Australia

In the run-up to the May federal election, thirteen farmer and irrigator groups have come up with a list of policy requests to put a downward pressure on electricity prices and preserve the sector’s competitiveness. Among other things, the groups have called for more government support for solar PV and battery storage installed on site, and removal of barriers to connecting on-farm generation to the grid.

Thirteen of Victoria’s water corporations have partnered to buy clean energy from the Kiamal Solar Farm in north-west Victoria, at a much cheaper rate than would be possible individually.

With the appointment of UGL, publicly-listed developer Genex Power has finalized a project delivery team for the 50 MW Jemalong Solar Farm.

Renewables are the lowest cost, sustainable solution for Australia’s energy policy crisis and potentially one of Australia’s largest export industries of the future.

Construction has been launched on the 34.2 MW Cohuna Solar Farm, one of the three winning solar projects in the first Victorian renewable energy auction.

Climate change featured as an important, if not decisive, battleground issue in both the recent Victorian and New South Wales State elections. After the Easter break, reports of record high voter enrolments, particularly among young people, indicates that climate change may firm as a key federal election issue as May 18 draws nearer.  

Australia’s first Solar Asset Management conference to be held June 26-27 in Sydney recognises a new phase for the country’s large-scale solar sector, as well as the urgent need to drive efficiency from projects, both in the planning and the 25- to 35-year O&M life stages of each project.

Following Carnegie Clean Energy’s voluntary administration, the administrators have revealed the bids its solar microgrid arm managed to attract. Meanwhile, a plan to restructure the company’s core wave power business has been approved by creditors, along with a decision to liquidate the EMC business.

Works have been launched on the 64 MW solar farm is the Darling Downs region. Once completed, the project could make the University of Queensland the world’s first university to offset 100% of its electricity needs from its own renewable energy asset.

Coming hot on the heels of major reports and a heated public debate about electric vehicles, a poll commissioned by the Climate Council confirms Australians believe electric cars are the future. Another poll, by The Australia Institute, has 50% of Australian voters supporting all car sales being electric by 2025.