Australia

United States solar and energy storage solutions manufacturer Bluetti has launched a modular 7,600 W lithium iron phosphate battery system for residential settings with a flexible energy storage capacity ranging from 9.9 kWh to 19.8 kWh.

LAVO, which entered the market with its hydrogen battery in 2021, has soft launched a new Energy-as-a-Service model. Partnering with Yingli Solar, LAVO says it can install and maintain solar, battery and EV charging systems at no upfront cost to Australian households, who will then pay off the systems via a 10-year subscription.

In a major address, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has today prioritised the need for a uniquely Australian response that “complements” but does not “copy” the United States’ landmark climate and energy policy, the ~$1 trillion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The South Australian government is looking to fast-track the development of grid-scale battery energy storage systems across the state, launching a process that promises to provide successful projects with exemptions that could “significantly” improve project timelines.

Renewable energy investor and developer Quinbrook has launched software to allow customers to trace both the source and carbon-intensity of their electricity in real-time. The energy-tracing platform comes at an important moment, just as Australia’s government is deciding whether to include time-stamped and granular source information in its formal certificate schemes.

The Brookfield-led consortium looking to acquire Origin Energy has come back with a “best and final” bid that values the company at approximately $20 billion (USD 12.85 billion). The offer comes just days after the energy utility’s largest shareholder rejected the previous bid.

Australian battery and renewable energy developer Akaysha Energy said construction of its 150 MW/300 MWh Ulinda Park big battery planned for Queensland’s Western Downs region will commence in the coming weeks with the company having now reached a final investment decision on the project.

Chinese solar panel manufacturer AIKO unveiled its solar cell technology at Melbourne’s All-Energy event last week ahead of an impending entry into the Australian market.

One of Australia’s “big four” banks, the Commonwealth Bank, will begin offering interest-free finance up to $30,000 to install rooftop solar and home batteries with select merchants. The program will also allow customers to split repayments into instalments over one to five years.

Ground-mounted PV is increasingly being investigated not only as a renewable generator, but as shelter for crops and creatures under fire from climate change. Last week’s All Energy conference handed the mike to some pioneers in the field.