Markets & Policy

Investment in utility-scale solar in Australia dropped 35% in the second half of 2025 compared to the previous six months with Bloomberg New Energy Finance saying the growth of rooftop solar and a booming battery market are among the reasons for the precipitous decline.

Omnidian, GoodWe and AIKO have collaborated to install, donate and support long term, a 17 kW rooftop solar and 19.2 kWh battery storage system on an animal shelter in Victoria, and encourage industry to follow suit.

A high voltage 2.5 MW / 3 MWh community battery installed through a South Australian electricity distributor, ARENA-funded program will be energised in March 2026 and remain on standby to help manage a regional community’s peak demand.

The Ariya demonstration vehicle features 3.8 m² of Lightyear’s custom solar panels integrated across the hood, roof, and tailgate. Testing showed that the car could generate 0.5 kWh of solar energy during a 2‑hour, 80 kilometer trip, delivering up to 3 kilometres of range at no extra cost or charging time.

AlphaHPA has received a $75 million National Reconstruction Fund Corporation investment toward delivery of its ultra-high purity alumina plant in Queensland, which will supply critical materials for lithium-ion battery manufacturing.

A surge of new generation and storage capacity reached full output in Australia’s main grid in the last quarter with nine projects totalling 1.8 GW of new capacity progressing through commissioning and entering operation.

Australian manufacturer Siltrax will push forward with the commercialisation of its silicon-based hydrogen fuel cell technology after securing the tick of approval from international testing, inspection, and certification body TÜV Rheinland.

A new report from Wood Mackenzie identifies five key trends the global research and consultancy group expects will define the energy storage industry in 2026, including supply chain restructuring and the rise of non-lithium batteries.

Space-based solar could power AI more efficiently than on Earth, with full-scale deployment possible in two to three years, Elon Musk says SpaceX’s Starship launch vehicle and its reusable rockets aim to sharply reduce space access costs, enabling solar-powered AI satellites and potentially large-scale extraterrestrial energy infrastructure.

Plans for a 250 MW solar and 350 MWh battery energy storage project proposed for Queensland’s Western Downs region are now available for public comment as developer Pacific Partnerships seeks a green tick from the federal government.