Broome community batteries to unlock 1.4MW of solar hosting capacity
The rollout of rooftop solar in the remote coastal town of Broome in northern Western Australia is set to get a boost with state-owned regional energy provider Horizon Power installing two centralised community batteries that are expected to unlock more than 1,400kW of solar PV hosting capacity.
AGL gets tick of approval for 2GWh Liddell battery
Australia’s biggest power producer AGL has secured planning approval for a 500MW/2GWh grid-connected utility scale battery to be developed at the site of its coal-fired Liddell power plant in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
Call to mandate rapid shutdown technology surfaces in wake of floods
With residents across New South Wales and southeast Queensland still cleaning up after the devastating floods that ripped through their communities earlier this month, solar industry advocacy group Safer Solar has issued a call for Australia to mandate rapid shutdown technology on solar PV systems.
World’s largest solar tree record smashed
With a PV panel surface area of 309.83m2, the solar tree is officially certified by Guinness World Records (GWR) as the largest solar tree in the world.
World Bank wants 210,000 mini-grids this decade
The international development entity has already invested $1 billion in local, off-grid electricity networks over the last decade – and attracted a further $1.1 billion in matched funding – and wants to set up mini-grids to supply electricity to 490 million people by 2030.
Floating solar-plus-hydroelectric project planned on Indian dam
Renewable energy developers have until April 25 to lodge interest in developing a hybrid facility combining 1.5MW of hydroelectric generation capacity and 100MW of floating solar in the state of Maharashtra.
Weekend read: Made in Indonesia
Indonesia has set itself some ambitious goals for PV manufacturing, backed by domestic content requirements and other incentives. But local demand is limited, and the nation faces stiff competition from China and other countries on the export market. While real obstacles remain, a restructuring of state-owned electricity company PLN and local raw material riches mean the potential is growing.
Morrison commits $240 million to shore up critical minerals supply chain
The Australian Government has committed more than $240 million to critical minerals projects in a bid to end Australia’s reliance on China and cement its place in the rapidly growing global electric vehicle and battery markets.
Simec ‘gearing up’ to start work on 280MW South Australian solar farm
Work on the long-awaited 280MW Cultana Solar Farm in South Australia appears set to begin with Simec Energy Australia announcing this week it is preparing to start construction on the ~$350 million project.
Wirsol adds 313MW of large-scale solar to Australian O&M portfolio
German-owned renewable energy developer Wirsol Energy has added another 313MW of solar to its Australian operation and maintenance portfolio, securing the contracts for three utility scale solar farms.
