Markets & Policy

SB 100 puts California on a path to 100% zero-carbon electricity. What does that mean for the rest of the nation?

Although initially expected to deliver around 650 MW, Victoria’s first renewable energy auction has smashed the goal, delivering 928 MW of renewable capacity. Six projects will be developed in total, three wind and three solar, under the state’s renewable energy target. In a separate announcement, the Andrews government promised to provide half price solar batteries for 10,000 Victorian households, if re-elected.

By keeping up the current rate of solar PV and wind deployment, Australia is forecast to comfortably exceed the 2020 RET of 33,000 GWh, achieve 26% emissions reduction by 2020/21 and meet its Paris greenhouse emissions target in 2024/25, shows new analysis by the Australian National University (ANU). In 2018 and 2019 combined, over 10 GW of renewable energy could be installed.

The South Australian government will launch its Home Battery Scheme in October, which will offer South Australians subsidies of up to $6,000. In the wake of the government’s announcement, the German storage provider has revealed plans to manufacture up to 50,000 battery storage units at the former Holden site in Elizabeth, creating hundreds of jobs.

The Sydney-based publicly-listed developer is planning to finance construction of the 50 MW Jemalong solar project either on a merchant basis given the strong NSW price forecast, or under a potential offtake arrangement.

Renewables are stealing the march over coal in Australia, and the international outlook is for lower coal demand. Today the international Coal Transitions project released its findings, based on global coal scenarios and detailed case studies by teams in China, India, South Africa, Australia, Poland and Germany.

Despair was the predominant emotion when the National Energy Guarantee stumbled, fell and eventually brought down a prime minister. However, the pathway to a proper energy policy, one that will actually set the stage for renewables, might be clearer as a result – argues Simon Holmes à Court.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has offered funding to nine Australian universities and research organizations to propel innovation in green hydrogen export.

In what is set to become its largest infrastructure investment to date, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility is backing the expansion of three Northern Territory airports, with a $150 million loan. Among other development works, the funding will cover construction of solar farms across all three sites.

The South Australian government says it is looking to implement a series of reforms to improve the reliability, affordability and security of the state’s energy market. According to its latest state budget, released on Tuesday, it has allocated $180 million to execute the program.