Utility Scale Storage

Academics reviewed the historic price development of lithium-ion batteries and found the accepted model does not accurately reflect the full cost decline and technological improvement which has taken place. With more data points to compare, the team found batteries had improved even more than previously assumed.

NSW is growing its renewable energy pipeline at pace. Many sun-drenched regions are understandably worried that their landscapes could be “de-natured” by the march of large-scale solar. The Independent Planning Commission process helps to bring the state’s needs in line with community concerns.

Concentrated solar thermal technology developed with input from CSIRO, the Australian National University and the University of Adelaide, has been funded for a commercial-scale test by the United States Department of Energy.

Australian lithium-ion battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance has warned of the threat posed by “nefarious actors” while detailing plans to develop “a defence-grade cybersecure” Battery Management System which will align with its superStorage range of batteries.

AGL’s nose pushes in front in the race that stores the nation with the announcement that construction on its 250 MW one-hour-duration battery at the site of its Torrens Island power station in South Australia is now underway. The announcement follows directly on from AGL having lodged a planning application for a 200 MW battery at its Loy Yang power station in Victoria.

Energy provider AGL is forging ahead with plans to establish a 200 MW grid-scale battery at its Loy Yang power station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, announcing it has lodged a planning application with the state government.

Canadian Solar is pivoting towards energy storage and is preparing to IPO its manufacturing and Chinese solar project activity in China, under the CSI Solar operation, by July.

MinterEllison’s second annual ‘Renewables Investment Report’ finds that over the past year Australia has become a safe haven for investment… The maturity of its renewable opportunities seems to outweigh existing challenges. 

Battery capacity in the distributed and large-scale sectors continues to grow, according the annual reckoning of the SunWiz oracle. Although still a complex proposition, for homeowners, battery potential is beginning to be utilised in the hundreds of megawatts by governments and utilities, with some interesting side hustles in the mid-sized energy-storage category.

Have we reached a tipping point, from building the case with mining companies for deploying renewable energy … to where renewable energy is helping to build the case for mining?