Markets & Policy

The Western Australian Government has announced $1 million in funding for the first phase of a feasibility study into a 600-800MWh battery and green hydrogen industrial hub in the coal town of Collie. The state government has promised the town, which has been powering Western Australia with its two coal mines since the 1880s, a ‘just transition.’ Sunshot Energy, chaired by eminent energy economist Ross Garnaut, is undertaking the study which could deliver a ‘just transition’ to Collie and green ammonia and urea to the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Indra Overland, the head of the Center for Energy Research at the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs, tells pv magazine how the Ukraine war is irreversibly changing the global energy landscape, making massive renewables deployment a certainty. But labor issues, equipment shortages, and reliance on Chinese manufacturing remain obstacles.

Tesla has increased the price of its Powerwall solar battery system by almost a grand, taking the total – before installation – to $13,700.

Australia is vying to become a major green hydrogen export industry, particularly in the Asia Pacific, but new research from the Australian National University suggests the opportunity may be overstated.

The Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue 2022 event has shown the centrality of renewables and green hydrogen in the world’s future energy landscape. pv magazine spoke with the General Director of the International Renewable Energy Agency, Francesco La Camera, about the difficulties of creating a hydrogen economy in the absence of demand. According to him, public support and policies will be crucial to overcoming this challenge.

Last year was a disappointing period for China’s PV industry, as high module prices restrained domestic demand and the ongoing pandemic continued to cause upheaval. This year looks more promising, even though the pieces of China’s PV puzzle have yet to fall into place. But sorting through them allows for a better understanding of the world’s largest PV market, reports Vincent Shaw, pv magazine’s China correspondent.

Global renewables contracting giant Sterling and Wilson Solar has warned Australia’s large-scale solar PV industry faces a significant workforce shortage as the nation shifts away from fossil fuels towards renewable power.

Australia’s clean energy industry continued its record-breaking run in 2021 with the wind, solar PV and energy storage sectors steering renewables to an unprecedented 32.5% share of the electricity market but the Clean Energy Council has warned of clouds on the horizon with investment commitments in new large-scale projects slowing.

On Friday, major changes to the regulatory framework surrounding the small-scale renewable energy scheme (SRES), effectively the country’s solar rebate program, will come into force. Pv magazine Australia spoke to Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes about the changes and how they will impact Australia’s solar players.

Retail giants Kmart, Bunnings, Target and Officeworks have signed a long-term power purchase agreement with Queensland government-owned generator CleanCo to provide the retailers with 100% renewable electricity at their sites across the state.