AEMO confident renewables can counter extreme demand
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.
NSW gov proposes ‘standard’ benefit sharing and revised approval pathways to accelerate renewables
The NSW government has published a suite of draft guidelines for renewable projects, most notably proposing community benefit sharing fees of $850/MW per annum for solar, and $1050/MW for wind. While the guidelines are an attempt to level the playing field between communities, local councils, and big developers, some fear the proposed rules could undercut ongoing negotiations.
Samsung planning ‘mega-scale’ renewable hub and manufacturing in the NT
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.
Sri Lanka launches 70 MW ground-mounted solar auction
Sri Lanka’s government-owned Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is inviting applications for the development of 1 MW to 5 MW ground-mounted solar projects – totaling 70 MW – with 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA).
SA solar park doubles in size as phase 2 finally enters operations
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.
Fortescue applied for vast land tenements in WA Pilbara just after scrapping Uaroo
Fortescue has applied for land tenements spanning 150,000 hectares, an area twice the size of Singapore, to build renewable projects to supply its operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
CS Energy pens supply agreement for ‘hydrogen ready’ power plant
CS Energy has signed an agreement with United States-headquartered GE Vernova for the supply of key equipment for Queensland’s first “hydrogen-ready” gas peaking power plant which will initially be capable of operating on 35% renewable hydrogen.
Researchers shed light on mysterious, higher energy yields in vertical PV systems
Scientists in the Netherlands have sought to understand the reason for unexpected gains in vertical PV systems and found that these installations have a much higher heat transfer coefficient than their horizontally deployed counterparts.
CleanPeak continues growth in utility scale solar sector
Australian commercial solar outfit CleanPeak Energy has expanded its utility-scale PV portfolio with the acquisition of three operating solar farms with a combined capacity of 14.3 MW in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
New land, water licenses granted for 8 GW green hydrogen project in WA’s Gascoyne
Province Resources, a Perth-based company developing an 8 GW green hydrogen project in the state’s Gascoyne region, has had additional licences granted by the WA government covering an area over 600,000 hectares, including over 864 hectares of the seabed near Carnarvon needed for export.
