Installations

Local government associations continue to drive Australia’s shift towards renewable energy with councils around the country unveiling a series of clean energy projects, ranging from solar PV and storage installs, to solar panel recycling initiatives and long-term power purchase agreements.

Australian clean energy developer Renewable Energy Partners will investigate opportunities to incorporate solar PV and a big battery as part of its plan to develop a 600 MW wind farm in the Western Downs region of Queensland.

The owner of Australia’s biggest coal-fired generator has added another large-scale solar PV project to its renewable energy portfolio with the acquisition of the 60 MW Yanco Solar Farm being developed in the New South Wales Riverina region.

Western Australia has never been closer to demonstrating commercial-scale green hydrogen as Infinite Green Energy’s MEG HP1 project utilising the 11 MW Northam Solar Farm pushes toward completion.

Melbourne startup RayGen, which merges solar generation with long-duration electro-thermal energy storage, has connected its flagship Victorian project to the grid – albeit partially, as the company is still waiting on the final pieces of equipment to complete the 17 hour duration electro-storage system component.

Australian renewable energy developer Genex Power has bought Queensland’s Bulli Creek storage project from Solar Choice, saying it plans to develop the site in five stages – the first of which will include a 400 MW / 1,600 MWh big battery.

Horizon Power, the state government owned electricity provider for much of regional Western Australia, is set to rollout energy management technology which integrates the utility’s assets with distributed energy resources. The technology, which uses predictive analytics, hopes to unlock access to renewables in the regions.

Miner Rio Tinto has received offers to build more than 4 GW of solar and wind capacity after the company sought proposals to help it cut carbon emissions at its Queensland operations.

The Indian government’s PM KUSUM Scheme supports farmers in installing standalone solar pumps and solarizing existing grid-connected agriculture pumps.

Fourth-generation Victorian dairy farmers this week commissioned their 250kW rooftop solar system coupled with 520 kWh of battery storage from Australian company Energy Renaissance. The couple are forecast to save at least $70,000 annually with the system, cutting their grid reliance by 95% and hopefully inspiring neighbouring farms.