News

Residential, commercial and industrial solar generation in South Australia has returned to normal operations following heavy curtailment by authorities working to stabilise the grid after storms caused extensive damage to transmission infrastructure.

The New South Wales government has received bids for more than 5.5 GW of wind and solar projects, along with more than 2.5 GW of long-duration storage projects, in response to its first tender to secure renewable projects to transform its coal-reliant energy system.

New Zealand’s solarZero says it aims to provide fast, sustained reserves with its virtual power plant of 10,000 household battery systems. Meridian Energy, meanwhile, has secured approval for a 100 MW battery energy storage system – the country’s largest such system to date.

Australia’s Fortescue Future Industries is reportedly exploring an offtake agreement with what will be the world’s largest PV project as it advances plans to build a $9 billion (USD 6 billion) mega green hydrogen production facility in Brazil.

Panel shipments collectively worth hundreds of millions of dollars are blocked from entering the United States market as they have failed scrutiny under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, said Reuters.

Mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest is the founder and executive chair of Fortescue Metals Group, a major Australian iron ore producer. The company recently announced an ambitious USD 6.2 billion ($9.3bn) decarbonisation strategy. Meanwhile, a fully owned subsidiary – Fortescue Future Industries – has rapidly become a global player in green hydrogen, along with a host of other technology pathways in the energy transition. Whether it is pushing to decarbonise mining, hashing out headline-making green energy deals, or using the popular “Rick and Morty” cartoon to educate people about the potential of green hydrogen, Fortescue and its shining magnate are talking the talk. But can they walk the walk? Blake Matich reports.

At least 600 disability and community housing residents in Sydney are set to receive a lifeline amidst the cost of living crisis in the shape of fully funded solar systems. The residential solar PPA model of the Community Solar Program pilot should see benefits for residents, developers and investors.

Distributed energy specialist CleanPeak Energy will install a combined 5.4 MW of PV systems atop biscuit manufacturer Arnott’s Group’s two biggest Australian production facilities. The deal will also deliver an energy service agreement for the front-of-meter power at the company’s Huntingwood site in western Sydney as it looks to transition to 100% renewable electricity across its operations.

The Queensland government is forecasting a renewables-led manufacturing and jobs boom in the state with hundreds of Australian and international companies registering their interest in supplying the thousands of solar panels, batteries, wind turbines, and kilometres of transmission lines the state says it will need to deliver its $62 billion (USD 40 billion) energy transformation plan.

In eight years, Australia wants to be four-fifths powered by renewables. Solar and wind investment is pouring in. But to firm the renewables and overcome the intermittency, we need overnight energy storage. That’s why there’s so much interest in pumped hydro.