Chasing the sun — tax-free!
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has made final a rule that will allow for solar export tariffs to be gradually introduced in the NEM jurisdictions (that is, everywhere except WA and the NT) under limited circumstances in four years’ time.
New rules revealed as AEMC aims to transform network into ‘two-way super-highway’
The Australian Energy Market Commission has retained a controversial two-way pricing mechanism in its finalised reforms package which has been designed to better integrate distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar PV, batteries and electric vehicles into the grid, and transform it into a “two-way super-highway where energy flows in both directions”.
bp study confirms Australia’s green hydrogen export potential, and calls for carbon price
A bp Australia study partially supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency has confirmed the technical feasibility of large-scale renewable hydrogen and ammonia production for export in Australia, particularly in Western Australia’s Mid-West. However, the development of such an industry, says bp, requires strong government policy support, including a carbon price or emissions cap.
Indian researchers increase hydrogen yield three-fold while using less electricity
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have devised a method that increases hydrogen production up to three times while significantly lowering the energy required for water electrolysis.
Energy storage with recycled batteries from Brazil
Energy Source, a Brazilian battery specialist, is currently providing energy storage services with reused and recycled batteries. Battery recycling and related metals recovery are conducted separately, without the burning of materials.
NSW’s largest electricity user plans to go green, abandoning AGL’s coal
One of the country’s most electricity-intensive smelters plans to switch to renewable energy, a move which would drastically reduce its footprint and will send a clear message to generators that even if the federal government continues to support coal, Australia doesn’t.
Labor to disallow Taylor’s ARENA rout despite last week’s defeat
The ARENA saga continues, with shadow minister Chris Bowen confirming the Labor party will disallow Angus Taylor’s attempt to gut the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
Two new solar farms commissioned in NSW Riverina
Photon Energy’s Leeton and Fivebough Solar Plants have been commissioned after just under a year of construction. The two plants’ 14.6 MWp combined output is a positive sign for the Riverina region with its strategic importance to the renewable energy transition, and an achievement for Amsterdam-based Photon Energy.
Why AGL’s new grid-forming battery is ‘genuinely cutting edge’
Australian giant AGL Energy plans to build what will be the world’s largest ‘grid-forming’ battery in South Australia, deploying technology so novel that it yet to be clearly regulated in Australia. “Trialling something like this on the grid at this scale hasn’t been done before anywhere in the world,” Josh Birmingham, Director of Large-Scale & Project Solutions at SMA Australia, told pv magazine Australia.
REZ wriggle on – Queensland and Victoria seek input
Both Victoria’s and Queensland’s state governments are moving on their renewable energy zones (REZs) with tight deadlines looming for hopeful projects in Victoria, while further north the government is eager to hear from local communities.
