Markets & Policy
Australia’s solar industry is deeply influenced by federal and state-level energy policies, regulatory frameworks, and evolving market mechanisms. This category offers comprehensive analysis of renewable energy targets, policy reforms, electricity pricing, and incentive programs like the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET). We also explore political debates, regulatory shifts, and the financial and strategic moves of key market players shaping the future of solar in Australia—from utility-scale developers to community-driven solar initiatives.
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Electrifying 35% of global energy demand by 2035 within striking distance
A new International Energy Agency report prepared at the request of COP31 President Türkiye, and COP31 President of Negotiations Australia, highlights global action needed to maximise the benefits of electrification, which are multiplied by low-emissions sources and investment in grids, resilience, storage, and sources of flexibility.
Clean energy developers must earn social licence to operate: Coalition
During an announcement of its proposed 8-point energy policy in September 2026, the Coalition government has said clean energy developers will have to prove local community support for projects and earn social licence in order to operate.
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All Markets & Policy news
Twiggy Forrest’s green hydrogen ambitions will require renewables at 3x Australia’s total energy consumption
In a campaign style speech, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest, founder of Fortescue Metals and one of Australia’s richest men, outlined his ambition of producing mammoth quantities of green hydrogen, a task he sees as imperative to stop the “planet cooking” while also cornering a market he believes will soon be worth trillions.
Aug 18, 2021
Union boss says renewable industries must do better by workers: ‘they’re fighting because they’re proud of their legacy’
President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Michele O’Neil, says renewables industries have fallen short in their treatment of workers and urgently need to do more to provide quality jobs which are secure and fairly paid.
Aug 18, 2021
How solving energy poverty could afford renewables a twofold opportunity
Solar as a solution to poverty – it’s the route Brisbane-based charity SolarBuddy is taking, bringing Australian school children with it. Crucially though, the charity’s founder Simon Doble told pv magazine Australia it’s also a unique opportunity to learn about the rollout of clean technologies unencumbered.
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Melbourne PhD students pioneering new method of recycling li-ion batteries
Three PhD students from Melbourne are moving their research into recycling lithium-ion batteries from the labs into pitch meetings, vying to become one of the first companies in Australia to recover the metals and minerals from spent batteries. Their method, they say, is simpler, less toxic and more cost competitive than those widely used.
AEMO’s 2025 goal means that SA becomes the proving grounds
The latest news in the NEM is AEMO’s goal to be capable of handling periods of 100% instantaneous renewables penetration by 2025. This is a significant challenge and fitting given the pace the NEM is moving to
supporting increasingly higher levels of instantaneous (and increasingly asynchronous) renewables on a regular basis.
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SA Greens seek to reinstate a publicly owned electricity system — based on renewables
The South Australian Greens Party has proposed a tax-and-spend plan for the state that goes against everything the Federal Government advocates, in favour of massive funding of essential services and reducing carbon emissions in the process.
Sunday read: What’s in store for storage
As solar and wind make up larger portions of the energy mix, energy storage is becoming an increasingly important piece of the puzzle in keeping electricity networks running smoothly. And as battery costs fall, new business models are emerging to increase the value of battery energy storage projects for both grid operators and project owners. Focusing on two leading countries – the United Kingdom and Australia – pv magazine looks at what’s in store for large-scale energy storage.
Aug 14, 2021
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