Sustainability

A New South Wales community group has launched a guide it says provides a framework that will enable solar farms developers to improve biodiversity on project sites and build trust in neighbouring communities without compromising PV generation capacity.

With demand for power in Melbourne forecast to grow from its current peak of 470 MW in recent years to 700 MW, electricity distributor CitiPower has begun phase one of a major upgrade to the city’s high voltage underground cable network.

The West Australian government has committed more than $1 billion to drive the development of the clean energy and major industrial projects it says are required for the state to become a “global clean energy powerhouse.”

Tasmania and Victoria have been guaranteed a combined 1.7 GW of the 6 GW of new variable renewable energy projects the Australian government is targeting as part of what is the largest single renewables tender in the country’s history.

Modelling by The Australia Institute asserts that if the country’s commercial and institutional buildings shifted just one third of their electricity consumption to the middle of the day when there is a peak in solar supply it would deliver new peak capacity in the energy market of almost 12 GW.

Former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard has been named chair of a multi-billion renewable energy fund that is aiming to build a 15 GW portfolio of assets including wind, solar, and battery storage over the medium term.

The federal and state governments are stepping up their investments as they seek to deliver the army of skilled workers required to build the solar and wind farms, rooftop solar, battery storage and transmission infrastructure needed to achieve Australia’s renewable energy and emissions targets.

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 first stage of Acen Australia’s planned 720 MW New England Solar Farm is home to more than 6,000 sheep that are grazing beneath the panels in a proof-of-concept agrivoltaics project that has no-one sitting on the fence regarding the results.

As the Australian authorities launch rolling tenders for 32 GW of renewables and storage by 2030, it has become clear that some communities have not been brought onside. Heated debate on social media and a frenzy stoked by concerns about the impact on the natural environment are throwing up hurdles for renewables development.