Around the world, businesses are entering a new era of accountability. The shift toward mandatory climate-related financial disclosures is transforming how organisations understand and govern key drivers of financial performance.

In 2021, Australia’s Coalition government pledged to reach net zero by 2050. Four years later, the Coalition have reversed course. After successive election losses, the Liberal and National parties have settled on a new climate strategy: give up on net zero and keep coal plants running longer.

Picture dusk falling somewhere in the Solomon Islands. A fisher’s skiff glides home using a whisper-quiet electric outboard motor. In the Cook Islands, a big battery steadies the island grid. In Papua New Guinea’s highlands, solar kits bring electric light to homes for the first time.

It was the news that rippled around the nation – and then the world: at least three hours of free grid-supplied electricity for Australian households, every day.

The last five years have placed unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Geopolitical tensions, trade wars, natural disasters and the global pandemic have revealed vulnerabilities across industries.

Potentia Energy has reached another renewables milestone with its 1 GW Tallawang solar and battery energy storage project proposed for construction in western New South Wales awarded unconditional federal environmental approval.

New Zealand power company Genesis Energy has pressed go on its 114 MW Edgecumbe Solar Farm project on the nation’s North Island with the facility expected to start generating power in 2027.

European renewables outfit TagEnergy has advanced plans to build its first big battery in Australia with the signing of major agreements to deliver a standalone four-hour energy storage system in Victoria.

About 10 GWh of battery energy storage supply deals were announced at or following All Energy, further contributing to the already rapidly growing market share of Chinese manufacturers in Australia.

Sigenergy says the issue that has prompted a voluntary recall of the company’s 8 kW, 10 kW and 12 kW single-phase inverters in Australia and New Zealand stems from incorrect installation practices, not a product defect.

Hydro Tasmania is seeking to increase its renewable energy generation to meet growing energy demands and support the state’s industrial expansion.

How to negotiate fair agreements for landholders potentially hosting solar farms, such as bargaining for project designs that enable grazing or cropping, is outlined in a new handbook targeting rural and regional communities.

South Australian clean energy systems installer My Energy Engineering has powered an advanced robotic dairy with an off-grid solar array and containerised battery storage system for reliable round the clock energy.

An International Energy Agency survey of solar power applications in Australia shows 5.2 GW of installations in 2024 were achieved and the total capacity of solar at 40 GW, includes 26.1 GW of distributed systems and 13.4 GW of centralised installations.

Chinese manufacturer Phono has launched a new bifacial solar panel in the Australian market featuring an output of 475 W and a power conversion efficiency of 23.27%.

In a new scientific paper, the Chinese solar manufacturer explained that the 27.81%-efficient hybrid interdigitated back-contact cell it unveiled in April is based on passivated tunneling contacts and dielectric passivation layers, while also incorporating both n-type and p-type contacts.

1414 Degrees is progressing the development of a battery energy storage system at the Aurora Energy Precinct in South Australia, for the joint venture SiliconAurora, and is independently developing a long duration thermal energy storage facility, with eyes on providing firmed power for data centres.

In a new scientific paper, the Chinese solar manufacturer explained that the 27.81%-efficient hybrid interdigitated back-contact cell it unveiled in April is based on passivated tunnelling contacts and dielectric passivation layers, while also incorporating both n-type and p-type contacts.

Fox ESS is ramping up its presence in Australia with nationwide sales and techical support teams and is building local warehousing for its suite of inverters, electric vehicle chargers, and battery storage products, such as the EQ4800 and new CQ6.

The Chinese company says that its new ESA series is available with a hybrid inverter ranging from 3 kW to 10 kW and storage capacities of 5 kWh to 48 kWh. The IP66-rated product supports an MPPT current of up to 20 A on the PV side and allows 200% PV oversizing, according to the manufacturer.

The quality assurance provider reported India-based Insolation Energy, Waaree Renewable Technologies, and Solex Energy retained the top three positions in its Altmann-Z score-based quarterly ranking. Its analysts noted the number of companies with healthier scores increased from nine to 11.

Battery technology developer Li-S Energy has secured almost $8 million in federal government funding to advance planning for a large-scale lithium-sulfur battery cell manufacturing facility in Australia.

Three New South Wales energy distributors have collaborated on the state’s first distribution system plan, which they say can sustain five years of energy transition momentum, while waiting for critical transmission infrastructure to be built.

Australian energy storage technology company AVESS Energy has completed a $1 million capital raise enabling the progression of projects including vanadium flow battery deployment at the Windimurra Vanadium Project.

Researchers in the Middle East have developed a fuzzy logic controller that simultaneously optimises the tilt angle of PV systems and performs maximum power point tracking. Year-long simulations indicate that the proposed approach increases power generation by approximately 20%.

A 290 MW solar farm and 180 MW / 360 MWh battery energy storage system planned for Queensland’s Fraser Coast region is advancing towards construction after being given the green light by the federal government.

Project developer Recurrent Energy has capped a busy couple of weeks in the Australian market with the sale of a 250 MW solar and 120 MW battery project in New South Wales to an unidentified European buyer.

The International Renewable Energy Agency says solar is the only renewable energy technology where current investment levels are approaching the annual average needed through to 2030 to align with its 1.5 C pathway.

SunCable has struck a multi-million-dollar deal with traditional owners that will enable it to develop the biggest solar farm in Australia on a cattle station in the Northern Territory.

A market brief for the Capacity Investment Scheme Tender 8 has been released seeking 4 GW of four-hour equivalent clean dispatchable capacity projects in the National Electricity Market, and for the first time invites aggregrate projects to apply.