Victoria changes planning rules for large-scale wind and solar
Under the new planning mechanism adopted by the Victorian government, permits will be required for the power lines that connect new large-scale wind and solar generators to the grid. The public will be involved in the process of deciding power line routes.
Carnegie Clean Energy suspended from ASX for missing results deadline
While it managed to gain past financial backing from the state government despite uncertainty surrounding its landmark wave energy project, the troubled WA-based renewable energy developer has suffered another blow last week. Trading of Carnegie shares has been suspended from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
LGCs surrender rate decreases, as prices continue to plummet
According to the 2018 data from the Clean Energy Regulator, the LGCs surrender shortfall stood at 13.9% of total liability as 17 entities failed to meet more or equal to 10% of their renewable energy target obligations, including major electricity retailers – Alinta, Lumo Energy, Simply Energy and EnergyAustralia.
Victoria increases minimum feed-in tariffs
From 1 July this year, the single minimum price Victoria’s solar households will receive for the power they export to the grid will increase by two cents per kilowatt hour. However, under the time-varying tariff introduced last year, the peak rate tariff has been slashed by half.
Solar saves the (heatwave) day
The latest report from The Australia Institute corroborates solar’s pivotal role in shaving peak demand, particularly in the event of extreme conditions as seen in January. Renewables performed the best of all energy sources during the record-breaking summer of heatwaves, while coal clunkers were operating well below capacity, the findings confirm.
CleanCo legislation introduced to Queensland parliament
The establishment of Queensland’s state-owned renewable energy corporation CleanCo has reached another milestone with the legislation presented to the parliament.
Without more solar and wind, NSW risks being left behind in the dark ages
Stating NSW was once a world leader on climate change, a new Climate Council report notes the state is now far behind being home to Australia’s oldest fleet of coal-fired power generators. While NSW public is highly supportive of renewable energy, state government policies fail to encourage more wind and solar projects beyond 2020.
Low, middle income households install solar more than wealthy
New myth-busting analysis has revealed that rooftop solar is not so much in vogue among the wealthy, but is more popular among poorer households. Cost-saving benefits are, however, being blunted by high fixed charges, while energy retailers are profiteering from households with solar PV, states the report from the Victoria Energy Policy Climate.
Western Power to roll out 57 stand-alone power systems at farms
The Western Australian government-owned utility has inked $8.8 million in contracts signed for the first stage of its landmark off-grid program for regional properties. The deployment will be led by local WA companies, Hybrid Systems and BayWa r.e. Solar Systems.
China stirs the PV world – by preparing to shift to auction mechanism
Projects not encompassed by the new, central-subsidy-free, ‘grid-parity’ regime will be eligible to bid for a government subsidy. But, at a reported $446 million, the pot is not big.
