered by recent reforms and new technology to take advantage of rapidly changing wholesale electricity market dynamics.
Australia’s new biggest battery switches on
The 300 MW / 450 MWh Victorian big battery in Geelong has today commenced operation. In spite of fire breaking out during commissioning in July, the battery has been delivered in record time, taking less than a year to build and begin operations.
New tank design promises to significantly improve the reliability of thermal energy storage
A consortium including Australian concentrated solar thermal power company Vast Solar has filed to patent a new tank design for thermal energy storage systems. The new design, it says, substantially mitigates the risk of tank failures which have been identified as one of the key shortcomings of the economical storage technology.
SA batteries paid to charge as solar sends electricity prices negative
Batteries in South Australia have been paid to charge throughout September and October 2021 due to a record number of negative price intervals. Wholesale electricity prices were negative almost 40% of the time.
Partnership formed for molten salt long duration energy storage
Malta announced a partnership with Betchel to deploy electro-thermal energy storage systems that are capable of durations of 10-150+ hours.
Commercial returns on VPPs ‘proven’ as expanded program adds more sophisticated features
Simply Energy on Thursday announced it will be extending its Virtual Power Plant program across the eastern seaboard and opening it up to five different battery brands. Simply Energy will continue its technology partnership with SwitchDin to do so, with Ryan Wavish, Simply’s General Manager, and Andrew Mears, CEO and founder of SwitchDin, telling pv magazine Australia they plan to introduce a whole range of new, more advanced features into the VPP as the relationship between the two companies evolves.
