Australia

Victorian renters could be able to access rooftop solar power in a new scheme for renters unveiled by Labor leader Daniel Andrews and Lily D’Ambrosio. The announcement, made at Gippsland Solar in the LaTrobe Valley today, would provide $82 million in rebates over 10 years, targeting an initial 50,000 homes.

Australia has slipped from fifth to sixth place in EY’s biannual RECAI, citing “political upheaval” and the appointment of Angus Taylor as federal energy minister. The 52nd edition of the index, released today, has seen little movement among the top 10 countries, with Germany, the UK and Australia all falling one position.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance has significantly increased its forecast for global deployment of behind-the-meter and grid-scale batteries from now to 2040. The research company sees Australia among nine markets that will be driving this trend, as the economic case for batteries becomes unstoppable.

The NSW Department of Planning has given the green light the 55 MW Vales Point solar project, one of the first large scale solar power plant in Australia to operate in conjunction with a coal-fired power station.

After being commissioned in stages, the Bungala Solar Farm near Port Augusta in South Australia is now fully operational. At 220 MW/275 MWdc, Bungala is Australia’s largest solar farm completed to date.

Australia’s first community battery trial went live on Monday, after the 52 available spots had been snapped up by Mandurah households – three months ahead of schedule. The trial involves a bulk Tesla battery integrated into existing grid and owned and operated by Western Power and Synergy.

While the rooftop market segment might indicate smooth sailing, the debate over low cost suppliers and installers serving Australian homes and businesses continues to simmer just beneath the surface. And one name remains especially prominent in the discussion: Euro Solar.

The New South Wales government has announced plans to install up to 900 batteries with a total capacity of 13 MW on hospital and schools that already have rooftop solar systems.

Passing the 2 GW installation milestone, opening its DG business and moving into Southeast Asia: Nextracker’s Australian operations is proving to be a bright spot on global map. For Peter Wheale, VP responsible for Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, it’s vindication of his conviction that the market was going to take off, and success in which fortuitous timing played no small roll.

The government-owned energy provider has signed eight wind and solar PPAs to cover the shortfall in its existing energy generating capacity and put downward pressure on wholesale energy prices. Snowy Hydro says it will be able to offer firm supply contracts at less than $70/MWh, which undercuts the current wholesale price of electricity.