GridBeyond looks to build Australian footprint with new funding
Ireland-headquartered smart energy company GridBeyond plans to expand its operations in “key market” Australia as part of a broader global growth strategy after securing more than $86 million in new funding.
Ballarat community group looks at ‘microgrid model on steroids’ to power city
The Ballarat Energy Network is on track to decentralise the regional city’s electricity network with a long-term view to supply the Victorian community’s 120,000 residents with 100% renewable energy generated by local distributed energy resources.
Horizon expands software rollout to enable more regional rooftop solar
Solar access will be expanded throughout regional Western Australia with state-owned energy provider Horizon Power announcing plans to roll out “state-of-the-art” internet-connected technology that will help balance energy on regional microgrids.
Free home solar and battery rollout begins with Diamond partnership – here’s how NRN’s value model works
Australian startup NRN is rolling out its proposition to fit households with solar and batteries at no cost to consumers. Announcing its partnership with retailer Diamond Energy and the completion of a $13.5 million (USD 9.18 million) capital raise, the company believes it’s found the trick to successfully deploying free household renewables by focussing on retailer value. Pv magazine Australia spoke to NRN and experts about how exactly the model works and where the value comes from.
Maharlika Consortium wins Philippines microgrid tender
The Philippines Department of Energy says the Maharlika Consortium – representing three companies – will develop two microgrid hybrid solar and diesel generator power plants for “underserved” communities located on Panlaitan island and the island of Mindoro.
Another WA town transitions to solar and batteries
Cue, a town in Western Australia’s midwest, has installed 259 kW of solar and a 336 kWh battery system to wean itself off diesel. The installation is part of Horizon Power’s Midwest Solar Program and belongs within a much larger state-wide transformation.
Thermal storage company breaks ground on its renewable agriculture facility in NSW
Australian thermal storage company, Graphite Energy, has broken ground on its Lake Cargelligo facility in New South Wales which aims to demonstrate how renewable energy and agriculture can coexist through agrivoltaic and green house systems.
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.
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.
Solar-plus-storage outperforms diesel in US military survival analysis
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has determined that Antora Energy’s solar-plus-storage system meets the US military’s stringent standards, as it significantly outperforms emergency diesel generators in survivability probabilities.
