Energy Storage

The South Australian government will launch its Home Battery Scheme in October, which will offer South Australians subsidies of up to $6,000. In the wake of the government’s announcement, the German storage provider has revealed plans to manufacture up to 50,000 battery storage units at the former Holden site in Elizabeth, creating hundreds of jobs.

Renewables are stealing the march over coal in Australia, and the international outlook is for lower coal demand. Today the international Coal Transitions project released its findings, based on global coal scenarios and detailed case studies by teams in China, India, South Africa, Australia, Poland and Germany.

In what is set to become its largest infrastructure investment to date, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility is backing the expansion of three Northern Territory airports, with a $150 million loan. Among other development works, the funding will cover construction of solar farms across all three sites.

Following a grant from the Victorian government, Origin Energy is gearing up to connect solar and battery systems of up to 650 residential and commercial properties across the state, in what will be its first virtual power plant and the largest one in Victoria to date.

Wrapping up the year in which it established its wholly-owned manufacturing facility in Thailand, the Brisbane-based battery supplier says it is negotiating contracts with a number of customers, sharpening its focus on key target markets in Australasia, Asia Pacific and South Africa.

While it took 60 months to reach the first million electric vehicle (EV) sales, in late 2015, it took the fourth million just six months. China is driving this development. Meanwhile, as first generation EVs batteries are reaching their end-of-life, interest in second-life use cases is growing. The volume of retired EV battery packs is set to be 108 GWh by 2029 – representing a third of the expected storage capacity market at that time.

In yet another bizarre demonstration of the muddled thinking of coalition parliamentarians and solar, climate skeptic and pro-coal LNP MP, George Christensen, will be launching a major off-grid renewable energy project – executed by local business Linked Group Services in Northern Queensland.

In its 2018 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO), the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has warned of a heightened risk of power failure during summer peak-demand periods, based on refinements in weather forecasting and reduced reliability of ageing fossil fuel generators.  

Following the signing of an assistance agreement between the Queensland Government and international consortium Imperium 3, a $2 billion lithium-ion battery factory is one step closer to reality.

Solar power will be traded across the meter among four participating entities at Bangkok’s T77 precinct – a shopping centre, international school, serviced apartments and a dental hospital.