Energy storage project bids now sought for Victoria and South Australia
The Capacity Investment Scheme South Australia-Victoria tender is now open for bids. Renewable energy storage projects must be located in either of the states and have a minimum storage duration of two hours and a minimum size of 30 MW.
Florence machine resumes tunnelling on Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project
Tunnelling has restarted on a troubled section of the largest renewable energy project under construction in Australia after the New South Wales government issued new environmental approvals to Snowy Hydro.
Canadian Solar launches new grid-scale battery
Canadian Solar says its new SolBank 3.0 grid-scale battery supports up to 2.35 MW/5 MWh of grid-scale renewable energy storage and dispatch.
Wollongong startup inks deal with local miner to examine deploying gravity storage in 8 disused mine shafts
Startup Green Gravity has signed a deal with mining company Wollongong Resources to study the application of gravitational energy storage technology at up to eight mining sites in New South Wales.
New 300 MW battery proposed by Alinta Energy in WA’s southwest
Western Australian utility Alinta Energy has lodged a plan to build a second 300 MW battery at Wagerup in the state’s southwest. The $500 million (USD 330 million) project would sit adjacent to Alcoa’s alumina refinery and Alinta’s gas and diesel-fired power plant.
Queensland to roll out rebate scheme to boost uptake of home batteries
The Queensland government has indicated it will support the increased rollout of household battery energy storage systems with a new $24 million (USD 15.75 million) residential battery rebate program set to be launched in 2024.
Synergy secures planning approval for 2 GWh big battery
Western Australian government-owned utility Synergy’s plan to build a 500 MW/2,000 MWh battery energy storage system in the state’s southwest to improve system security and support increased renewable energy generation in the main grid has been given the tick of approval by planning authorities.
Weekend read: Australia’s battery balancing act
Australia is geologically equipped to become a battery critical-minerals hub but the nation is stumbling upon sticky structural issues. Sensitive diplomatic and trade ties, delicate forests and ecosystems, and a devotion to free markets and small government are among the major hurdles, writes Bella Peacock.
Compressed air to secure power supply for Broken Hill
Canadian firm Hydrostor has struck a deal to provide back-up power to the remote New South Wales outback town of Broken Hill using a compressed air energy storage plant that will be built in an underground cavern at one of the region’s closed mines.
Grid connection applications climb as AEMO points to ‘major influx’
A “major influx” of new renewable generation and storage capacity is poised to connect to Australia’s main grid with the energy market operator revealing almost 150 projects representing more than 31 GW of new capacity are in the application and pre-registration stages.
