Solar PV plant to power nickel-copper operation in WA
Independence Group is set to add to a 6.7 MW solar PV array to its existing diesel power station at the Nova mine in Western Australia. Remote power generation specialist Zenith Energy has been contracted to deliver the solar project, in what will be Australia’s first fully-integrated commercial hybrid diesel/solar PV facility.
Victoria’s first big battery unveiled in Ballarat
The 30 MW / 30 MWh Ballarat Battery Energy Storage System has been officially commissioned by the Victorian Labor government, as the first of the two grid-scale batteries that will provide support to the Victorian grid by the start of this summer.
Renewables to power ultra-rapid EV charging network
A super-fast network being rolled out across Australia will allow drivers to charge their electric vehicles in just minutes, 15 times faster than typical domestic charging points which take hours. All the charging stations will be powered through the purchase of renewable energy or on-site solar.
Green hydrogen to power Sydney homes and businesses
The project will use solar and wind to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, which will be then be stored across the Jemena Gas Network in New South Wales. The $15 million trial will be half-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
New microgrid project to help Yackandandah reach 100% renewables
The Victorian Labor government is providing funding to a new microgrid project in Yackandandah, to help cut energy bills for local residents and help the community achieve their 100% renewable energy target.
Free solar for NSW low-income households
The NSW government has announced a $15 million solar scheme, which will put free solar PV systems on up to 3,400 low-income households provided they forgo their energy rebate.
RateSetter to deliver South Australia’s Home Battery Scheme
Peer-to-peer lender RateSetter has been named the exclusive administrator of the South Australian government’s Home Battery Scheme. Based on a funding deal with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, RateSetter will offer $100 million in loans in cases when the upfront costs of the home battery system installations are not met by the South Australia government subsidies.
2035: The renewable energy tipping point
The tipping point, where the world shifts from oil and gas to renewables, will be the year 2035, says Wood Mackenzie. This is when renewables and electric-based technologies converge, with around 20% of global power needs being met by solar or wind, and roughly 20% of miles traveled by cars, trucks, buses and bikes using electricity. Will the transition come soon enough, however?
Prices for monocrystalline solar modules are picking up
Analysts at Taiwan-based EnergyTrend and China’s PV Infolink have reported a further increase in demand for monocrystalline solar cells and modules in recent days. Their respective analyses on multi-crystalline products, however, do not match.
CER: Record high number of projects accredited in September, development pipeline surpasses 10 GW
With a combined capacity of 667 MW, September has set a new record high for the number of accredited projects in a single month, show the latest data released by the Clean Energy Regulator. Almost all of the new capacity comes from large scale solar.
