Utility Scale Storage

Swedish battery maker Northvolt has developed its first sodium-ion battery. The cell has been validated for an energy density of more than 160 Wh/kg and is designed for energy storage applications.

Akaysha Energy has expanded the scope of its Victorian Elaine battery from 800 MWh to 1244 MWh, growing the project’s capacity more than 50% due to its long duration capability of four hours, pv magazine Australia has been told.

More than 1 GW of firmed storage capacity is set to be delivered by the six winning projects from the New South Wales (NSW) tender combining state and federal schemes. Akaysha Energy’s 415 MW / 1660 MWh battery in Wellington and AGL’s 500 MW / 1000 MWh Liddell battery are the round’s two biggest projects.

Fortescue has announced three projects – two in Australia and the other in the US – have reached final investment decision (FID). The company held its annual general meeting today, where members voted down its contentious executive pay policy.

The green investments arm of global financial services group Macquarie Asset Management has launched a new specialist renewable energy business targeting an initial pipeline of 4 GW of wind, solar and battery energy storage projects across Australia.

The Western Australian government will invest more than $700 million (USD 455 million) to deliver the step change in electricity transmission infrastructure needed to unlock renewable energy generation opportunities that will support the state’s energy transformation.

The Western Australian government has introduced a new environmental assessment exemption order in a bid to facilitate smoother and faster approvals for major renewable energy projects and support the state’s decarbonisation efforts.

Amid predictions Australia’s energy system faces a summer of extreme demand, the market operator has forecast that renewables, including 2 GW of generation capacity from new wind and solar projects, will counter the risk of power outages.

South Korean technology giant Samsung is reportedly looking to develop a ‘mega scale’ renewable generation, storage, and green manufacturing hub in the Northern Territory, its government has announced. However, no actual details on the size, nor any real specifics, appear to be known.

The commissioning of stage two of Vena Energy’s 180 MW Tailem Bend solar farm in South Australia is now complete, with a 41.5 MWh battery to be coupled shortly. Tailem Bend 2 was first energised in February, but took until now to be fully commissioned.