News

Six electricity transmission towers in Victoria collapsed on Tuesday, Feb. 13. As a result, there were “widespread power outages” and extremely high power prices – with coal-fired generator Loy Yang A forced to shut down and disconnect from the grid.

Data center specialist AirTrunk has signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) under which it will procure energy from a 29.99 MW solar farm that ib vogt is now developing. Construction on the project is set to begin later this year.

During a state visit with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra on Feb 8, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape welcomed Australia’s recent completion of the construction of two new solar farms in West Sepik and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Renewable energy, Singapore-based infrastructure developer Equis Australia and the State Electricity Commission (SEC) for Victoria have closed landmark $400 million (USD261 million) in debt financing for the construction of Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub’s 200 MW/800 MWh A3 battery energy storage system (BESS).

LG has developed two versions of its new enblock E storage system, each with usable energy capacities of 12.4 kWh and 15.5 kWh. It says the two models, sized at 451 mm x 330 mm, can be easily deployed in small spaces.

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has called for the establishment of a $2 billion (USD1.3 billion) national fund to retrofit and electrify low-income homes with solar, to reduce energy bills, minimise poverty, and make progress towards Australia’s emissions reduction targets.

The QLD Battery Booster program opened today to applicants. The rebate program will provide grants of up to $4,000 for a residential battery system. The $24 million (USD15.75 million) program is limited and will accept applications until the funding is exhausted.

A little over one week ago, a collection of anti-renewable energy protesters rolled into Canberra, calling for a slowdown – if not halt – in renewable energy development. Attendees to the Rally Against Reckless Renewables also conveyed messages on vaccines and the World Health Organisation, the “Great Reset”, the United Nations, and other conspiracy minded themes.

Decades of mismanagement have eroded trust in South Africa’s state-owned energy utility, Eskom. Last year, households and businesses suffered daily blackouts of up to 10 hours, or even longer. Solar and battery energy storage are booming but a domestic PV manufacturing industry has yet to materialize.

Li-S Energy has announced the commissioning of manufacturing equipment in its Phase 3, 2 MWh production facility at Geelong, allowing the company to scale up manufacturing of their lithium sulfur and lithium metal batteries.