Policy

Western Australian government-owned utility Synergy will offer free electricity to eligible customers in a move that is designed in part to help counter challenges the state’s main power grid faces when rooftop solar generation is high and demand for energy in the system is low.

Consultation is now open on the design of the federal government’s $2 billion (USD 1.33 billion) Hydrogen Headstart program that is aimed at bridging “the commercial gap for early projects” and placing Australia on course to develop 1 GW of electrolyser capacity by 2030 through two to three flagship projects.

A 325 MW/2,600 MWh pumped hydro project planned for the New South Wales central west faces an indefinite delay with developer Atco announcing it will hold off on the next stage of the regulatory approvals process until the state government’s policy frameworks “are close to being able to support financial investment decisions for large-scale infrastructure.”

The Western Australian government has moved to fast track the approvals process for green energy projects with a new cross-agency pathway for environmental assessments forecast to reduce project approval timeframes.

The federal government will establish a review into how renewable energy infrastructure projects are planned as it looks to smooth the way for the expansion of the grid that is seen as critical to Australia’s transition from coal to renewables.

A sharp rise in connection and terminal station charges is stalling storage from coming online, according to an Australian developer. While the price hikes could be attributable to a quagmire of complications the industry currently faces, the developer questioned whether Australia’s TNSP monopoly system is a contributing factor.

Australian developer ACEnergy is building an initial portfolio of 10 neighbourhood batteries totalling 50 MW/100 MWh across Victoria and New South Wales. The company is also engaging networks to lobby for reforms to the connection process and tariff structure in light of grid support the technology can offer.

The South Australian government is calling for input from industry and consumers to help it determine what role rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles, green hydrogen and other renewable technologies will play in its future energy system.

The global transition to carbon-free energy has fallen behind pace to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a key threshold set forth by the Paris Agreement.

The Clean Energy Regulator is calling for applications from individuals and organisations to serve as the product listing body that will be responsible for publishing and maintaining lists of approved solar panels and inverters eligible for use in Australia’s solar rebate program.