Solar’s exponential growth disrupts global energy markets in 2024
Australian think tank Climate Energy Finance (CEF) says global energy markets are being reshaped by solar’s disruption, which is happening at speed, turbocharged by battery energy storage system firming.
Sydney basketball association scores interest-free solar and battery loan
The City of Sydney Basketball Association has a new donor-enabled 39.78 kW solar and 25.6 kWh battery system, funded via an interest-free loan from the national climate action charity CORENA.
IKEA Australia Sydney warehouse furnished with hybrid solar and battery system
IKEA Australia has partnered with Smart Commercial Solar to install a $2.9 million, 2,034 kW rooftop solar and battery energy storage system on a western Sydney distribution centre.
Rooftop solar capacity in 2024 Australia tracking to 3.2 GW record: regulator
The Clean Energy Regulator’s quarterly carbon market report finds rooftop solar capacity in 2024 is likely to have been about 3.2 GW and could set an Australian record.
Equis reaches financial close and starts build of 500 MWh Calala BESS
Melbourne-headquartered infrastructure developer Equis Australia has reached financial close and commenced construction on the 250 MW / 500 MWh Calala battery energy storage system, and an offtake agreement with Smartest Energy.
$70 million fund opens to innovate heavy industry decarbonisation
Only innovators need apply: ARENA opens second round of industrial transformation stream funding offering $70 million to support technology development to help industry decarbonise.
Solar panel installation costs remain near all-time lows: Solar Choice
The March 2025 Solar Choice Price Index shows solar panel prices per watt nationwide, except in Tasmania, continue to follow a trend since December 2020 of remaining below the $1 mark, and currently sit at $0.90 per watt.
Renewables are cheap. So why isn’t your power bill falling?
Power prices are set to go up again even though renewables now account for 40% of the electricity in Australia’s main grid – close to quadruple the clean power we had just 15 years ago. How can that be, given renewables are the cheapest form of newly built power generation?
Global solar installations could reach 1 TW next year
BloombergNEF reports the world installed nearly 600 GW of solar power in 2024, closely aligning with projections that annual global solar installations will surpass 1 TW within the next few years. Although projections for 2025 currently fall short of that pace, early forecasts often underestimate actual deployment.
Western Australia CIS tender awards four battery projects totalling 654 MW
Four new big battery projects in Western Australia have been named in the state’s first Capacity Investment Scheme tender, and combined equate to 654 MW and 2,595 MWh capacity, which is enough to supply the peak electricity load for over 600,000 homes for four hours.
