Policy

The WA Government has allocated funding from its Renewable Hydrogen Fund toward seven feasibility studies that could pave the way for significant renewable hydrogen projects around the state.

Queensland’s first community-scale battery is nearing completion after the delivery of its 4 MW Tesla battery. The battery, to be charged with excess solar power from Townsville’s residential rooftop PV, should connect to the grid by the end of the summer.

The Australia Institute (TAI) has criticised the Government’s $2 billion bushfire recovery fund, questioning why the taxpayer should foot the bill when a levy on fossil fuel producers would be a better way of funding the recovery.

Australia’s bushfire crisis is beginning to expose a National Energy Market over-reliant on vulnerable individual elements. Does Australia’s changing environment necessitate a localised energy future?

Australia’s transition to electric vehicles (EV) is well and truly underway, so it is no wonder that state and federal governments are teasing out ways to tax its progress. Victorian and NSW governments already devising plans, but is the EV industry ready? And what is more, are governmental plans already out of date?

Sydney-based developer Genex Power Limited (Genex) has fought its way back from several unlucky blows to achieve financial close for the 50MW Jemalong Solar Project and the refinancing of the 50 MW Kidston Solar One Project.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is set to fund Australian energy technology company Wattwatchers to the tune of $2.7 million. The funding will aid the development of a consumer-facing energy data hub, ‘My Energy Marketplace,’ another step forward in consumer energy empowerment.

The Nova Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Operation mine in the Fraser Range of Western Australia is now operating with fewer costs and emissions thanks to Zenith Energy’s hybrid solar PV-diesel power plant. The plant provides a litany of firsts, including being the first hybrid solar PV-diesel project completed without a single government subsidy.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has published a report with TransGrid looking to assess the viability of an expansion to the NSW-VIC interconnector, a much-needed infrastructural upgrade. AEMO is seeking submissions on the interconnector and other transmission investment options.

Dutch transmission system operator Enexis, gas provider Gasunie and oil company NAM are considering diverting excess solar capacity in Drenthe province into hydrogen production. The companies are assessing which wind and solar projects may have been excluded from the grid.