Snowy Hydro plans contract reset amid $12 billion cost blowout
Snowy Hydro has revealed the budget for the Snowy 2.0 project has blown out to $12 billion (USD 7.8 billion) and the giant pumped hydro storage project is now expected to commence operations seven years later than originally scheduled.
Storage tender for 2.4 GWh announced for Victoria and SA
A tender for 600 MW / 2.4 GWh of energy storage in Victoria and South Australia has been announced as part of the new national Capacity Investment Scheme – essentially a project underwriting program coordinated by the federal government.
Victoria launches new neighbourhood battery scheme, announces funding winners
The Victorian government has launched the first funding round of its new neighbourhood battery program and simultaneously announced the winners, mostly “business cases”, from its preexisting scheme.
Australia’s R&D spend continues to shrink despite global clean energy race intensifying
Australia continues to rank poorly for investment in science and research, spending just 1.68% of its GDP – well below the OECD average. This underinvestment is a growing problem for the clean energy industry, with fellow nations actively poaching innovations to capture future manufacturing markets.
Four Queensland towns funded to switch from diesel to solar and batteries
Four western Queensland communities powered by state-owned diesel generators are set to switch to solar and batteries, including Boulia, Burketown, Doomadgee and Windorah.
Rewiring WA: state to receive $3 billion for transmission
Australia’s federal government has allocated $3 billion (USD 1.93 billion) from its Rewiring the Nation program to upgrade Western Australia’s two islanded grids, which lag the eastern states in their renewable energy share.
Renewable PPAs see Sydney councils save $36 million
An alliance of eight Sydney councils have saved their ratepayers over $36 million (USD 23 million) by organising 100% renewable energy power purchasing agreements and working together on local energy projects.
New funding to make microgrids reality for First Nations communities
The development and deployment of renewable energy-based microgrids in First Nations communities in regional and remote Australia is to be accelerated as part of a new $125 million (USD 80 million) program financed by the federal government.
TotalEnergies acquires full stake in Total Eren
TotalEnergies has increased its stake in French renewables giant Total Eren from 30% to 100%, a transaction that values the independent power producer at almost $5.0 billion (EUR 3.5 billion).
APA to acquire Alinta’s Pilbara assets in $1.7 billion deal
Australian gas infrastructure major APA Group has announced it will purchase Chinese-owned utility Alinta Energy’s remote power assets in Western Australia’s Pilbara region in a deal worth more than $1.7 billion (USD 1.1 billion) as it seeks to reduce its exposure to fossil fuels.
