Energy Storage

The Australian government has agreed to provide $2.57 million to support a two-year pilot project that will use blockchain technology to pair utility-scale and commercial rooftop PV with a battery, electric vehicle charging stations and water treatment and capture systems in the port city of Fremantle.

AGL is set to expand its blockchain-enabled peer-to-peer solar trading program. Initially launched as a trial in May, the scheme will be expanded first in Adelaide, although the number of households to which it will be made available in this second stage is yet to be determined.

Western Australian regional utility Horizon Power is rolling out a new program to incentivize consumers to reduce their consumption during peak hours. The higher fixed tariff may penalize solar homes; however, it does presents an opportunity for battery storage.

Western Australia’s electricity provider Horizon Power is set to receive a financial shot in the arm to install various distributed energy technologies in 90 homes and businesses in the coastal town of Carnarvon, which is home to the state’s first utility-scale energy storage, currently under trial.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) will provide $150 million in debt finance for the 212 MW Lincoln Gap wind farm. The project will include a utility scale battery system capable of provider 10 MWh of ‘fast response’ storage capacity.

The first sonnen system to be installed in Australia under the sonnenFlat pricing structure will save the family $2,000 on their electricity bills. Installer Natural Solar made the claim on Friday, when announcing the landmark system.

Zinc-bromide flow battery produced Redflow has announced that it is targeting production of 3,000 batteries a month from its new production facility in Thailand. Operation at the site is slated to begin by the end of 2017.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation will provide $94 million as the sole debt financier of Australia’s first co-developed wind, solar and storage array. The 60 MW Kennedy Energy Park is being developed by Windlab and Eurus Energy and will combine 43.2 MW in wind capacity, 15 MW of solar PV, and 2 MWh of battery storage.

Dutch solar-powered car, with an average speed of 69 km/h and a carrying capacity of up to five people, has been hailed as the future of solar powered cars after competing in the World Solar Challenge.

The tender was part of a raft of announcements, including confirmation of a commitment to source 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Queensland is fast emerging as a large scale solar hotspot, with hundreds of megawatts either having reached financial close or currently under construction.