Empirical approach shows PV is getting cheaper than all the forecasters expect
With the consistently unambitious forecasts for solar trotted out by entities such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) now a matter of record, a German risk management company has tried to predict more realistic figures for 2030 and beyond.
Rooftop solar is crushing* the returns for large-scale VRE
* rooftop PV is a dominant factor, though there are others… such as the ongoing need for ‘Keeping the Lights on Services’ (which large-scale VRE largely does not supply).
Australian lithium, critical minerals, with Chinese ties unlikely to cash in on US IRA subsidies
A number of Australian critical minerals, including lithium, miners and refiners will likely be ineligible for IRA subsidies after the US government published its draft rules forbidding access to enterprises with over a 25% stake held by Chinese companies or “cumulatively” by Chinese investors.
Origin deal collapse ends Australia’s corporate climate-takeover era
Origin shareholders have voted down the Brookfield-led takeover bid, likely ending what would have been one of Australia’s largest corporate buyouts. The failure of the deal concludes 18-months of bids by private capital to accelerate the sluggish transition of Australia’s two biggest ‘gentailers.’
Australia’s biggest solar farm to supply renewable energy to Coles
The Queensland government has announced that state-owned CleanCo is now providing Coles stores with renewable energy for 95% of its electricity needs in Queensland.
Battery prices down 14% this year, says BloombergNEF
BloombergNEF says it has recorded a 14% decline in battery prices this year, mainly due to cheaper raw materials, following an unprecedented rise in 2022.
Hanwha Qcells shuts down 3.5 GW solar factory in South Korea
Hanwha Qcells has closed its 3.5 GW solar factory in South Korea as part of plans to optimise its PV module production capabilities amid a stagnant domestic solar market.
BP to take full control of Lightsource BP
Energy giant BP announced today it would take full ownership of solar and wind energy developer Lightsource BP once a deal – pertaining to the purchase of the remaining renewables company’s shares BP does not own – goes through next year.
Australia’s biggest battery project changes shape as Equis reaches FID, begins construction
Through a co-funding deal with Victoria’s newly revived SEC, Equis Development has reached financial close and begun construction on phase 1 of its giant 1.2 GW Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub. Plans for the hub, which includes gigawatt hours of storage, seem to have shifted somewhat, with phase 1 now three independent batteries of 200 MW with either two- or four-hours of storage.
Tritium scrabbles for finance, courts investors and bans media from AGM
Brisbane-based electric vehicle charging company Tritium has been involved in a whirlwind of activity this week as it fends off being thrown off Nasdaq, sets about closing its manufacturing in Brisbane and courts new investors. Tritium has pioneered standards in fast charging not only for electric cars but also solutions for trucks and speciality vehicles. Chargers from Tritium went into operation today for container tractors at the Port of Long Beach, California.
