Policy

Fast-track approvals legislation in New Zealand is catching the eye of renewable energy investors in Australia amid concerns that bureaucratic red tape is impacting the timely delivery of key clean energy generation and storage projects.

Australia’s Department of Defence has activated its largest solar farm yet, flicking the switch on an almost 11 MW PV power plant at the Robertson Barracks in the Northern Territory.

Data from international consultancy Rystad Energy shows that 82 new renewable energy generation and battery storage projects corresponding to more than 20 GW of capacity were proposed across Australia’s National Electricity Market in the first quarter of 2024, with developers largely focused on Queensland and New South Wales.

The federal government’s 32 GW Capacity Investment Scheme is already bearing fruit with a competitive tender seeking 600 MW of energy storage capacity in Victoria and South Australia attracting 19,000 MW of project proposals.

New Zealand-based green hydrogen company Hiringa Energy has raised the bar for decarbonising the heavy transport sector by kickstarting an Australasian-wide refuelling network but the company has warned government policies are putting the brakes on its Australian plans.

French renewable energy and storage developer Neoen has initiated construction of the next stage of what will be one of Australia’s largest battery energy storage systems after securing a second four-hour capacity services contract for Western Australia’s main electricity grid.

Australian clean energy developers Atmos Renewables and Nomad Energy have received the green light for a 100 MW, four-hour battery energy storage system to be built near Merredin in Western Australia’s central Wheatbelt region.

Australia’s first large-scale solar garden will be officially launched in the New South Wales Riverina town of Grong Grong with hundreds of ‘gardeners’ on hand to celebrate the milestone that has allowed people previously locked out of rooftop PV to access the benefits of solar.

The federal government’s plan to deploy 400 community batteries across the nation to soak up excess solar generated on neighbourhood rooftops has reached the Australian Capital Territory with sites for three new battery energy storage systems unveiled.

The consultation process has commenced on the design of the $1 billion Solar Sunshot program that aims to boost the development of Australia’s solar manufacturing industry and increase the nation’s role in the global solar manufacturing supply chain.