Maoneng signs PPA for 300 MW in New South Wales
Chinese/Australian developer Maoneng has signed a 15-year PPA to provide energy company AGL with 300 MW of PV projects, to provide up to 800,000 MWh of electricity per year. The projects form part of AGL’s plan to replace the coal-fired Liddell Power Station, set to close in 2022.
ARENA awards $29.2 million to 20 solar R&D projects
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced that it will award multiple Australian universities and research institutes with a total of $29.2 million to support early-stage research into new solar innovations.
CRC-P awards $8.34 million for three green projects
Under the Cooperative Research Center Program 4th Selection Round, the Australian Federal Government will extend a grant for a smart home energy management system. Other awarded green projects involve an energy storage technology alternative for lithium-ion batteries and innovative generation of low cost, zero-emission, reliable electricity.
Australia welcomes formal creation of International Solar Alliance
As it officially came into force on Wednesday, the International Solar Alliance was welcomed by Australia, one of its 19 founding members.
Australian renewable energy sector lacks women on company boards
Last week the Clean Energy Council announced the winner of its 2018 Women in Renewables scholarship. Women in Renewables chair, Natalie Collard, reflects on why we need more women on boards.
US Senate approves tax bill with provision to hobble solar, wind tax credits
The bill will now be reconciled with the House version, which does not contain the BEAT provision. The Solar Energy Industry Association says that it has four Senators who support “fixes”, but was not able to get a modification to the Senate bill.
European PV market expected to grow by 35% in 2018 – GTM Research
European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain are all forecast to be gigawatt-scale markets in 2018. Globally, around 606 GW of new PV capacity is forecast to be installed between 2017 and 2022.
Australia’s North Territory backs 50% renewables plan, to boost home solar and batteries
The Northern Territory government has given broad support to a plan to transition the territory to 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and announced new funding for rooftop solar and grid upgrades, after the release of a Roadmap to Renewables report on Monday.
AEMO says ready for summer with 2GW of additional resources
Looking to prevent blackouts this summer, the Australian Energy Market Operator has stated that almost 2 GW of additional resources will be at disposal to the market during the peak-demand months, highlighting the role of rooftop PV in long-term maximum demand forecasts.
Solar to suffer as Australia drags heels on National Energy Guarantee, says BNEF
Proposed National Energy Guarantee program could see investments in solar and wind power fall dramatically should PM Turnbull overlook stricter 2030 emissions reduction target, Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports.
