Off-grid PV-based power systems more reliable than poles and wires for rural WA
Western Australia’s regional and remote energy provider, Horizon Power, is toppling traditional energy infrastructure in favour of solar-plus-battery systems with backup diesel generation. Farmers list surprising reasons why they’re thrilled to disconnect…
Council takes EV, rooftop PV, renewables PPA initiatives towards carbon neutrality
Victoria’s Hobson Bay City Council has announced a range of initiatives to move towards its carbon neutrality goals, including a renewable energy power purchase agreement, deployment of EV infrastructure and rooftop solar.
Horizon becomes first utility to replace overhead network with stand-alone solar and battery systems
Today’s project milestone saw the disconnection of the properties from overhead lines and will enable 64 kilometres of poles and wires to be replaced by off-grid solar+battery solutions.
NSW utility-scale battery pipeline takes shape under government funding program
Among 31 dispatchable electricity projects unveiled this week under the NSW Emerging Energy Program, utility-scale battery storage accounted for a bulk of proposals. Four big batteries have been awarded funds for pre-investment studies, and another ten have been shortlisted for capital funding.
Australian Capital Territory completes shift to 100% renewable electricity
Today, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has switched to 100% renewable electricity as it started purchasing clean power from the last stage of South Australia’s Hornsdale Wind Farm.
Two major ammonia plants powered by green hydrogen planned for Queensland
As part of a broader push to develop a domestic hydrogen industry, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing $2.9 million for two studies into using solar and wind-powered hydrogen for ammonia. Both project are located in Queensland and presently use natural gas as feedstock.
Vast Solar completes capital raise for 50 MW CSP, PV hybrid project
The Sydney-based developer has raised funding for the development of a 30 MW CSP project which will be collocated with a 20 MW PV plant. The company’s innovative technology, which uses sodium as a heat transfer fluid to capture concentrated solar energy that can then be stored and used on-demand on the utility-scale, has earned Vast Solar an international award for dispatchable renewable energy technology.
New partnership to fend off cyber attacks on rooftop solar in South Australia
U.S. research corporation MITRE and the new Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre will partner to take on cybersecurity threats, with an initial focus on protecting South Australia’s smart grid.
Synergy posts huge loss from rooftop solar uptake
Western Australia’s biggest generator and retailer Synergy has blamed rooftop solar for bleeding red ink in the past financial year.
China set for 40 GW of pumped hydro storage next year
The showpiece 3.6 GW Fengning county project which will offer grid services and back-up power at the 2022 Winter Olympics is part of a 31.15 GW construction pipeline of projects, many of which are set to come into service next year.
