SA virtual power plant moves forward with new retailer on board
The second phase of the proposed 250 MW virtual power plant will see Tesla Powerwall batteries and solar panels installed on 1,000 South Australian households.
Sonnen begins battery production in South Australia
The German energy storage provider has begun assembling batteries at the former Holden site at Elizabeth in Adelaide’s north. The company has already hired 50 full-time employees.
Mali gold mine to slash power bill with 40 MW solar hybrid plant
Australian mining company Resolute Mining has inked a JDA and PPA with Ignite Energy, to construct what it says is the world’s largest off-grid solar hybrid plant, at one of its gold mines in Mali.
South Australia sets up $50 million Grid Scale Storage Fund
The South Australian state government has launched a $50 million fund to support construction of new energy storage projects, seeking to address intermittency in the state electricity system and make electricity more affordable and reliable. There will be one round of applications, with a closing date of Thursday, 7 February 2019.
Eguana Technologies approved for SA Home Battery Scheme
The Canadian battery manufacturer has been approved as the third battery storage provider for the South Australian Home Battery Scheme. Eguana plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Adelaide, creating up to 200 new jobs over the next three years.
Queensland kick-starts battery grant and loan scheme
Under the scheme, the state government will offer a combination of grants and interest-free loans for solar and battery storage systems to help 1500 Queensland households and small businesses save money off their energy bills.
Australia’s largest battery retrofitted to solar farm powers up in Gannawarra
The 25 MW / 50 MWh Tesla battery collocated with the 60 MW Gannawarra Solar Farm has been officially commissioned, as the second of the two grid-scale batteries that will provide support to the Victorian grid by the start of this summer. The Gannawarra project is Australia’s largest integrated solar and battery facility.
NSW in line for 4 GW solar, wind and battery hybrid project
Australian developers Energy Estate and MirusWind have proposed a massive renewable energy hub in New South Wales. The project will combine wind and solar energy generation with pumped hydro storage and other storage options to provide up to 4 GW of new clean generation.
Alpha ESS joins SA Home Battery Scheme
The China-headquartered battery manufacturer has joined Germany’s sonnen as an exclusive approved battery storage provider for the South Australian Home Battery Scheme. Alpha-ESS plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Adelaide, where it will build more than 8000 batteries a year and create up to 120 jobs.
IEA World Energy Outlook highlights viability of Australian ‘green hydrogen’
Hydrogen produced by electrolysers powered by solar and wind in Australia could replace 3% of the world’s gas consumption. The IEA made the observation today in its ‘flagship’ annual publication, noting that by 2040 costs of renewable hydrogen in northern Australia would likely be competitive with hydrogen produced from natural gas.
