‘I know a lot of people hate this’: ESB Chair explains why we need a coal subsidy
In its first briefing following the publication of its Post 2025 Market Design Options Paper, the Energy Security Board’s Independent Chair, Dr Kerry Schott, spoke candidly about what will inevitably be a “messy” transition to renewables.
First green hydrogen + gas plant to be built in NSW, ‘kick starting’ hydrogen industry to coincide with loss of major dispatchable asset
EnergyAustralia is set to build a 316 MW green hydrogen + gas peaking power plant in New South Wales by 2023, in time for the closure of Liddell coal-powered plant, which is one of the country’s biggest dispatchable electricity generators.
Victoria’s roadmap to halve emissions by 2030 includes EV subsidy and renewably powered government operations
Victoria is now offering subsidies on electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars and will power its government operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 as part of its long awaited Climate Change Strategy. The plan essentially offers a roadmap for the state’s 2050 net zero emissions target, including a number of nearer term goals.
Tweed Shire Council revs up solar installations
On New South Wales’s Northern Rivers the Tweed Shire Council has unanimously voted to push into the second phase of its pursuit of net zero emissions from its electricity usage by 2030. The move will see the Council’s solar capacity almost triple through 10 new solar installations.
South Korea kicks off 2 GW PV tender
The Northeast Asian nation has included PV projects exceeding 20 MW in size for the first time in its solar energy procurement scheme. Selected projects will be awarded a fixed rate under a 20-year contract under the country’s renewable energy certificate (REC) scheme and will sell electricity to local power distributors.
NSW feed-in-tariffs to drop in line with falling wholesale electricity prices
Recommendations by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal will see payback times for solar systems extended, but also favour battery uptake.
Australian solar industry remarkably silent as global pressure mounts around allegations of forced labour in supply chain
The solar industry in Europe and the United States is continuing to ramp up the pressure on the use of polysilicon produced in Xinjiang, China – in response to allegations that forced labour is being used in its production. By contrast, the Australian industry’s response has been markedly muted. Although it is true that most global solar industries are heavily reliant on Chinese manufacturing, Australia is overwhelmingly so.
China mandates energy storage as it sets 16.5% solar and wind target for 2025
The National Energy Administration has ordered grid companies to supply enough network connection points for all the solar and wind projects registered in 2019 and 2020, and said variable renewables should be supplying 11% of the nation’s electricity by the end of the year.
Long-awaited design for Australia’s energy transition published, coal plant subsidy stirs outcry
Two years in the making, Australia’s Energy Security Board today published its shortlist of options for redesigning the electricity market. “Our energy system is experiencing the fastest and most substantial change in the world,” the Board’s Independent Chair, Dr Kerry Schott, said. Addressing this, the paper essentially outlines a number of ways in which Australia could structure its transition to renewables smoothly and reliably. Stakeholders will now be able to provide the feedback on the options before the Board makes it recommendations to ministers in the middle of the year.
Pacific Energy to construct Fortescue’s Pilbara grid-scale battery project
Pacific Energy subsidiary Contract Power Australia is set to design, construct, install and commission two batteries totalling 42 MW for Fortescue Metals Group as part of its Pilbara Energy Connect project. The storage facility is set to be the largest grid-connected battery system in Western Australia.
