Australia

State-owned infrastructure company Essential Energy has partnered with retailer Origin Energy to rollout 35 pole-mounted community battery energy storage systems across New South Wales to trial peak demand management.

Libra Energy has unveiled its first major Australian renewables project, announcing plans to build an 850 MW / 3,400 MWh battery energy storage system in southeast Queensland to help soak up excess solar energy and stabilise the grid supply and demand during peak hours.

Italy-headquartered renewables developer Enel Green Power Australia has committed its 2.8 million solar panels powering current or planned assets to a circular economy by signing a long-term agreement with solar panel upcycling specialists, Elecsome.

Renewable energy and battery storage developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures says it has raised more than $1.2 billion in new debt finance for its Australian clean energy assets, including its first standalone battery project planned for Victoria.

A 962 kW rooftop solar system installed atop building materials manufacturer Etex Australia’s facility at Matraville in New South Wales is expected to satisfy almost 20% of the plant’s energy demand, delivering a return on investment inside three years.

Ark Energy has confirmed the development application for a 500 MW solar farm and 2,200 MWh battery energy storage system planned for northern New South Wales has been lodged with the state planning department.

Less than six months after site works commenced for a 5 MW solar project near Narromine in western New South Wales, developer MPower has announced that the power plant has achieved commercial operations and commenced generating revenue.

Access to rooftop solar in Western Australia has received a boost with state-owned energy provider Horizon Power expanding the reach of an internet-connected energy management project that promises to help balance energy flows on regional microgrids.

As the world confronts the climate crisis, Australia is grappling with reaching its decarbonisation targets while maintaining a productive and growing economy. At the same time, philanthropists are trying to understand their role in the transition and how they can support causes that will help rapidly reduce emissions.

Growth in Australia’s renewable energy sector is strong with 43 GW of new utility scale generation and storage projects working through the National Electricity Market connection process but concerns remain that uncertainties surrounding approval processes could impact investor confidence.