Policy

The NSW Independent Planning Commission on Monday approved the 215 MW Oxley Solar Farm and coupled 50 MW/50 MWh battery in Armidale, enforcing a number of conditions on the project in response to significant community backlash.

Tasmania’s largest hybrid solar proposal, the 288 MW Northern Midlands Solar Farm being developed by startup TasRex, was approved by the Northern Midlands Council on December 11. The agrivoltaic project, which will host a flock of sheep beneath its panels, is seeking to be operational by 2026, and includes a 346 MW / 691 MWh battery.

The Queensland government has indicated it will support the increased rollout of household battery energy storage systems with a new $24 million (USD 15.75 million) residential battery rebate program set to be launched in 2024.

Australia is geologically equipped to become a battery critical-minerals hub but the nation is stumbling upon sticky structural issues. Sensitive diplomatic and trade ties, delicate forests and ecosystems, and a devotion to free markets and small government are among the major hurdles, writes Bella Peacock.

A “major influx” of new renewable generation and storage capacity is poised to connect to Australia’s main grid with the energy market operator revealing almost 150 projects representing more than 31 GW of new capacity are in the application and pre-registration stages.

Victorian network operator AusNet has commenced construction of a transmission network upgrade that is expected to reduce generation constraints and improve network stability in the state’s southwest, unlocking 1.5 GW of additional renewable energy generation capacity.

Authors of the “World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2023” define the future role of nuclear energy in the global energy mix as “irrelevant” and “marginal.” The authors add that there were 407 operational reactors producing 365 GW in the middle of the year, which is less than installed capacity predictions for solar by the end of the year.

A number of Australian critical minerals, including lithium, miners and refiners will likely be ineligible for IRA subsidies after the US government published its draft rules forbidding access to enterprises with over a 25% stake held by Chinese companies or “cumulatively” by Chinese investors.

Australia is among more than 100 countries that have committed to triple the world’s renewable energy generation capacity within six years, signing a pledge on the sidelines of the United Nation’s COP28 climate summit being staged in the United Arab Emirates.

The Western Australian government has just allocated $220 million to support Griffin coal mine, so operations may continue until June 2026. The funding was announced by Premier Roger Cook and the Minister for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Bill Johnston, who earlier announced he is stepping down from cabinet last week.