Solar export tax proposal stirs immediate outcry, but AEMC insists ‘doing nothing is not an option’
The Australian Energy Market Commission, Australia’s energy rule maker, today released its draft determination on how to integrate energy technologies like solar and batteries into the electricity grid. In the draft, the Commission revived its proposal for a solar tax, immediately stirring backlash.
Five large-scale community batteries to be integrated into the sunshine-absorbent state’s substations
Queensland’s government will install five community batteries at regional substations across the state in a bid to time-shift its abundant solar resources.
The race that stores the nation – AGL green lights 250 MW Torrens Island battery
AGL’s nose pushes in front in the race that stores the nation with the announcement that construction on its 250 MW one-hour-duration battery at the site of its Torrens Island power station in South Australia is now underway. The announcement follows directly on from AGL having lodged a planning application for a 200 MW battery at its Loy Yang power station in Victoria.
Cornwall calls for co-ordination to avoid 12 GW excess generation
Energy market analyst Cornwall Insights Australia has suggested states and territories should work together to manage the rollout of renewable energy projects with new research indicating that within 10 years the National Energy Market (NEM) could at peak times on an average day be swamped with excess generation.
How to protect rooftop PV systems from fire risk
Dutch research institute TNO has released a series of guidelines to reduce fire hazards in rooftop PV installations. The study follows a series of fire accidents that occurred between 2018 and 2020 in the Netherlands, for which the main causes were identified.
Spanish solar renaissance lifts world to record year for large scale projects
A global ranking of large scale solar project capacities indicates prominent roles for a resurgent Spain, behind the usual top three of China, the U.S. and India, with Australia and the Netherlands also on the rise. There were disappointing returns, though, for the U.K., Italy and Canada.
WWF-Australia’s first Renewable Superpower Scorecard shows states doing the hard yakka
The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia’s 2021 Renewable Superpower Scorecard has landed and shows how Australia’s states are putting in the hard yakka toward Australia’s renewable energy future while the Morrison Government lags behind.
Hydrogen shipping vs submarine cables
Hydrogen transportation and submarine power lines have been compared by an international research team to find out which may be the cheapest option to connect for energy exchange regions separated by the sea. According to their findings, the hydrogen shipping alternative does not present very good prospects of applicability in the future, unless some disruptive technological breakthroughs are made. What makes compressed and liquified hydrogen ships still attractive, however, is that they can export energy almost anywhere, and that electrolysis and liquefaction plants are relatively easy to expand compared to marine cables.
‘Falling solar module costs are behind us’
Canadian Solar is pivoting towards energy storage and is preparing to IPO its manufacturing and Chinese solar project activity in China, under the CSI Solar operation, by July.
Investor sentiment in Australian renewables turns to the overwhelmingly positive!
MinterEllison’s second annual ‘Renewables Investment Report’ finds that over the past year Australia has become a safe haven for investment… The maturity of its renewable opportunities seems to outweigh existing challenges.
