Markets

Studies, reports and data continue to pile up, showing Australia is falling behind its international climate commitments. What is more, the nation is on track to become a global emissions superpower, and could be responsible for up to 17% of global emissions by 2030, according to new research. Another report shows Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions surged again in the first quarter of 2019 as the downward trend in the electricity sector reversed and fugitive emissions from the LNG industry reached record high.

China’s slowdown in installations last year was more than made up for by expansion elsewhere, according to IHS Markit. The news comes amid increasing market fragmentation – with the biggest engineering, procurement and construction business boasting less than 3% market share – and internationalization, with almost half of the top 15 companies operating across more than one region.

Applications are now open for the Queensland government’s $15 million Hydrogen Industry Development Fund, which will support sustainable and renewable hydrogen projects across the state.

Norwegian consultancy Rystad Energy has placed Australian and Vietnamese solar markets side by side and found the Southeast Asian country has left Australia behind in terms of commissioned utility-scale PV capacity. A staggering 4,460 MW of connected PV capacity in Vietnam at the end of June came as a surprise to many.

The July quota for solar PV rebates under Victoria’s Solar Homes program has been filled within days. The next release will be available in August.

The water authority of the city state wants to procure a 50 MW floating solar installation on the Tengeh Reservoir that will be operational by 2021. Details were revealed today by technical consultant DNV GL.

One of Australia’s largest utility-scale solar arrays and the biggest energy storage facilities was given a tick of approval.

While the Federal Government may insist Australia is on track to meet its international commitments, a number of studies, including the government’s own figures, show exactly the opposite. In its latest report, The Australia Institute points to “concerning upward trends” in emissions from fossil fuel mining.

With no new measures to the reduce emissions in the electricity sector and no renewable energy target beyond 2020, federal government leaves little room for hope for policy driven renewables expansion. At a state level, ambitious renewable energy targets could help fill the policy void to a certain extent, but some states are falling short of their self-imposed targets for either renewable energy or emissions reductions.

With the comeback of the Victorian government’s first-in best-dressed Solar Homes program, consumers are urged to do their due diligence as they rush to apply for popular rebates. If incorrectly installed, batteries are a serious safety risk, industry body Future Energy Skills underlines.