Installations

The Australian arm of Spanish energy giant Iberdrola has broken ground on its 190 MW Avonlie Solar Farm with the ‘golden rows’ of solar panels installed at the project being developed in the New South Wales Riverina region.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has declared approximately $12.7 billion of investment in new transmission lines should begin “as urgently as possible” to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and energy storage, replace exiting coal-fired power plants, and deliver a more efficient and effective grid in eastern and south-eastern Australia.

The Clean Energy Regulator has outlined the second round of changes coming to Australia’s solar rebate program, the small-scale renewable energy scheme (SRES). They primarily involve changing which body will manage solar designer and installer accreditations and who will publish approved solar panel and inverter equipment lists – both of which have formerly been the remit of the Clean Energy Council.

Alion Energy trackers thread the return-on-investment needle with productivity gains from white roofs and bifacial modules, while design aggressively maximises module count.

A green hydrogen production facility planned for Brighton, Tasmania, is progressing with its developer, Countrywide Renewable Hydrogen, owned by ReNu Energy, announcing it has an option to lease its identified site and has drawn up a term sheet with a local contractor.

Tata Power’s engineering, procurement and construction unit has commissioned a 101.6 MWp floating solar project in the Indian state of Kerala.

The main winner of the first renewables auction in the Philippines was developer Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. (SPNEC), which secured five solar projects, or 1.35 GW of capacity.

South Australia utility SA Water has energised another solar PV plant as part of a $300 million solar investment designed to save on both costs and carbon. switching on a 10.3 MW solar system at its Rocky Gully pump station near Murray Bridge in the state’s south-east.

United States-based solar power developer VivoPower International has secured its largest solar contract to date with Australian subsidiary J.A. Martin Electrical appointed to complete the electrical works for the 204 MWdc Edenvale Solar Farm being developed on Queensland’s Western Downs.

Australia’s small-scale solar and battery energy storage installation rate has remained robust in the face of a number of challenges. By virtue of this resilience, it is adding jobs and contributing the country’s decarbonisation, reports Nikhil Jayaraj, the Managing Director of Regen Power.