Australia

The Clean Energy Regulator is both watchdog — assessing applications for Small-scale Technology Certificates, Large-scale Generation Certificates and Emissions Reduction Fund credits — and oracle, weaving data to provide an overview of Australia’s energy supply and demand and the performance of renewable resources. A recent transformation of its digital capabilities benefits consumers and the renewable energy industry.

South Australia has done some hard yards in pursuing the transition to green energy, integrating 50% renewable generation into its grid, and advancing the management of a vast fleet of distributed rooftop energy resources. Now it’s seeking investors to continue the renewable buildout beyond its own requirements and potentially fuel the world with green hydrogen.

Earlier this year, Singapore surpassed its 2020 target for 350 MW of installed PV, and has set itself a more ambitious goal of 2 GW for the coming decade. pv magazine recently spoke with Thomas Reindl, deputy CEO of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) – and also the lead author of a 2020 update to the institute’s PV Roadmap for Singapore report – to catch up on the latest developments in the city-state’s PV market.

Dozens of elected local government representatives from around Australia are the latest to reject the Federal Government’s gas-led economic recovery plan, committing instead to a “sustainable” economic future.

Freedom Foods Group’s Shepparton site solar+storage array in Victoria has produced more than 3 GWh of clean energy in its first nine months of operation.  The array is the first project in Australia to employ Fimer’s largest string inverters – the PVS-175. The project is claimed to be one of the largest single rooftop solar power installations in Australia.

Mining giant Fortescue Metals Group is on track to transport workers at the company’s Christmas Creek iron ore mine with hydrogen-fuelled buses after gas supplier BOC confirmed it has been engaged to install renewable hydrogen production and refuelling facilities at the Pilbara site.

Australian renewables developer Tetris Energy is set to add to its rapidly growing portfolio of solar farms having secured approval to construct a 4.9 MW facility in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills region.

This month’s final thought comes from Violette Mouchaileh, EGM, emerging markets and services with Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

One of Australia’s tourist hot spots could soon be home to a major solar farm with the Gold Coast City Council giving a 33 MW project the green light.

Australia is increasingly at risk of becoming “internationally isolated” with Prime Minister Scott Morrison declaring his government will not be dictated to by other countries on energy and climate policies.