Solar power can cut living costs, but it’s not an option for many people – they need better support
As the cost of living soars, many Australian households are turning to rooftop solar to cut their energy costs. A Pulse of the Nation survey last month showed about 29% of Australians have installed or are considering installing solar panels on their homes. The same survey shows one in five Australians can’t afford to adequately heat or cool their homes.
Australia singled out as key investment market for Asian majors
Executives from Gentari, the clean energy subsidiary of Malaysia’s state-owned oil company Petronas, and Japan’s biggest steelmaker, Nippon Steel, are eying Australia for future investments in renewables projects and green-steel manufacturing.
Queensland’s $5 billion CopperString purchase to unlock 6 GW of renewables
The Queensland government will acquire the $5 billion (USD 3.37 billion) CopperString transmission line project which is set to unlock 6 GW of renewable energy resources and connect Queensland’s North West Minerals Province to Australia’s national grid. The shovel-ready project, many years in the making, is hailed as the biggest expansion to Australia’s energy grid in decades.
Queensland to partner with SEC on solar panel recycling pilot
The Queensland government will team with the Smart Energy Council to develop an industry-led solar panel recycling scheme and investigate a ban on the dumping of end-of-life panels as it prepares for a surge in the number of decommissioned PV modules coming off rooftops.
NSW commits $1.5 billion in concessions for green hydrogen projects
Two new green hydrogen projects in New South Wales will share in $64 million (USD 43.25 million) in support as the state government looks to accelerate the development of a hydrogen industry which is projected to attract more than $80 billion in private investment.
NSW welcomes a fresh cohort of solar schools
A new cohort of 18 New South Wales (NSW) public schools will receive solar and battery energy storage systems in the latest round of the NSW government’s Smart Energy Schools Pilot Project.
Australia’s critical minerals pipeline valuated at $10 billion
A report from consultancy Climate Energy Finance finds that Australia and New Zealand have a more than $10 billion (USD 6.7 billion) pipeline of investment proposals in resource value-adding critical minerals, including in lithium, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, rare earths, hydrogen electrolysers, green ammonia, and value-added downstream battery developments.
NSW paves way for 17 GW of renewables with declaration of final REZ
A huge renewable energy zone to be established on the New South Wales south coast has been formally declared, potentially unlocking more than 17 GW of solar, wind, battery storage, pumped hydro, hydrogen and new load projects, including green steel manufacturing.
Victoria offers cash incentives to smooth transmission development
Victoria will offer private landowners $200,000 (USD 134,400) for every kilometre of land over which they allow transmission lines to be installed as the state government looks to accelerate the development of new transmission infrastructure deemed critical to the future security of the energy grid.
Australia’s military turns to solar and storage to deliver energy security
A combined 60 MW of solar and 25 MWh of energy storage will be deployed at military sites across Australia as part of a government strategy to increase energy independence and security at the country’s Department of Defence facilities.
