Markets & Policy

President Xi Jinping’s pledge this week at the United Nations General Assembly that China will not build new coal-fired plants abroad is welcome news; however, Asia’s transition to low carbon energies remains in dire need of policy reforms.

The urgent global need for tens of terawatts of solar capacity to replace fossil fuels by 2050 signals it’s time to hone in on developing the most sustainable technologies — before reserves of silver, indium and bismuth dry up.

As solar deployment increases, concerns about price cannibalisation continue to be more and more relevant. Large-scale solar generation during midday hours may result in curtailment or unprofitable wholesale power prices. As supply increases, the economic viability of solar PV projects could fall into question.

Buildings are considered to be a major driver of emissions. In addition to the predicted billions of square meters of space that will be built across the world over the next decade, most developments standing today will still be around in 2050. Thus, retrofitting existing structures is seen as a key sustainability target. In the fourth quarter of 2021, pv magazine’s UP Initiative will focus on the role that solar and energy storage can play in greening the world’s urban spaces.

Representatives from some of Australia’s most prominent renewable energy companies have united in their criticism of the Energy Security Board’s proposal for consumers to pay conventional generators such as coal and gas power plants an extra fee for their capacity, not just the actual power they produce.

The last of the New South Wales coal-fired power plants will be shut by 2040 at the latest after electricity gen-tailer EnergyAustralia announced it would bring forward the closure date of its 1.4 GW Mt Piper power station by two years.

In reportedly the largest ever contested resolution in Australian corporate history, 55% of AGL shareholders have this afternoon voted for the company to adopt Paris-aligned climate targets in both of its demerged businesses.

A bidding war to buy AusNet and its Victorian electricity and gas assets has broken out between Canadian-headquartered Brookfield and Australia’s largest gas pipeline operator, APA Group.

The addition of 521 MW between April to June was India’s highest ever rooftop solar capacity installed in a single quarter.

Oil and gas giant Santos on Tuesday fronted up to Australia’s federal court, kicking off proceedings filed against it by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO). Pv magazine Australia spoke to the EDO and its client about the precedent they hope to set with the case.