Solar and wind set new output record even as curtailment continues to bite
Grid-scale wind and solar output reached new highs in Q4 last year pushing power prices to a three-year low despite a number of coal-fired generator outages. As Australia’s big PV fleet continues to expand, the National Electricity Market saw the highest output of big PV on record, but also record curtailment.
Energy density advances and faster charging would unlock EV revolution
With electric vehicles making up only 3% of the global car market last year, analyst WoodMac says battery packs need to be cheaper and lighter and range anxiety must be addressed to change the habits of drivers.
Perth’s first utility-scale community battery
Synergy and Western Power’s PowerBank trial has reached another milestone with the integration of a utility-scale community battery into Perth’s major metropolitan network.
Australian Vanadium boosted by federal grant
Perth-based Australian Vanadium has received another boost from the Federal Government with the award of a further $1.25 million research and development grant to fund research into improving vanadium processing.
Steggall seeks to wipe the Parliamentary floor with people power on her Climate Change Act
“We really need to think of the long-term safety of Australia,” said Steggall this morning as she launched her campaign to set action on climate change in legislation that follows (belatedly) the UK Climate Change Act of 2008.
The psychology of climate-change denial — we’re all on the spectrum
Fire-extinguishing rain on the East Coast, coronavirus as an urgent threat, and Morrison drumming up support for technology and free-market forces to cure climate change… It was a weekend to shake the resolve of some people to act on their own carbon emissions, but understanding the psychology of how we perceive risk and commit to action can help us focus and keep the flame of response alive.
Enphase Energy partners with Australian solar industry players to advocate rooftop PV safety
The California-based microinverter maker has partnered with installer Solaray and wholesaler AC Solar Warehouse in Australia to intensify the calls against rooftop DC isolators, stressing they should be replaced with safer equipment now available in the market.
Adjudication: Windlab to bear costs of delays at Kennedy solar-wind-battery park
The developers of the Kennedy Energy Park will have to pay more than $7.5 million in variation claims and delay costs pursuant to an adjudication decision which is likely to raise concerns in the Australian renewable energy sector.
Shell breaks ground on 120 MW PV project to power onshore gas operations
Construction has begun on Royal Dutch Shell’s 120 MW solar farm which will generate clean energy for QGC’s natural gas processing plants near Wandoan in South West Queensland. The project is the oil major’s first global investment in an industrial-scale solar farm.
Total to buy 50% stake in Adani Group’s 2.1 GW solar portfolio
The French oil and gas giant—which is already a partner in Adani’s natural gas business—will now invest US$ 510 million to buy 50% stake in 2,148 MWac operating solar power projects owned by Adani Green Energy Limited.
